THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES
FALL 2015
Georgia State Head Coach & NABC President Ron Hunter
Reflections on a memorable 2014-15 season
Fall
2015
National Association of Basketball Coaches 1111 Main Street, Suite 1000 Kansas City, Missouri 64105 Phone: 816-878-6222 • Fax: 816-878-6223 www.nabc.com ________________________________________________
Departments
NABC EXECUTIVE STAFF
From the Editor ........................................................................ 4
Jim Haney Executive Director Reggie Minton Deputy Executive Director Carol Haney Senior Director of Internal Affairs Troy Hilton Senior Director of Corporate Relations and Association Affairs Stephanie Whitcher Chief Financial Officer Rick Leddy Senior Director of Communications Rose Tate Director of Membership Ebony Donohue Associate Director of Membership Mark Heatherman Senior Director of Special Events Janelle Guidry Director of Convention Wade Hageman Director of Corporate Relations Jenna Wright Director of Convention Housing
Important Dates To Remember Rick Leddy
From the Executive Director .................................................. 6
Establishing and Maintaining an Atmosphere of Compliance Jim Haney
2015-16 Board Of Directors ................................................. 9 NCAA Eligibility Center ........................................................ 18 Awareness and Access to Information are Critical Components With New Division I Academic Standards Approaching National High School Basketball Coaches Association ... 19 Report on Annual Summer Meeting Dave Archer
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NABC Chaplain’s Corner .................................................... 20
2 015 -16 B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S
TEAM. The Art of Becoming One
President, Ron Hunter Georgia State University First Vice President, Jeff Jones Old Dominion University Second Vice President, Paul Hewitt Third Vice President, Bo Ryan University of Wisconsin Fourth Vice President, Bill Self, University of Kansas 2013-14 Past President, Phil Martelli Saint Joseph's University 2014-15 Past President, Page Moir Roanoke College Charlie Brock, Springfield College Lorenzo Romar, University of Washington Gary Stewart, Stevenson University Mike Brey, University of Notre Dame Trent Johnson, TCU Lennie Acuff, University of Alabama in Huntsville Mark Gottfried, North Carolina State University Cy Alexander, North Carolina A&T University Jamie Dixon, University of Pittsburgh Johnny Dawkins, Stanford University John Calipari, University of Kentucky John Thompson III, Georgetown University Matt Margenthaler, Minnesota State University, Mankato Pat Cunningham, Trinity (TX) University Tommy Amaker, Harvard University Jim Boeheim, Syracuse University Dave Archer, National High School Basketball Coaches Association Bob Burchard, Columbia (MO) College
Pastor Donnell Jones
National Center for Fathering ............................................ 21
Four Things Every Coach Can Give His Kids Carey Casey
Features Q&A with Ron Hunter ......................................................... 10 2015 Hardwood Classic Celebrates 10th Anniversary For Coaches & Troops ...................... 13 Athletes In Action Plays Host To Retreat For HBCU Coaches .................... 16 Clinic: 5 on 4 Continuous Drill ........................................ 23 Kim Elders, Head Basketball Coach, Cornerstone (MI) University
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EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS NABC Executive Director: Jim Haney NABC Deputy Executive Director: Reggie Minton CPA: Brian Welch, Welch & Associates, LLC NABC General Counsel: Dennis Coleman, Daniel B. Adams, Ropes & Gray, LLP (Boston, MA) Board Secretary: Rick Leddy Board Consultants: Dan Gavitt, NCAA Vice President for Men's Basketball Kevin Lennon, NCAA Vice President Dan Guerrero, Chair, NCAA Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee and Director of Athletics, UCLA
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Photo Credits: Cover and Pages 10 -12 – Courtesy of Georgia State University Athletics; Pages 13 -15 – Courtesy of Troops First Foundation and CWO2 Tarelton “Tyrell” Holmes; 16 -17 – Courtesy of Athletes in Action; 22-23 – Courtesy of Cornerstone University Athletics.
Time-Out is published quarterly by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Produced by: Very Digital Layout & Design: Begany Design Printing: Allen Press For advertising information please contact Rick Leddy at ricknabc@gmail.com
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From the Editor, Rick Leddy
Important Dates To Remember
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s we get very close to the start of the 2015-16 season, here is some information on important dates coming up soon and throughout the year for NABC members.
