By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Having just accepted the position as head girls basketball coach at Huntington North High School, Gary Andrews has, as the saying goes, a lot on his plate.
But the Decatur native has taken a moment to give a thought to something likely to come up in early 2026: a game in the gym of his high school alma mater.
“That will be cool, coaching again in Bellmont’s gym,” he said last week, looking ahead.
The two schools are, of course, in the same conference, the NE8, so there will be a game. And since the two schools played at Huntington North last season – on January 24, with Bellmont posting a 32-28 win – Andrews will on a date not yet announced be back in the gym where it all began.
The Decatur native and Bellmont grad started his legendary coaching career at his home school, with the seventh grade girls, then soon moved up to the JV level (see photo). After two years with the Jayvees, he was hired in 1992 as head coach of the girls team at Bishop Luers.
At Luers, it was a record of 167-44 in nine seasons, with three consecutive state championships. Moving into the college ranks, Andrews spent 14 seasons at St. Francis, capturing a national NAIA title in 2014.
Then it was on Roberts Wesleyan in Rochester, NY, and a record of 70-30 in three seasons.
Doing something he had always wanted to try, Gary became the head boys basketball coach at Fort Wayne North Side.
He looked like a great opportunity, but rather quickly turned sour. The season before, North made it to the State Finals in 4A. It’s star player, Keion Brooks, was returning.
But Brooks – who eventually went to Kentucky on a full ride and is now playing in the NBA – transferred to La Lumiere, a private Catholic college preparatory boarding and day school located on a 190-acre campus in Springfield Township, LaPorte County, Indiana.
Perhaps triggered by Brooks’ move, the remaining returnees on the North Side squad transferred to other schools, leaving Andrews without a returnee for his first season.
The Legends went 2-20 and 1-21 in Andrews’ first two seasons, then turned it around in the next five, highlighted by a pair of Sectional championships, in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
On May 12, Gary announced he was taking the post at Huntington North, following Matt Hinds, who was 92-48 over six seasons.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Joining Gary on his coaching staff at Huntington will be his niece, Taya Andrews.
Taya, 27, is the daughter of Gary’s sister, Jenny Andrews, and has played for Gary in the past. She has also coached AAU basketball.
She wrapped up her collegiate career by playing her final season at Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne.
Taya recently received her bachelor’s degree as a registered nurse and also has an MBA in healthcare management.
Jenny Andrews, who has coached with Gary, is a PE teacher with Fort Wayne Community Schools.
She was a standout basketball player at Bellmont before transferring to Fort Wayne Northrop for her senior year.
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