In his first year as head coach at Doctor Charter School in Miami Shores, Christophe Humbert’s basketball team finished the regular season 0-19, but it made a big turnaround the following year by advancing to the playoffs.
Humbert loves challenges and perhaps his biggest test is turning around a Barbara Goleman team that hasn’t had a winning season since 1999.
Last year, the Gators won only one game.
“It’s very challenging but that’s where the fun begins for me,” he said.
Humbert was recently named the new coach of a Gator team that will play perennial powerhouses, Norland, Carol City and Krop, this season, and he is preparing his players to play basketball on a higher level.
“On paper I think we are good, but it will be difficult to play those teams,” he said. “Norland is a powerhouse and it comes down to having the guts to go somewhere far this season.”
With seven seniors on the team, Humbert said their playing experience can help drive the team to success, but he initially must mentally prepare them for the possible worst of times.
“If something goes wrong, we tell them everyday to move on and play better basketball,” he said.
Humbert’s basketball roots can be traced to France.
He was born and raised there and learned how to play the game of basketball.
A star high school player, Humbert was heavily recruited by several colleges and universities in the United States. He chose Florida Southern College.
During his senior season, he scored a career high 44 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
He later turned pro and returned to his homeland, where he played for several teams.
Humbert played in the French Pro B League in France for 10 years.
He played for Fos Quest Provence, JL Bourg, Saint Quentin, C.S.P. LIMOGES, Etendard De Brest and ESPE Chalons en Champagne.
Following his retirement, he coached several high school and middle school teams in France, and came back to Florida to coach at Doctor Charter School.
He said there’s a major difference between high school basketball in France and the United States.
“Here, you are coaching student-athletes at the same time, where over there it’s more pro club going to school and coming back to play basketball,” he said. “France is not big in basketball like the U.S.; it is more known for soccer.”
Nevertheless, Humbert said he adapted well to coaching basketball in America and is looking forward to placing the Gators on the winning track.
“We are going to work hard to win,” he said. “We have the talent to turn something around here.”