Membership • New Applications and Membership renewal payments, which include the late processing fee, are accepted until October 15, 2015. • 2016 Convention Pre-registration will begin the last week of October – February 1, 2016. An email communication will be sent when Convention Pre-registration opens. • The 2016 NABC Convention is scheduled for Thursday, March 31 – Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston, Texas. • Future sites in this rotation for the NCAA® Men’s Final Four® are 2017- Phoenix; 2018 – San Antonio; 2019 – Minneapolis; 2020 – Atlanta; and 2021 – Indianapolis.
Awards • The deadline for nominations for the 2016 Allstate NABC Good Works Team® is Friday, October 23, 2015. To access the nomination form, go to: https://www.nabc.org/Allstate_NABC_Good_Works_Team/2016_Nomination_Form
Charitable Events Barefoot for Bare Feet. The annual Samaritan’s Feet event where coaches walk barefoot on the sideline during a game to raise awareness and funds to provide shoes to needy children around the world is set around the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., on January 18, 2016. http://www.samaritansfeet.org/programs/barefoot-for-bare-feet/ Suits and Sneakers. The annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers week, when coaches wear sneakers during games to raise awareness and funds for cancer research is scheduled for January 25-31, 2016. http://www.nabc.org/coaches_vs_cancer Coaches Powering Forward for Autism. A newer initiative that began a year ago, Coaches Powering Forward for Autism benefitting Autism Speaks, will be held on February 20-21, 2016. Georgia Tech assistant coach Tom Herrion and Towson head coach Pat Skerry, both with sons on the autism spectrum, started this program, teaming with Autism Speaks. Coaches, athletics staff, broadcasters, etc., wear a blue “puzzle piece” on their lapel to raise awareness for the program. https://www.autismspeaks.org/site-wide/coaches-powering-forward
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Signature NABC Events National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame 2015 Induction Ceremonies Kansas State’s Rolando Blackman, Quinn Buckner of Indiana, Ohio State’s John Havlicek, Long Beach State’s Ed Ratleff and Charlie Scott of North Carolina headline the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame induction class of 2015. Joining them for the 10th enshrinement ceremony are legendary coaches Don Donoher of Dayton, the late C. Felton “Zip” Gayles of Langston and Lou Henson, who coached at Hardin Simmons, New Mexico State and Illinois. The Class of 2015 will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Friday, November 20, 2015, at the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland in Kansas City. General public tickets will be available online August 1, 2015. For more information on the induction event, follow @CBHOF on Twitter or visit www.collegebasketballhalloffame.com. NABC members use Code NABC for a 50% discount on induction ceremony tickets online. The Hall of Fame is located in the College Basketball Experience (CBE), a world-class entertainment facility adjacent to Sprint Center in Kansas City. 2015 CBE Hall of Fame Classic The 2015 CBE Hall of Fame Classic will take place November 23-24 at Sprint Center. The four teams participating are Kansas State, Missouri, North Carolina and Northwestern. Tickets for the championship round games at Sprint Center are available through www.axs.com, www.cbehalloffameclassic.com, by phone at 1-888-929-7849 or in person at Sprint Center Box Office. Best wishes to all of our member coaches for a very successful and healthy season in 2015-16!
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From the Executive Director, Jim Haney
Q&A with Executive Director Jim Haney
Establishing and Maintaining an Atmosphere of Compliance
During the Division I head coaches’ meeting in Indianapolis during the Final Four, you expressed great concerns over the NCAA enforcement policies that will result in significant penalties being assigned to coaches who are found guilty by the NCAA Infractions Committee. What can you share with us about the NCAA enforcement process? Let me first state that I remain very concerned for our coaches for three primary reasons. First, the increased severity of penalties that the NCAA adopted a few years ago will impact the coaches in a dramatic way including losing the ability to coach games. Secondly, the head coach will have to prove he is not only innocent of any wrongdoing associated with a particular allegation but also prove that he had “established and maintained an atmosphere of compliance” with those who directly or indirectly report to him. Finally, “establishing and maintaining an atmosphere of compliance” at an acceptable level to satisfy the NCAA Enforcement staff and the NCAA Infractions Committee that the head coach has “established and maintained an atmosphere of compliance” is at the discretion of the members of the staff and committee. There are no absolutes to share with coaches that if you do these 10 steps you have “established and maintained an atmosphere of compliance”.
