A familiar face returns to coach the Goshen Lady Eagles for the 2015-16 when head coach Fred Lowery takes over at the helm.

Fred Lowery coached in Goshen for seven years, from 2003 to 2009. He replaces Johnny Mitchell who was the head coach for both the boys and girls basketball teams.

“I am ecstatic and very excited to be back in this role,” Lowery said. “I went back to school to pursue higher education. I welcome the task and the opportunity to be back into a sport that I love.”

Lowery, who coached the Lady Eagles for six years previously, takes over a team coming off a successful a run last season. The Eagles made it all the way to the sub-regional tournament before falling to a very good Flomaton team.

“We are not where we want to be, but I feel extremely good about this team,” Lowery said. “We have a great deal of potential. I have some key players returning that will provide good leadership. I will be able to gauge our team better on Friday when we play Highland Home.”

The squad includes nine returning players, including four seniors: Casey Allen, Dijonna Slaughter, Marvita Hunter and Mary Pettway.

The players on the roster have gone through some adversity over the last few years. For the seniors, Lowery will be their third head coach. “I think me being a familiar face on this campus, it will be good for them,” Lowery said. “They are going to be vocal and some of them are going to go out there and be playmakers.”

Lowery said the game plan will focus on both defense and a hard press on offense.

“I believe in playing good, hard-nosed defense, but I also believe in pressing,” Lowery said. “I want to be able to run, that is our goal. I want to press a lot and be able to create turnovers. The one thing we do have is speed, and we want to utilize that.”

The Lady Eagles hope to continue the momentum built by the softball and volleyball teams.

“The fans are going to have a lot of fun watching us. We are going to run and we are going play up tempo. We are hoping it’s going to be a fun, family atmosphere,” Lowery said.

The Lady Eagles host Highland Home Friday. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m.

“We are going to have to play team basketball,” Lowery said. “If we play team basketball and be selfless, I think we can be a good team.”