Sudon DeSuze waited 15 years for his dream job to open.

And when former Thomas Jefferson coach Kyle Templeton resigned from the position at the end of the 2015 season, DeSuze’s wait was finally over.

DeSuze, who played for the Raiders from 1998 to 2001 and served as a Jefferson assistant coach for the past nine seasons, was named head coach in the fall.

The first-year head coach, who helped lead Jefferson to a state tournament berth in 2013 as an assistant, was an all-league three-year letterman and team captain as a player for Jefferson. DeSuze still holds the school record for rebounds in a game with 24.

DeSuze said he’s known since his senior season with the Raiders that he wanted to coach at Jefferson someday. He was brought on to Templeton’s staff in 2008, where he served as the C-team head coach and varsity assistant until Templeton’s departure in 2015.

DeSuze’s first season in charge of Jefferson basketball has been a challenging one as the program currently sits at 3-9.

“Admittedly, I had moderate success as a player when I was here,” DeSuze said. “It’s been the hardest thing, I think for me, to be able translate that success to the other side. Doing it as a player is so much different than trying to coach it.”

He’s coaching a team comprised mostly of first-year varsity players, and his coaching acumen was put to the test during the Raiders’ 65-64 overtime loss to 3A Tyee on Dec. 28. DeSuze was forced to watch a 12-point second-half lead disappear and Jefferson suffer its eighth loss of the season.

With the Raiders leading by three with 3 minutes and 25 seconds left in the game, DeSuze called a timeout.

It was a defining one for the first-year coach. DeSuze had to translate his experience to his players in the most motivational way possible.

As his starters sat and looked to DeSuze, he had a choice to make: use the dry-erase board or the heart. DeSuze chose the heart, casting the erase board aside.

“This is it,” he hollered to his players. “It’s time to focus. It’s time to lock in. It’s time to finish the deal. Finish this game.”

The lack of experience on the floor permitted the Raiders from doing either as Tyee sent the game into overtime and eventually won.

Despite the loss, DeSuze said the final emotional timeout was inspired by a similar timeout he sat through as a Jefferson player under Dave Reynolds.

Currently, Jefferson’s lone starter with minimal varsity experience is Jacob Kuchmiy. He said DeSuze’s transition to head coach of the program has been seamless, despite the team’s poor start.

“It’s unfortunate we crumbled in the end like that, but in that moment, he said exactly what we needed to hear,” Kuchmiy said after the loss. “He, and all the coaches, have done a really great job. Our record doesn’t reflect the amount of work the coaches have put into this team this year.”

DeSuze is taking charge of Raider basketball one day at a time.

He’s helping his varsity program search for its identity, despite the season being halfway over.

That’s not all, however. As the head man, DeSuze is now responsible for scheduling games for all three boys programs, travel arrangements, grade checks, youth basketball camps and more.

Jefferson Athletic Director Mike Grady said, despite a tough start to the season, he has no doubt DeSuze is the right guy for the program.

“He’s done well, despite having his feet thrown to the fire,” Grady said. “It’s not just about basketball now. There’s so much more to be on top of. He’s done a lot on the fly and done it gracefully. Once next year rolls around, he’ll figure out exactly what he has. Then he’ll be on his way.”

DeSuze might not have to wait that long, though.

The Raiders turned around and beat their next two opponents during a holiday stretch featuring three games in three days.

DeSuze has the pedigree to turn Jefferson into a basketball school: award-winning player experience, coaching experience and experience coaching in the postseason.

He said his players have bought into his system, but the biggest challenge now is getting them to buy into themselves as playoff contenders.

With the Raiders gaining momentum with back-to-back wins over Foster and Bethel, DeSuze may not have to wait long to introduce his brand of Jefferson basketball to the postseason.

“Every game’s a learning experience,” DeSuze said. “The Tyee loss taught us the importance of closing games. It’s the biggest thing you have to learn if you want to extend your season.”