BRITTON — The moment Zach Zyla accepted the head coaching position for the Britton Deerfield girls varsity basketball program, his father, Mike Zyla, celebrated the hire. 

Mike Zyla, who coaches the Sand Creek girls varsity basketball team, knew what the Patriots were getting with his son’s hire. Zach Zyla has a strong basketball IQ, excels at X’s and O’s, and makes excellent in-game adjustments.

“I’m excited for him and the opportunity he’s earned, and I wish him continued success,” Mike Zyla said. 

But first, there was a Tri-County Conference matchup on Dec. 11, Zach’s BD team hosted Mike’s Sand Creek squad, and the Sand Creek Aggies earned a hard-fought 29-22 win over the Patriots.

A one-point lead turned into a 12-point lead late into the fourth quarter as Mike Zyla’s team applied full-court man-to-man pressure at the start of the second half en route to the win.

“We’ve both had this game circled since he was hired at Britton Deerfield,” Mike Zyla said. “As a father, I’m proud of Zach and wish him nothing but success.”

The feeling was mutual as Zach climbed the coaching ranks under his father’s watchful eye. From junior high to AAU squads, Zach learned the game from his father, and the game had special meaning for him as well.

“I was very excited to get to coach against my dad in our first matchup,” said Zach Zyla, who played for his father at Sand Creek and helped coach at several levels.

“Coaching was just natural for me — runs in the family,” Zach Zyla said. “I started coaching when I was like 16 years old for the Sand Creek Hoopsters.”

Under his father’s tutelage, Zach strengthened his love of the game.

“I have been blessed to have grown up with my dad coaching me from youth league, all the way up to AAU in high school,” Zach Zyla added.

“Zach has wanted to coach since his high school days,” Mike Zyla said of his son, who served as a varsity assistant last year at Sand Creek. “He helped coach the Hoopsters while still in high school, and after graduating, he assisted me at multiple levels.”

The father and son also share a similar coaching style, which made for intriguing matchups in their first meeting on the hardwood.

“Our coaching philosophies are very similar,” Mike Zyla said. “We both emphasize playing hard-nosed defense, building player relationships, and building a positive team culture.”

Zach Zyla agreed with his father, but added that there are some differences between old-school and new-school coaching styles. 

“I think we have very similar coaching styles,” Zach Zyla said. “We both really focus on defense being the key to winning and being the hardest-working team on the floor.

“I do think there is a slight difference between old school and new school of coaching, just because of different generations and the game adapting,” Zach Zyla added.

Mike Zyla believes his son’s success as a head coach will soar at the high school level as he gains more experience working with the young Patriots’ squad. 

“One of his greatest strengths is building relationships with his players, which is a key part of his coaching style,” Mike Zyla said.

“I just prepared my girls as I do for any other game, bring the effort and start fast, which the girls did, which I’m very proud of after our first game,” said Zach Zyla, who had a reputation for being a tough defender who gave maximum effort on the court.

“Even to this day, facing each other or not, he’s still my biggest supporter and helper,” Zach Zyla said of his father. 

A return matchup will bring  Britton Deerfield to Sand Creek on the Aggies’ Senior Night on Friday, Feb. 20.