American Leadership Academy-Gilbert North has tapped Mark Carlino to take over as head basketball coach.

The move comes two weeks after former coach David Novak was surprisingly let go, despite leading the program to 70 victories over the last three seasons.

Carlino confirmed the move Friday. The Valley native prepped at Scottsdale Saguaro before playing at Arizona State University from 1985-'88. Now a retired attorney, Carlino stayed involved in prep basketball with different AAU clubs and by coaching underclassmen and assisting at Camelback, Saguaro and St. Mary's. Carlino's first head varsity job came at Highland, where he led the Hawks to the 2009 state title game before losing to St. Mary's.

"This is an opportunity I'm really grateful for and I'm coming into a really great situation," Carlino said Friday afternoon.

"Coach Novak did a great job establishing a winning culture, and ALA has shown an amazing committment to athletic excellence."

The circumstances with the ALA job are different than other programs Carlino has coached in recent years. After focusing on his legal practice for nearly a decade after coaching at Highland, Carlino coached at 2A Phoenix Christian for the 2019-20 season, Coronado in 2020-21, and the last three seasons at Westwood. 

Despite losing its leading scorer and point guard Dylan Novak along with his dad, expectations at ALA-Gilbert North will be high next season, with experienced players like Connor Morris, Luke Danielson and Stetson Rowley returning from a 27-3 season.

The Eagles were the No. 1 seed in 4A the last two seasons before falling in the playoffs.