SLAM DUNK PICK: Nobles chosen to lead Canton hoops program
Jordan Nobles throws down a vicious dunk during his career at Eastern Michigan University. PHOTO COURTESY OF EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
The operations manager for Canton’s Legacy Couriers, Jordan Nobles is ready to help deliver success for the Canton High School boys basketball program.
Late last month, Nobles was hired to succeed Jimmy Reddy as the Cobras’ next head coach.
One of Canton’s all-time basketball greats (he graduated in 2014), the 29-year-old Nobles excelled at Eastern Michigan University during his post-Chiefs playing days — and one year overseas in Portugal before the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed his pro career.
“When I found out I got the Canton job, I felt excitement, joy and gratitude,” he said. “It was a very special moment. To become the head coach at the high school I played for is an amazing opportunity.
‘Blood, sweat and tears’
“I left a lot of my blood, sweat and tears on that court, so I won’t ask my players to do anything I haven’t already done.”
News of Nobles’ hiring spread fast among the program’s tight group of hoops alumni.
“My phone was blowing up once people started finding out,” said Nobles, smiling. “Two things Jimmy always emphasized were family and togetherness, so my former teammates and players who played at Canton before and after me were happy the job stayed in the family.”
Nobles was an assistant basketball coach at Detroit County Day High School for three seasons for his brother Daryl Nobles Jr., who is the Yellowjackets head varsity coach.
Experience coaching at Canton
Prior to his stint at Country Day, Nobles was an assistant coach for Canton girls head coach Kayla Bridges.
Nobles, who helped lead the then-Chiefs to the school’s most-recent boys basketball district title in 2013, said his relative youth is a bonus.
“I can still get out there on the court and show my players what I’m trying to teach them,” said Nobles, who still competes in a high-end men’s league at Canton’s Life Time fitness facility.
“Having walked the same hallways my players walk — and knowing the uniqueness of the three-school Park — I can relate to what they’re going through.
“The Park is one of the few educational set-ups in the country where you could have someone in your first- or third-hour class and then compete against them that night.
‘Park’ games are special
“I’m looking forward to coaching every game, but especially the Park games. There’s something special about those games that brings out the best in the players and the teams’ fans.”
Securing the job a week or so before the high school summer season starts isn’t an ideal scenario for Nobles, but he’s ready to use hard work to overcome any obstacles.
“We have about 14 summer varsity games scheduled this month, so it will give the players a chance to get comfortable with our system and culture,” he said.
Familiar faces fill coaching staff
Nobles has tabbed two former Chiefs — 2019 graduate Vinson Sigmon and 2014 alum Davon Taylor — to serve as his primary assistants.
Sigmon enjoyed a stellar career at Canton before shining at the collegiate level for NCAA Division 2 Wisconsin Parkside.
Taylor was a three-year teammate of Nobles at Canton and has served as the Cobras’ freshman head coach the past couple of seasons.
Looking to ‘add numbers’ to the banner
Working at Legacy Couriers, which his father Daryl Nobles founded in 2020, allows him the flexibility required to work a full-time job while coaching high school hoops.
“I’ve been at Legacy since Day 1,” he said. “We started out working 10- and 11-hour days, but now we have a great staff that will allow me flexibility to coach.”
Nobles was a key member of Canton’s last district-championship team in 2013.
“Our goal is to put some more numbers up on that banner in the gym, something Jimmy came so, so close to doing since we won the district in 2013,” Nobles concluded.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
