Todd Neuendorf is candid about coaching his son, Easton. 

The father-son duo are in their second season at Hamlin High School — Todd as the Chargers’ boys basketball coach and Easton as the starting point guard. It’s a dream come true for any father coaching their son, but Todd said one of the hardest things he’s done. 

“It is a challenge, I am not going to lie to you,” Todd Neuendorf said. “I have watched other people do it, other coaches and I try to treat him just like every other kid. I bark at him just like I bark at anybody else. He doesn’t get treated any differently and the worse part is he’s got to hear it when he gets home, too.” 

The tough love is fine with Easton, a steady pass-first guard that pilots Hamlin’s offensive and defensive attacks. 

“It’s good that he’s tough on me because that means he cares about you and wants you to be the best you can be,” said Easton, a 5-foot-11 sophomore guard. 

Todd is a long-time boys basketball coach with stops at Aberdeen Roncalli, Mitchell and Hamlin. Easton was always along for the ride and closely watched a number of players, aiding in his development as lead guard. 

“I think that’s a big factor in that, just watching all the guys come through and watching them play and see what they do and try to do that,” said Easton, who is also coached by Todd during the AAU season. 

On the court, Easton engineers the offense and pushes the pace in transition, while regularly scoring in double figures each night. 

“He’s really solid and he kind of makes us go,” Todd said. “He gets people shots and has quite a few assists and scores the basketball when needed. Your job as the point guard is get everybody else involved and make them go and you will go at the end.”

Hamlin coach Todd Neuendorf walks the sidelines as his son, Easton, watches during the Hoop City Classic. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Off the court, their conversations still regularly revolve around basketball and will occasionally self scout their games. 

“We are thinking basketball 24/7 in our house,” Easton said. “Sometimes we don't talk about basketball, but most of the time it’s basketball.”

Not only are they basketball junkies, they’re equally competitive and wear their emotions on their sleeves.

“The problem is he’s just like his dad,” Todd said. “He’s fiery like I am and I can’t hold that against him. Because that’s how I am and I know he plays hard. He puts in a lot of time and a lot of effort. I am not ever going to question that.”

In addition to Easton, the Chargers (2-1) are surrounded by a host of athletic wings and are eyeing their first Class A boys basketball berth since 1993. 

Todd’s goal is for all his teams and players to play in a state tournament because “that’s one of the greatest experiences in high school sports.”

Neuendorf guided Roncalli and Mitchell to state tournament appearances, most notably the 2015 Class A state championship with the Cavaliers. A state tournament berth would be even sweeter because Easton would be leading the charge. 

“When we won it at Roncalli, Easton was a ball boy and coach (Kendall) Hoellein’s boy (Landon) was on the team,” Todd said. “I remember watching him hug his son and it's an experience that I want to do.”

Hamlin's Easton Neuendorf (3) plays at the Hoop City Classic earlier this season. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)