From the Editor Changing of the Guard Rick Leddy

FROM THE EDITOR, Rick Leddy

Changing of the Guard

Just a few months ago, in early July, the NABC announced the appointment of Craig Robinson as the fifth executive director in the history of the association, formed in 1927 by legendary University of Kansas coach Phog Allen .

Robinson’s appointment closed out the 29-year tenure of outgoing executive director Jim Haney, whose omniscient leadership guided the NABC in a transformational era .

I was fortunate to be there from the beginning of that period, having worked for seven years as the NABC board secretary and media consultant with Joe Vancisin, the former Yale coach who preceded Haney as executive director and was retiring . The NABC board during that time, headed by Johnny Orr, George Blaney and George Raveling, sought to use the opportunity of transition to move the NABC headquarters, then located in Branford, Conn . , to the Kansas City area. The coaches firmly believed that the move would allow improved communication and access to the NCAA staff at its headquarters in Shawnee Mission, Kan .

My first meeting with Jim, Carol and their son, Jimmy, was at a meeting of the NABC board, the NCAA men’s basketball staff and CBS in Newport, R . I . It was a time when the groups gathered with families while also meeting to review the past NCAA championship and setting course for the years ahead .

While I joined Jim and Carol in the meetings, my wife, Nancy, took our three children along with Jimmy Haney, to see the sights around the beautiful port city . It was the perfect time to connect .

Soon thereafter, Jim embarked on acquiring space for the new headquarters in Overland Park, Kan . , in close proximity to the NCAA . He then built a staff of professionals to grow the membership, develop marketing strategies and became immersed in engaging the community .

The first major marketing coup for the NABC was the creation of Fan Jam in 1993 during the NABC Convention and NCAA Final Four in New Orleans . The interactive event, patterned after the NBA Jam Session, was a huge hit, sponsors were added, and Nike came on board as the title sponsor . Not long after, the NCAA saw the great success of the NABC marketing efforts under Haney and purchased Fan Jam, which has had some name changes and is now the NCAA Fan Fest, enjoyed by all during the NABC Convention and Final Four .

Following the relocation of the NCAA headquarters from Kansas to Indianapolis in 2000, Haney’s inroads forging strong relationships in the Kansas City community paid dividends for the NABC . The association headquarters relocated to downtown Kansas City, Mo . , in 2004 with big plans for men’s basketball . As Kansas City built a new arena – the Sprint Center – Haney knew that this was an opportunity to celebrate basketball, its history and honor its coaches and players . The College Basketball Experience (CBE), one of the nation’s top attractions including numerous experiential fan events, shares a common lobby with Sprint Center (now T-Mobile Center) and opened in the fall of 2007 and is home to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame .

This also opened the door for me to join the NABC staff on a full-time basis, retiring from my position as associate director of athletics at Southern Connecticut State University after 36 years . Jim graciously offered me the position of public relations director as Kevin Henderson and John Gravino moved over from the NABC to manage the CBE . In many ways it was a lifechanging moment for me .

Haney continued to develop avenues for the growth and visibility of the NABC, creating the “Guardians of the Game”, a national awareness and education program . The core values of advocacy, education, leadership and service are the focus of the program and the positive aspects coaches play in the lives of student-athletes .

While leaving his position as executive director of the NABC, Haney will stay on for another year as executive director of the NABC Foundation, Inc., a non-profit corporation which was organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes of the NABC . Since its creation, the NABC Foundation has focused on literacy programs for middle school aged youth and also annually holds a Court of Honor Gala to honor national business leaders with roots in college basketball . A benevolent fund to assist NABC member coaches in need was also established .

Highly principled with great faith in God and the value of family, Jim most recently was the catalyst for the NABC’s Committee on Racial Reconciliation . His long relationship with Pastor Brett Fuller, who served for many years as chaplain of the NABC and having him join this committee, was a key piece in engaging the NABC to take a significant stance and a call to action to fight systemic racism .

Haney’s foresight paid great dividends in 2000 when he added Reggie Minton to the staff as associate executive director, a position he held until being named deputy executive director in 2004 . It was the perfect match of two incredible individuals to guide the NABC in the 21st century .

The addition of Minton allowed Haney to focus on the growth of the coaching profession and the game, working and lobbying with the NCAA as an ex-officio member of the Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee .

Minton, who announced his retirement in September, has had a distinguished career as a military officer, a coach at the Air Force Academy and administrator .

It was never difficult to recognize his history of life in the military as our weekly staff meeting would begin at 1400 .

It may have taken awhile but I think our NABC staff members have learned to make it on time .

With an easy going and friendly manner and long history in the coaching profession, Reggie played an integral role in contact with coaches . Whether working with legends like John Chaney, Nolan Richardson and Gene Keady or young coaches looking for information and advice as they enter the coaching profession, he was always willing to listen and advise .

Minton represented the NABC with Coaches vs . Cancer, a collaboration with the American Cancer Society, which has raised more than $110 million since its inception. He played a significant role in the exempt tournament the NABC sponsors each year – the Hall of Fame Classic and also chairs the Blue Ribbon Selection Committee for the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame .

Working closely with the NCAA on all basketball matters, Minton heads our staff preparation for the annual NABC convention operations including securing courtesy cars needed for transport during the event .

A former member of the NABC board of directors, Minton has chaired the selection committee for the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and has been a trustee for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame . He is a past chair of the NCAA Rules Committee, served as a consultant to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Issues Committee from 2002-2011, and several other key NCAA committees and steering groups .

I know I speak for the entire NABC staff as we salute Jim and Reggie for the great legacy they have left with the NABC; their consistent efforts to improve the coaching profession and the game of basketball; their leadership, trust and faith in our staff; and most of all for their caring and friendship .

Jamie Dixon President TCU

Gary Stewart First Vice President Stevenson University

Lennie Acuff Second Vice President Lipscomb University

John Calipari Third Vice President University of Kentucky

Matt Margenthaler Fourth Vice President, Minnesota State University, Mankato

John Thompson IIITommy Amaker, Director Harvard University

Bill Coen, Director Northeastern University Pat Cunningham, Director

Frank Martin, Director University of South Carolina

Matt Painter, Director Purdue University

Bob Huggins, Director West Virginia University Cuonzo Martin, Director University of Missouri

Mike McGrath, Director University of Chicago

Pat Estepp, Director Cedarville University

Charlie Brock 2018-19 Past President Springfield College

Phil Martelli, Director Emeritus University of Michigan

Tom Izzo, Director Emeritus Michigan State University John Moore, Director Westmont College Dave Archer, Director NHSBCA

Thom McDonald, Director NJCAA & Two-Year Colleges