It’s not often a high school coach with a state championship leaves to become an assistant. Park Center’s James Ware is making that move, joining Hopkins’ boys basketball staff.

“We’re excited to have him,” Hopkins coach Ken Novak Jr. told Strib Varsity on Monday. “It will be fun to work with him again.”

Ware played for Novak at Hopkins and will be the head-coach-in-waiting to replace his mentor when Novak retires, possibly in the near future.

“I’m having the reality of it all settle in,” said Ware, who had been at Park Center since 2015, including a Class 4A state title run in 2022 that led to Ware being selected the Star Tribune’s All-Metro Boys Coach of the Year.

“You spend 10 years at a place and you become very fond of it and proud of all of the accomplishments. But for me to come back and help Kenny, a guy who I played for, and whenever he ultimately is done to take over, we’ll have an opportunity to build from within. So there’s no letdown.”

How many years does Novak have left leading Hopkins? He is closing in on legend Bob McDonald’s all-time Minnesota boys basketball record of 1,012 wins, ranking second with 993 victories entering this year.

“I always take it one year at a time,” Novak said. “I plan to be here for at least a couple years, but my time is winding down.”

After playing for Novak with the Royals in the 1990s, Ware played for Texas Tech and had coaching stints in college, including as the Gophers’ director of basketball and as an assistant at Utah State and Santa Clara.

Ware will be coaching basketball in the school system where he works. He’s the associate principal at Hopkins North Junior High and has worked in the district since 2012. He managed to balance his administrative duties with turning around the boys basketball program at Park Center.

Ware piled up 234 victories at Park Center. The Pirates produced nearly two dozen Division I players during his tenure, including former Gophers player and Minnesota Mr. Basketball winner Braeden Carrington and Dain Dainja, who won a national title at Baylor before playing at Illinois and Memphis.

“Enjoyed having the opportunity to build that program and show the kids that they didn’t have to leave their community to be great,” Ware said. “It all happened kind of quick. Had to tell the players, and that was super emotional for me. I feel like they’re my sons. It’s more than just coaching. They are attached to me for life. That’s what Kenny Novak did for me.”

The Royals finished 26-2 last season, their only losses to state champion Wayzata, including 76-72 in an exciting section final.

Novak returns all-state senior guard Jayden Moore, talented sophomore guard Tre Moore and rising junior forward Ahmed Nur. Hopkins also is expected to add Chicago native Kyree Nelson, Cooper transfer Anthony Byrd and Park Center transfer Xavier Frelix, who led the 17-11 Pirates with 18 points per game last season.

An assistant coach position opened this summer at Hopkins when Phil Ward left the Royals to join his son, Bernard, on Blaine’s boys basketball staff.

The transition from Novak to Ware could eventually be smooth. They have similar coaching styles and a strong history together with the program.

“This will work well because the kids like James and he’s a great coach,” Novak said. “Last year was a tough year because I think we should’ve won it. [Wayzata] will be good again this year, but you never know what can happen.”