A community fixture in the used car business for nearly three decades, Justin Elbe now prepares for a new endeavor, getting behind the wheel of the Macomb High girls basketball program.
Elbe was approved by the Macomb Community Unit School District No. 185 in its latest meeting to take over as the program’s head coach.
Elbe replaces Jackson Kane, who resigned last spring after four seasons at the helm.
“For me, personally, it was just the right time,” said Elbe. “I have a real good team at my business, and they take care of everything really well. They run things efficiently.”
“I couldn’t have done this 10-15 years ago,” he added. “This was just the right time personally for me to do it. We have a lot of roots here now. We’ve been in Macomb 28 years.”
“I care a lot about the programs, not just girls basketball, but all the sports programs in the school,” said Elbe. “I thought it was a real good time for me to step in and help these girls.”
Kane posted a record of 70-48 in his four years at Macomb, including last season’s 21-10 finish. That was the most wins for a MHS varsity girls basketball team since 2008, when the Bombers also finished 21-10 in reaching a Class 2A regional final.
Four seniors graduated from the team, including 1,000-point scorer Kylie Robinson, along with Drew Creasey, Kate Storzum and Madeline McClure.
“I think the program is in a good spot where Jackson has left it,” said Elbe. “I just hope to keep that going and even go beyond what we have done in the past.”
“We’ve had some success,” he added. “We just want to keep building on that. These girls have tasted that success and I think they like it. I think they are ready for more success.”
Elbe played his high school ball at Southeastern High School in Augusta under coach Mike Fray. He went on to play collegiately at John Wood Community College in Quincy under Mike Elbe, who is Justin’s dad’s first cousin.
Many of the offensive and defensive principles Elbe learned from those coaches, along with aspects of leadership from Southeastern administrator Todd Fox all play into Elbe’s basketball philosophy.
“It’s 35 years later, but we’re still going to do a lot of those things,” he said. “The game has changed a lot since then in ways. More threepoint shooting, the game’s more physical today, even from when I played. You have to adjust with those times.”
In addition to his basketball coaches, another example Elbe cited was that of his brother’s best friend, long-time Southeastern High volleyball coach Tim Kerr, who is also a Southeastern alum.
“He’s such a great coach, but he leads with love,” said Elbe of Kerr. “That’s a great example that I’ve watched the last 30 years that he’s coached.”
“Everybody says a lot of times that girls are different and you have to coach girls differently,” he added. “I think that is true in some ways, but I know with this group that we have that they want to win, they want to work hard and they know what it takes to win.”
The team has five players with varsity experience returning. The squad also had five freshmen a year ago, including Elbe’s daughter Josie.
Another key returnee for the program is assistant coach Abbey Thorman.
“She has that familiarity with the girls. Everybody respects Abbey already,” said Elbe of Thorman. “I don’t have that yet. I’m just a used car dealer that coaches for fun. I don’t have that respect. I haven’t done anything in these girls’ eyes to earn that. I’m going to do my best to do that.”
Elbe said the early focus will be on principles.
“If we can instill the principles in the summer of what we want to do, it will make our plays better this winter,” he said.
Elbe is looking for this team to embrace being a blue collar, lunch pail type of group.
“It’s going to define us this year,” Elbe said. “What we put into it is what we’ll get out of it.”
As was the case in recent years under Kane, there will be a focus on defense.
“It’s something that we’re going to have to hang our hat on,” said Elbe. “We don’t have a true bucket-getter like we did last year (with Robinson). We’re going to have to win games with our defense.”
