GETTING INTO COACHING

Marc Berman of the New York Post writes in his blog today that former Georgia Tech point guard Kenny Anderson wants to get into the NBA in some capacity.

I wrote about the subject of being an assistant coach a few weeks back, if you missed it, click here.

This morning while waiting in the doctor’s office reading a magazine (why is the wait always so long?) I came across an article on Elon Musk, CEO of Rocket Design Space X. He was voted Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. magazine.

One question he answered was, ‘what makes a good salesperson?‘

DRIVEN - SMART - NICE TO WORK WITH

In coaching, you need those three traits, amongst many others, for sure. Some will argue that you don’t need to be ‘nice to work with’ but it would sure help.

C-P-S

Last night while watching the Spurs and Hornets in Game 6 of the Western conference semi-finals, ESPN jumps in the huddle during time-outs and lets their viewers eavesdrop on the coaching staff’s and how they communicate to their clubs during the heat of the battle.

After listening to Byron Scott and Greg Popovich, ESPN’s Jeff Van Gundy explained Pop’s and Scott’s style in the huddle as ‘Calm-Poised and Simple’.

CALM-POISED-SIMPLE

POOR DECISION

The next time you get frustrated and feel like venting - you better think twice, espcially if it’s with the officials.  This guy is going to prison.  Fox News Checks in.

Authorities say McCown threatened the referee, then went to the parking lot and returned with a bag that contained a pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition.

HOOSIERS-LIKE

I came across this article from the Alpena News and it reminded me of that scene in the motion picture ‘Hooisers’ starring Gene Hackman.

It was standing room only Monday night at the Rogers City Area Schools’ high school library.

There were nearly 60 citizens of all ages at the district’s board of education meeting, most interested in Karl Grambau and his position as the varsity boys basketball coach.

“There needs to be an immediate change in the Rogers City boys basketball program,” said Val Vogelheim.

In all, nine people spoke during the meeting and two citizens submitted letters to be read regarding Grambau, who was not at the meeting.

Vogelheim, among other things, said Grambau was often late to practices, leaving the players unsupervised in the gym. He said it was not personal, but Grambau had lost his passion for the game.

He said he presented the board with petitions, seven or eight pages of them, in support of having Grambau removed as coach.

Steve Schmidt at Mott C.C. located in Flint, Michigan is a very good coach - here is an article from the Lansing State Journal on his accomplishments and aspirations.

“Not many people give junior college coaches a chance, but I hope people will give this one a chance,” said Schmidt, 46, a 1980 Waverly High grad who has coached Mott for the past 17 years. “It would help other coaches at this level. People have no idea how good the coaches and the players are at this level. I hope to show them.”

Tom Murray, a class act who has coached Cardinal Hayes High School the past 40 years is stepping down. NY Daily News chimes in.

THOSE WHO CAN’T COMPETE, COMPLAIN!

MOVIN’ OUT

Marty Burns from SI.Com on the NBA coaching scene.  Rick Carlisle and Mike D’Antoni are packing up and moving their belongings.  Carlisle to Dallas and D’Antoni to New York.

To some around the league, the willingness of owners to fire successful coaches and eat those big salaries is astounding. Already this offseason a recent Coach of the Year winner (Johnson, 2006) was sent packing, with another (D’Antoni, ‘05) likely to follow soon. Skiles was a big hit in Chicago just a few years ago.

“This is all because you can’t deal with players anymore,” a veteran agent said. “To some degree, they are running the asylum. … You can’t discipline the players so you fire the coach.”

I once read a quote from a GM in the NBA who said the relationship between player and coach is like filming a movie;  the players are the entertainers and the coach is the director.

*****

SEVEN STEPS TO SELF-FULFILLMENT

1-KNOW WHO IS RESPONSIBLE

2-BELIEVE IN SOMETHING BIG.

3-PRACTICE TOLERANCE

4-BE BRAVE

5-LOVE SOMEONE

6-BE AMBITIOUS

7-SMILE

-WALTER ANDERSON, THE CONFIDENCE COURSE

MEET ERIK SPOELSTRA

Miami Heat assistant coach Erik Spoelstra was named head coach a couple of days ago by Pat Riley.  Portland Tribune on how his career got rolling.

