(Daily News photo) Jon Lorenzoni has been hired as the new varsity girls basketball coach at Kingsford High School.

KINGSFORD — Kingsford Middle School teacher Jon Lorenzoni has been chosen as varsity girls basketball coach at Kingsford High School.

The Breitung Township Schools Board unanimously approving the hire during a board meeting June 29.

The districts Athletic Director Chris Hartman confirmed the coaching change on Thursday.

“We are excited to have Coach Lorenzoni take over the girls varsity basketball position at KHS. He cares a lot about the game and brings a lot of coaching experience to the table, with having much success from the junior high level up to the varsity ranks,” Hartman said.

“Jon has a great rapport with the student athletes. From working with them in junior high basketball, having them in class daily and previously coaching the KHS JV team. I know he is looking forward to the challenge of coaching in a very competitive GNC Conference,” Hartman said.

Lorenzoni, having been a Breitung Township Schools teacher for the past 10 years, has coached many different teams at various levels over his teaching career, which also included teaching and coaching at North Central Area Schools in Powers/Hermansville.

“I feel very fortunate that I am getting the chance and opportunity for this position,” said Lorenzoni. “I am excited a thrilled by the decision and am extremely excited to be the top of a program again.

“When you’re a coach, you want to be at the top level of your profession, and with this opportunity, I am.”

Lorenzoni, a Norway graduate, previously guided the North Central High School girls basketball program on two different occasions, for a total of four seasons. His first stint was three seasons, but he resigned for a few years due to personal family reasons. His second stint was for one season, but he again resigned after accepting a teaching position at Kingsford.

“The NC community takes their basketball very seriously, so it was a great place for me to come up learn as a coach,” said Lorenzoni, who also coached the JV girls and boys teams at NC during his tenure.

In 2008, he guided the Jets girls to a district championship at Mid Peninsula High School, in an upset win over archrival Carney-Nadeau. “They (Carney) beat us pretty badly both times in the regular season, so it was a very thrilling and fulfilling for our program to win that district.”

Lorenzoni notes that he aims to bring his experience and leadership to the Kingsford program, which he hopes turns into some consistency in the program.

Lorenzoni, like Hartman, feels it’s an asset and advantage having had many of his current and future players in the classroom, as well as having have coached almost all of them in the past.

“We’ve had tremendous success at the lower levels, JV, freshman and junior high,” Lorenzoni said. He previously coached the Lady Flivvers freshman for two seasons and guided five different JV teams, with his 2019-20 team finishing with a 20-0 record.

“Our undefeated season last year was a great accomplishment, I was so happy for the girls and our program,” Lorenzoni said. “Not only is it a great memory for the girls, their families and myself, but it’s a confidence-builder for our program as a whole.”

Being both optimistic and realistic about the upcoming seasons in front of him the next couple years, Lorenzoni sees one potential pitfall from a 20-0 JV record.

“What will be a challenge is with that success can lead to a letdown. If we lose some games at the varsity level, and chances are we will, I’ll have to get the girls used to that,” Lorenzoni said. “It’s very rare to go through an entire season, especially in our conference, with a 20-0 regular season record.”

Lorenzoni, who takes over the varsity helm from Lisa Harry, has also guided the eighth grade girls team for the past 10 years at Kingsford, as well as being the district’s varsity girls soccer coach.

“I think it’s important to set goals, and I have high expectations for not only my players but for myself as well,” Lorenzoni said.

“I feel we can be one of those programs in the coming years that experiences some success and are looked up to in the GNC and in our area,” Lorenzoni said. “The success we have had as of late, I plan on capitalizing on that going forward.”