After abruptly leaving basketball coaching nearly a year ago, Sammy Duane Jr. is returning.

Duane, after taking time to reflect and reassess, has accepted the head boys basketball job at Perry High. Duane takes over for Joe Babinski, who announced his retirement shortly after Perry was eliminated from postseason last month.

Duane Jr., the son of Arizona coaching legend Sam Duane Sr, stepped away last April to continue course work toward securing an administrative certificate. He also needed time to recharge after a half-decade of intense, yet satisfying seasons and take care of a personal issue. Work in administration remains a possibility in later years as he is one class short plus taking the test to obtain his administrative certificate.

It became clear to Duane this winter as he attended games, he missed coaching too much. Twenty-five years -- covering stops at two junior colleges, assisting at Corona, varsity coach at Mesquite and Corona -- wasn't enough.

"This past year allowed me to explore some things personnally and professionally," Duane, 47, said. "During this time I realized that my true passion is coaching. I am ready for the challenge at Perry and excited to get going."

Duane's return to the court follows a triumphant 12-year stint as head coach at his alma mater, Corona del Sol. Corona played in five title games in that span culminating with four successive big-school titles (2012-2015). Just weeks before he resigned at Corona, he was accorded national high school coach of the year honors.

"I did miss it," he said. "I think I missed practices and being around the kids more than games. Down the road there may be opportunity to go into administration.  That's not now."

Duane's return to the court follows a triumphant 12-year stint as head coach at his alma mater, Corona del Sol. Corona played in five title games in that span culminating with four successive big-school titles (2012-2015). Just weeks before he resigned at Corona, he was accorded national high school coach of the year by MaxPreps.