The Warriors will have a new head coach on the bench this season, but on the floor Orestimba is likely to continue playing with the free-wheeling offensive tempo and defensive tenacity that has been a team trademark in recent years.

Brandon Cole, a 2002 graduate of Denair High School who played on the Coyotes’ section championship team and later at Merced College, succeeds Rob Pecot as Orestimba coach this season.

The first-year head coach said he plans to emphasize the same traits Pecot instilled in the Warrior program: Running the court early and often, baseline-to-baseline defensive pressure and an unbeatable work ethic.

One of the first orders of business was getting to know his players – and vice versa. Twenty players turned out for the start of practice, creating competition for roster positions and playing time.

As the Warriors prepared to open their season this week, the emphasis was on a fast-paced, wide-open style – just the look Cole prefers.

“We’ve got a lot of quickness, but we don’t have a lot of height,” he commented. “We’re going to have to push the ball, which is what these guys like to do. That’s going to be our strength.”

Junior twins Ravonne and Ramonne Pious have emerged as team leaders in practice, Cole noted.

He will also be looking to senior Blake Dudley for leadership on a junior-laden squad.

Cole has been an assistant coach at Denair for the past two seasons.

He said he enjoyed the season spent coaching at his alma mater, and is looking forward to the head coaching opportunity.

While he wants his players to enjoy the game, Cole said, he also has high expectations when it comes to work ethic and commitment.

“I expect 120 percent from each player, regardless of ability,” he reflected. “If you’re giving me that effort, it means more to me than ability.”