Spencer takes over Ocoee High girls basketball

In the halls of Ocoee Middle School, fewer faces are more recognizable than Marcus Spencer.

For the last nine years, Spencer has coached the girls basketball program at the school while also serving as the athletic coordinator.

Spencer will continue the latter role and be an influence at the school, but he recently added a new title to his career in education: head coach of the Ocoee High School girls basketball program. After years of contemplating making the transition to the high school level, the moment has arrived for Spencer. He was announced as the program’s new coach Tuesday, Aug. 11. 

“It’s one of those things that when you are approached with an opportunity like that, it’s like, ‘Man, should you try it? I’m comfortable; or should I go out of my comfort zone and try something new on a different level just to see if I’m a good coach or not?’” Spencer said. “Those opportunities don’t come often, so I was like, ‘If I’m going to try it, let me go ahead and try it now, because I don’t want any regrets in my life.’”

Spencer was approached with the same opportunity last year, but he turned it down. Then, with this second go-around, it felt like a sign. Spencer asked, “Is this meant to be?”

“I felt like if I turned it down this time, I wouldn’t ever probably get an opportunity at coaching at a school that I’m familiar with,” he said. “My wife is a guidance counselor over there, and it’s on the west side of Orlando. It’s like, ‘If I don’t coach there, I probably won’t coach anywhere else as far as I can think right now.’”

Throughout his time as a coach, Spencer has had a positive influence on the girls who were a part of his program. Just the other day — Saturday, Aug. 8 — when he went to get a haircut, Spencer said one of the barbers mentioned to him several of his former players come in often, and every time, they will talk about what Spencer meant to them.

“They’re like my (kids), too, because I helped raise them at a point in life and always try to be good to them,” Spencer said. “Our character speaks volumes. You can have all the money in the world, but your character is worth more because people believe in you, people trust you, and and that’s all you can ask for in life.”

Spencer will rely on that trust and belief from his girls to get the program moving back in the right direction following years of struggles. Last season, the Knights had their first double-digit win season (10-12) since 2015-16, and Spencer will be the second head coach in the last two seasons.

Spencer is planning and getting ready for his first season, but No. 1 priority is changing the culture of the program and getting the Knights back to where they really should be, he said.

“I’m looking to come out with a bang,” Spencer said. “I’m going to have big expectations and where it’s going to take us. If we’re coming in and we’re just like, ‘Oh, we’re just trying to win one or two games,’ that’s not going to cut it — that’s going to lead to the same thing. 

“We’re trying to come in with a new vision, a new outlook and new confidence and new swag,” he said. “We can’t be the same team — we have to look different and play different.”