“I don’t know if any other kids of Blazer employees went to 41 home games a year and attended practices and summer-league practices and games. I loved it, and it just kind of stoked the fire for my basketball interest and opened the door to a coaching career.”

Let it be noted,  that in 1984, I attended 40 of 41 New York Knicks home games at the World’s Most Famous Arena!

MR. MEAN

I hear it often, ‘he’s too mean’ or, ‘I don’t get along with the coach there’, and sometimes, ‘they scream too much, I can’t play for someone who screams at me…’

WJTV is reporting Alcorn State has hired Larry Smith as their new men’s head basketball coach.

I was reading an interview this morning from Sports Illustrated with LA Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny and here is what he said about Dodgers third base coach Larry Bowa in an article written by John Nadel of the A.P. (it must be noted Mr. Bowa is very passionate, fiery, tough and likes to scream a lot)

“We damn sure needed it last year. Fourth place,” Penny said at the Dodgers’ spring training facility. “You need somebody to push you. You know Bowa’s doing it for your benefit. I loved watching him in Philly.”

It’s too bad that many people think other-wise when it comes to coaches screaming at their athletes.  More from Penny on the former shortstop.

“Those two guys together - perfect,” Penny said, alluding to the good cop-bad cop approach the mellow manager and fiery coach bring. “This butt-kicking thing in the dugout, it’s going to be huge for us.

“You make a mistake last year, you get a pat on the butt. ‘It’s all right.’ You lose by one run, it’s not all right. We won a World Series (in 2003 with the Florida Marlins) with Jack McKeon as our manager. He knew how to press your buttons. He was as hard on a team as anybody I’ve played for.”

Bob Knight, Pat Summit, Pat Riley, Jim Leyland, Bob Hurley, all coaches who let their players know they aren’t getting the job done.  They aren’t afraid to voice their opinion.

Here’s Bowa on his style.

“If we make stupid mistakes, something will be said. If you’re hustling all the way, I have no problem with that,” Bowa said. “Guys running through stop signs, you’re not supposed to do that. If you’re afraid do say something when things go bad, you’re not doing your job.

“Joe Torre is under control at all times. Joe can get mad, he handles it his own way. I don’t hold grudges, but I get stuff off my chest. I didn’t come over here to finish third. I came over here to play in October. If guys don’t like it, oh, well. Joe hired me to be myself.”

Be yourself…that’s all you can do. And if that is yelling, so be it.  If you take the Joe Torre approach, to each his own.

STAY THE COURSE…CAN’T WAVER.  COMMITMENT TO SELF, WORK AND FAMILY!

CHECK SMALL THINGS

Last night while watching the Cleveland Indians beat the New York Yankees, ESPN announcer Buck Showalter pointed out a coulple of little things on the baseball field like one being Yankees outfielder Bobby Abreau hustling down the first base line after hitting a slow grounder to the Indians first baseman and beating out the throw at first. Thus, adding eleven more pitches to Cleveland’s starting pitcher’s total pitch count. Most fans wouldn’t think much about something like that but Showalter said it’s little things like that that can make a big difference later in the game.

How often as a coach do we sweep the little things under the rug or hope someone else takes care of it?

Nothing is too small to check out and make sure it’s the way it’s supposed to be!

1-Cover all your bases

2-Do something about it

3-Don’t think it’ll get done - MAKE SURE  IT GETS DONE!

Antoine Joubert named men’s head basketball coach at Oakland Community College.

SPREAD THE WEALTH

We all know one or even a few guys or gals in the business who enjoy sharing information.  It’s pretty common amongst members of the coaching profession.

Blogging is an excellent way as is emailing documents with loads of info.

Eric Musselman has a blog and it’s pretty good.  Check it out.

‘I have to base all the decisions I make for our basketball team not on pride, anger, or anxiety.  All the decisions that I make have to be based on what is going to give us the best chance to win basketball games.” -Unknown

ROTTEN BANANAS

I came across a book ‘Rotten Bananas’, written by Daniel T. Drubin.   The author writes about a lot of negative traits that many people carry around but also some coaches.  These traits tend to hurt you, more than help.  Here are three…

ANGER

SELF-CONFIDENCE (lack of)

REJECTION

Do we often get angry at the most trivial thing that happens to us?

Do you lack the confidence to be a success?

How do you respond when you are rejected?  Do you pout? Whine/ or even go back to being angry?