Ponce the right man for the Grand Prairie basketball job

by Kirk Dickey of Grand Prairie TODAY

When Grand Prairie boys basketball coach Robert Wright resigned in April, the district knew exactly who to go to.

Domingo Ponce was named head coach late last month.

A Lubbock native and Texas Tech graduate, Ponce has been an assistant coach at the high school for eight years and spent two years at Lee Middle School. And he thinks he knows what the team needs to get to the next level.

“I am not a ranter and raver and a screamer,” Ponce said. “I can get intense when I need to, but we are going to go out there and play disciplined and play together. We are going to play smart basketball.”

Ponce said he is ready for the chance to prove his mettle from the top spot at the high school.

“I was hoping that I would get the chance,” he said. “I put so much time here in the district and my family is here.

“The kids are good kids and they work hard, so that is one of the things I was really hoping for.”

Grand Prairie High School Athletic Director Gary Bartel said he has faith in Ponce and knew he was the right man for the job.

“I got two good recommendations from the two previous coaches and then my principal said he is one of our top math teachers,” Bartel said. “He combined all of the things that you look for.

“I felt like it was his time to have the opportunity for a head coaching job.”

As for the future, Bartel said he is confident that the team will turn around its record.

“I'd like for us to be competitive in this district and make the playoffs,” Bartel said. “And that is what Coach Ponce thinks we can do.”

Ponce said that he realizes the score goes their way sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. But he said he “knows” the team will be successful enough to get a playoff spot.

“We have a few guys coming back and we will have some young kids playing. So, time will tell,” he said. “I feel like we have a legitimate shot at one of the playoff spots this year.”