Father, sons make basketball family affair

Like father, like sons.

This tale about family basketball tradition began with former Highland High boys basketball coach Larry Maxwell, the father of six children. One son, Brent, remembers being in a locker room "every halftime of a game, since I was 5." Another son, Mike, currently coaching the Bountiful High boys, also did locker room time with his dad.

Today, Brent Maxwell coaches both his 7-year-old son's Junior Jazz team as well as an AAU squad. He used to coach the Copper Hills High boys sophomore basketball team.

"He's a real student of the game," his father said of Brent.

Mike studiously coaches the Bountiful High boys team, which includes two of his sons. His top assistant is none other than his own father, whom he assisted at Highland.

The Maxwell family seems filled with basketball accolades. Larry won a state championship with South High about 55 years ago, while son Robert coached then-Dixie junior college to its national championship during the 1980s. Mike, who was the state MVP, and Brent won the 1978-79 state title playing for their father, who also won four others.

In addition, Larry coached the Rams to 12 state boys tennis titles.

Daughter Carrie won a state basketball championship with Highland and garnered MVP honors in the 1980s.

It's part of the great circle of life's irony.

But wait, there's more.

Besides coaching, the Maxwell brothers also each served as an LDS bishop. They might as well be twins. Each professes to maintain strong bonds with his family.

"I have a pretty good relationship with my boys," said Mike. "I'm their coach, bishop and father, which is number one and most important.

"They can't get away from me," he joked. "I've done pretty well and more than they want me to."

His son John, an eighth-grader and shooting guard for Union Park Junior High, said Maxwell "is a basketball father. He comes to my games when he can. It means a lot to me, because he's showing how much cares for and supports me. He's there when I need him."

Just because Mike fills a triumvirate of duties, "He never lets me go easy," John said. "I'm looking forward to playing for him."