When Northern Essex Community College Athletic Director Sue MacAvoy went looking for a new women's basketball coach, she didn't have to look any further than Jim Gayton of West Newbury, the NECC assistant women's basketball coach.
Gayton has served in this part-time capacity since 2007. He helped head coach Josh Motroni implement offensive and defensive systems, ran floor practices, managed the bench during games, evaluated players and scouted and recruited high school talent.
He describes his coaching style as eclectic.
"I adapt my style to the students but place a strong focus on defense," he says. "The important thing is for the students to have fun. They have to have a love for the game. If they do you usually get pretty good results."
Before serving as assistant coach to the Knights, he was the part-time assistant women's basketball coach at University of Massachusetts Lowell. The year before that he was the assistant women's basketball coach at Merrimack College and for three years, he was the assistant JV boys basketball coach at Pentucket Regional High School.
He has also served as a middle school boys and girls basketball coach and coached two AAU basketball teams.
He is a graduate of Westfield State College where he earned a bachelor's in psychology.
For additional information on Northern Essex's basketball program, contact MacAvoy, at 978-556-3820 or smacavoy@necc.mass.edu.
