Former Monessen standout Jonathan Bass has spent decades around basketball. First as a player, then as a coach trying to build winning cultures from the ground up. From Jeannette to Albert Gallatin, Serra Catholic, and Frazier, Bass became known for demanding accountability, developing talent, and treating programs seriously instead of simply rolling the ball out. Along the way, he coached his own daughters, helped transform struggling programs, and learned firsthand how success can sometimes create resistance instead of support. Now coaching with The Scoring Factory, Bass says the game still teaches him every day but for him, the real impact has always gone beyond basketball.

I caught up with Coach Bass to talk about his basketball journey, program building, difficult exits, player development, and why coaching in schools still means so much to him.

 

Take me back to Monessen…What was basketball culture like growing up there?

Growing up in Monessen was the best thing that could ever happen to me as far as basketball goes. There was a great basketball culture, we would set up times to all meet at 9th street park and ball until it got dark. Having older players, I looked up to let me play with them as a Middle schooler really boasted my Confidence. Shout out to Patric Greene, Jimmy Arnold, Jeff Gagatko and many more. A basketball culture is built on having something to aspire to. They gave me that, while letting me learn from them to play as a 7th grader. They might not have even realized how much that meant to me. Monessen had a great youth program as well so all we did was hoop. When I got to MS, I was ready and the rest is history. In high school I under achieved because of issues not directly related to basketball, but the overall culture of Basketball was excellent in Monessen back then.

 

How did your time at Penn State Fayette shape you as a player and future coach?

Well high school was very structured; at PS we were able to play free and utilize our skills with confidence. I utilize a lot of that approach in the way I coach. While there is a lot of structure, I develop my players and teach them to trust that development and go out there, have fun and utilize the skills we work on freely with confidence.

 

When did you first realize coaching might be your path?

I always knew the game. I was a good basketball player, but my knowledge of the game went beyond my athleticism.  It was probably 10th grade when I knew coaching the game would be in my future after I was done playing.

 

You started as an assistant at Jeannette before becoming head coach. What do you remember most about that opportunity?

I started coaching in the Jeannette Rec program and I assume it was noticed there that I could coach. What’s funny is that opportunity seemed to come out of nowhere, I would go to Jada’s middle School games and like most parents have things to say in the stands, the difference was the things I was saying. THE RIGHT THINGS! One thing led to another, and I found myself on the bench of Jada’s freshman year. During those two years I learned how to run a program. And how to deal with parents, Players and school administration properly. Shot out to Coach Janine Vertaknik who saw something in me and gave me my first opportunity to coach HS basketball.

 

What did it mean coaching your daughters during that time?

When I became the head coach at Jeannette Jada was a Junior and Jordan was in 8th grade. It was honestly some of the best times of our lives. Jada was a solid player, but I know she would have to develop her “Guard” skills to play at the next level. We worked very hard on her ball handling and shooting. That’s what I remember most, how hard we worked. Her senior season was amazing, and she started to get recruited heavily. Jordan was a late bloomer but had great length and shot the ball well. I get excited just talking about it. Those were some of the best moments of my life.

 

How proud are you seeing Jada play at Carlow and Jordan at Pitt Greensburg?

So proud, knowing how hard they worked to Get there. The fact that I coached them for years was the icing on the cake. Not only were they playing on the College level, I had a real hand in getting them there. As I do with all my players, I’m right there through the whole recruiting process.

 

The COVID season was your last at Jeannette. How difficult was coaching during that period?

It was beyond tough. No open gyms, no summer leagues, no summer workouts. And when we were allowed in the gym half of our players were not allowed to play because of covid. We went from a roster of 23 the year before to 6. That was the hardest coaching year of my life, but I think it made me a better coach.

 

You’ve said you never ran your programs like “rec programs.” What does that mentality mean to you?

Everywhere I’ve coached I tried to create a serious program. Simply put, I want my teams to play like they’re playing for something and I’m always going to push them all to be their very best. I spend time developing all my players but on game day on the Varsity level the kids that come to work on their game and improved will play. One the varsity level the most best basketball players play most of the minutes; that’s just the way it is. It has always been motivation for me to get the athletes that can, to play in college. I go out of my way to show all the kids I care about them, but they also know they have to work so I can trust them on the floor.

 

What’s the biggest challenge when trying to change a culture in a program?

Honestly The Rec ball mentality. That everybody should be equal, therefore not developing. Then you get resistance from some players and some parents, instead of working hard to improve. They put it on the coaches. Also, you need everyone on from the players, coaches, school administration and AD to buy in to change to culture Which is very difficult to do

 

At Frazier, the program seemed to change quickly. When did you realize things were taking off?

