The growth and development of her middle school program has been, and always will be, at the front of Radika Dishman’s mind. The Cumberland County High School Girls Basketball is constantly thinking about how to make her team better.

Well, Dishman took a big step toward that end goal earlier this week when she appointed Destiny Hild as the new head middle school coach. Hild, who was a talented high school and college player in her own right, will be coaching with her mother, Tammy Hall.

“Well, the opportunity to coach my mom is something I couldn’t pass up,” Hild said. “And the middle school girls, I know a lot of them and they’re the future of our high school program. I felt like me taking the middle school program would be the best thing for us as a program.

“Radhika and I have a lot of the same coaching tendencies, I was brought up under her. We’ve meshed well together, so I feel it will be an easier transition for the middle school girls as we prepare them for the high school program. I just want to see our program take off.”

Hild and her mother will also be on Dishman’s high school coaching staff next season.

“The middle school program has been the next stepping stone for our program,” Dishman said. “Destiny has always been my right hand, and she knows the ins and outs of basketball. When I came back to Cumberland County, she was the first person I called when I was putting my staff together.

“Putting her in charge of the middle school team, just took our program to the next level. She will do an amazing job. The players will come out of the middle school program more prepared than ever to enter high school.”

Dishman said the addition of Hall brings a lot of experience to the program, too. Hall played at Clarkrange High School under coach Lamar Rogers. The two go back a long way, and have also coached together for years.

“I think one of the most important things in having a well-seasoned coaching staff, and a coaching staff that can truly take your players to the next level is having a coaching staff that you trust,” Dishman said. “There's so many times that Destiny already says what I'm thinking before I even say it.

“It is Destiny’s program. She will make all the decisions and grow that program and have those girls ready to come in here and contribute at the high school level.”

Dishman said she hopes any child considering coming out for the Cumberland County Middle School basketball program will do so and be a part of what she believes will be something special.

“Destiny is a strong, confident woman who has an extensive coaching background, who is going to empower these young female athletes to be confident, to believe in themselves, and to be the best they can be both on and off the court,” Dishman said. “Destiny brings an unbelievable amount of positivity, energy, charisma and then her leadership both on and off the court will serve as an example and as a role model for these young female athletes.”

Hild hopes any student thinking about coming out for the CCMS basketball program will do it.

“My biggest thing is you can’t teach a kid dedication and grittiness,” Hild said. “As long as kids come to the program with that, I was going to work with them.”