MONMOUTH – The win totals and years of experience may say otherwise, but it is as if they’re starting all over again.

Rick Amero, Scott Wing and Ray Convery are the MVC’s version of a basketball supergroup, joining forces as the new coaching staff of the Monmouth girls’ basketball team. They have over 400 wins combined, but it’s like they’ve been reborn.

“I think I can sum it up from my standpoint and I think from Ray’s, too, and Rick’s also,” said Wing. “I feel rejuvenated. I feel like I did the first year I coached basketball. I’m just excited about being here.”

All three coaches stepped away from coaching only to discover how badly they missed it.

“When I got done, it was a family decision,” said Amero. “I had two young kids, 15 months apart. It was brutal. The stress was just getting to me both as a coach and at home. Then when I got done, I missed it terribly.”

Head coach Amero was at Monmouth for eight years. He won three straight Western D championships before stepping down in 2000.

The Mustangs since moved to Class C and have been rebuilding. When a new job limited Debbie Marshall’s availability to coach, the opportunity for Amero and Wing arose.

“I always wanted to get back to this position,” said Amero, who took one year off and coached at the JV level the previous three seasons. “Having stepped back, you see things differently. It gives you a bigger perspective. Sometimes it feels like the whole world is focused on you in this position. It doesn’t feel like that right now at all.”

Wing coached the Monmouth boys varsity for four years, winning 48 games. He was the JV coach for five years before that.

“I never really wanted to get out of coaching,” said Wing. “It was a personal decision because I started going back to college to get my degree. I’m still taking four classes right now.”

Convery got into the mix during a round of golf in October. As Wing and Convery waited on the 10th tee at Springbrook, Convery inquired about the Monmouth coaching staff.

“(Wing) said We’re looking for a JV coach. Why do you want to do it?'” recalled Convery, whose interest was peaked.

Convery had over 300 wins at Winthrop and retired after an illustrious 20-plus year career. He couldn’t stay away long, returning a year later to the Ramblers as an assistant. He wanted separation from that program and decided not to return this year.

“Out of respect to Lonney, he’s in charge,” said Convery of Rambler coach Lonney Steeves. “He’s the boss. He loves to do it, and it’s good for him. It needs to be separate. If I weren’t coaching here, I wouldn’t be coaching.”

Convery had been encouraged by his wife, Donna, to get back into coaching. She told him he had a gift that wasn’t being used. He considered an offer to coach the Winslow girls’ team. He declined the job, wanting to be sure he didn’t miss out on his daughter’s senior year at Winthrop. When Stephanie chose not to play basketball, it opened the door to Monmouth. They originally wanted him to coach the JV team, but he didn’t want that commitment. Wing determined he could fit it in his schedule, but they still wanted to add Convery to the triumvirate.

“These guys are class guys,” said Convery. “They said We want you.’ So in essence, they’re both taking money out of their pay for me to be here. There’s really no job created, but they created a job.”

With such vast experience between the three, it lightens the load for each.

“What happened with me, when I don’t have all those other things, what I’m getting to do is exactly what I wanted to do – teach basketball,” said Convery.

It’s been a smooth transition. They all work practices and coach during games. Though Amero is the head varsity coach and Wing is the JV coach, they work together.

“What’s incredible to me is the three of us, in a very short time, have blended a philosophy,” said Convery. “Nobody’s toes have been stepped on. There’s no egos involved.”

The Mustangs have four upperclassmen on a team that went 2-16 last year. It creates just the kind of building and teaching environment that entices any coach.

“The kids are wonderful,” said Amero. “They’re unbelievable. The kids sit there and ask questions, and they want to learn.

“I think we all see this as a tremendous challenge. From where we’re at right now to be where we want to be, that’s just a tremendous challenge, and it’s exciting.”