My First game at Frazier against Southmoreland (4a) there were about 4 minutes left in the 2nd quarter we were down by 15 and something amazing happened. It’s all the skill work and confidence I tried to instill in the team played out in front of my eyes. We ended up winning the game by 25 pts. It was pretty amazing to see.

 

You mentioned getting athletes from other sports involved helped build excitement. Why is multi-sport participation important?

It’s so important. First, it keeps you in shape and most importantly helps you find where you belong. I had a girl in our first practice after 5 minutes of watching her play you could clearly see she was a basketball player. I encouraged her to play other sports but told her that she was a basketball player. She went on to make all sections every year and lead us in scoring.

 

You hinted that not everyone liked the basketball program’s growth. Did success create tension?

So much tension, for a program to grow you must make some decisions that some of your players and parents will not agree with and that itself can create tension. I try to let the parents and players know that I have every child’s best interest at heart, but I also must coach the team as a whole. Again, for real success to happen everyone must get on the same page from team, Parents, AD, etc….

 

How difficult is it as a coach balancing player development, parents, and politics?

Player development to me is the essence of coaching, never has been an issue for me. I usually have a great relation with parents because I communicate honestly. Sometimes opinions are formed about you that will not be changed no matter how many times you show people otherwise, sad but very true. As for politics, it’s really bad locally right now, a lot of times it’s not about your coaching ability, it’s who you know and who approves of you and who doesn’t. I wish that would change it would be better for everyone involved and most importantly the student athletes

 

What was most frustrating about the way things ended at Frazier?

With all due respect, I was never told why they opened my position. We were building each year, and we were coming off a middle school season we were 13-2 beating teams by an average of 27 points. Also, I was told I would not be back with 2 weeks left in the season. That really made it hard and uncomfortable to finish out the season. I felt for my player, after the last game there were a lot of tears in the locker room because everybody knew I wasn’t coming back. We were really a tight knit group. I wish it could have been handled differently.

 

Looking back now, what lessons did you take from that experience?

To never get too comfortable and everyone that smiles at you does not really care for you. At the end of the day, you can’t let these things stop you from giving your team and players your all.

 

What separates players who improve from players who stay the same?

I’d be lying if I said it was all hard work but that’s where it starts. Without athletic ability hard work will only take you so far. That’s what people outside of the game don’t understand, everyone has a ceiling and my job as a coach is to help every player reach theirs. But again, everyone has a different level of potential. we must understand that

 

How important is work ethic compared to talent?

Hard work and talent must work together. If you as a player have one without the other it eventually it shows.

 

What’s something parents often misunderstand about coaching decisions?

That they are not personal to me, I make decisions based on what is best for the team as a whole. Yes, coaches coach individuals, but at the end of the day it is about the team. That’s what I’ve always preached.

 

What do you enjoy most about developing middle school players?

Specifically, at Frazier it was amazing to see the program coming to together. Players came into gym in 7th grade undeveloped and by 9th grade they were starting or earning quality Varsity minutes because of our work together. That’s what development is all about

 

How has coaching at The Scoring Factory made you better?

So much better by exposing me to a different style of basketball, based on reads, ball movement, making the extra pass for the best shot possible. Totally unselfish team basketball, less meaningless dribbles and one on one play. Also, it puts me in the room with some other great coaches, which in itself has made me better

 

What do you mean when you call it a “European style” approach to basketball?

As I said before Ball movement cutting, screening, less meaningless dribbles, team ball, much less one on one and depending on individual athleticism.

 

Do you still want to return to coaching in a school setting someday?

Yes, for sure, but only in the right situation. With the support of the district and community.

 

What impact do you hope your former players remember you for?

That I cared. That we communicated about issues concerning basketball and off-the-court things as well. That I instilled confidence in them by building them up. Those things are my favorite things about coaching in a school setting.

 

Why is coaching bigger than basketball to you?

When I was 7 years old, I was hit by a speeding car and severely brain injured and was in a coma for 9 weeks before making a full recovery. This event has shaped my life, and coaching is one of my “ministries” it’s a way I give back for the great things that happened to me, I shouldn’t even be here.

 

If you could give one message to young players today, what would it be?

I would say, work on your game starting very young. Work on fundamentals early, and don’t expect anything to be given to you, Earn it! And above all build your confidence and hold it forever. Basketball is just a game but the lessons you can learn from it are forever.