Have you visited with Jon Duncan, Vice President for Enforcement, and discussed your concerns? Yes, I have. I believe Jon is sincere in his desire to have Enforcement staff members act with integrity and not be influenced by a desire to “bring a coach down.” I recognize the Infractions Committee bases its findings, in part, on the information presented by the enforcement staff. The credibility of the information presented to the committee is impacted by the integrity and perspective of the investigators. Those investigators have significant influence based on the new NCAA enforcement policies. With so many negative statements made about coaches by the media and other coaches, I fear that the perspective of investigators can be swayed by the thoughts that coaches cheat without realizing it.
There must be some recommendations you have for coaches. Please share some of those. I do have some recommendations including the following: • The fact that you may never have had a NCAA violation of any sort in the past has no bearing now or in the future. There is a higher demand of “establishing and maintaining an atmosphere of compliance” requiring a higher standard of leadership in compliance by the head coach that will satisfy the NCAA Enforcement Staff and Infractions Committee. • The head coach should meet with the director of athletics to establish the compliance framework under which the head coach will manage the men’s basketball program. The athletic director then can communicate the appropriate expectations to athletic department staff including the compliance officer to support the compliance model for men’s basketball. 6
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• Anyone who is hired and/or accountable only to the head coach and commits NCAA violations could lead the NCAA Enforcement Staff and Infractions Committee to conclude that those individuals were carrying out the coach’s wishes, wishes that violated NCAA rules, or conclude that the head coach should have known what was happening that lead to the violation by one of those employees. In either case, the head coach will likely be held to the “responsible and accountable” standard regardless of the head coach’s efforts to establish and maintain an atmosphere of compliance. • The head coach should keep a file containing documents that show he has spoken to staff, student-athletes, support staff, etc., about the importance of adhering to NCAA rules and the consequences of not following those rules. The file would also include notes of the Compliance Officer’s presentations and participation with the program. • The Compliance Officer should become a “trusted advisor” to the staff and program. First, the Compliance Officer should be involved in weekly meetings with the basketball staff regarding compliance related issues including recruiting discussions. Second, the Compliance Officer should speak weekly about some relevant compliance matter including do and don’ts in the various recruiting periods to the staff and team. Third, the Compliance Officer should keep notes of all meetings and share those notes with the head coach and staff. Finally, the head coach should keep those notes in the head coach’s compliance file folder. • There will be ethical dilemmas that arise for head coaches, assistant coaches and players. The Compliance Officer should be included in discussions with the head coach and staff on how to address those ethical dilemmas. A written record of that discussion by the Compliance Officer should be made with notes of conclusions and actions taken. The head coach should keep a copy of those matters in his file folder. • Any violation of NCAA rules should be immediately reported to the Director of Athletics and Compliance Officer, no exceptions, regardless of how minor or major they may be. • If the NCAA notifies the institution of an investigation into the men’s basketball program, the head coach and assistant coaches should get representation by an attorney when speaking to NCAA Enforcement Staff members. • When NCAA investigators come to campus, they will speak to the assistant coaches and the head coach exploring the validity of potential rules violations. Furthermore, the head coach will have to prove he “established and maintained an atmosphere of compliance” within the program. This is when the head coach needs to pull out his compliance file folder. The compliance officer and assistant coaches will also be asked about the head coach and his efforts to “create and maintain an atmosphere of compliance.”
What do you hope to accomplish as you share your thoughts and concerns to the coaches? It is my hope that this document will be a catalyst for coaches to take very seriously the challenge before them in complying with the new NCAA Enforcement policies and procedures! This is serious and every coach needs to carefully examine how his program is managed and what steps he needs to institute to protect his name, reputation, his family and program!
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2015-16 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Ron Hunter Georgia State University
First Vice President: Jeff Jones Old Dominion University
Second Vice President: Paul Hewitt
Third Vice President: Bo Ryan University of Wisconsin
Fourth Vice President: Bill Self University of Kansas
2013-14 Past President: Phil Martelli Saint Joseph’s University
2014-15 Past President: Page Moir Roanoke College
Charlie Brock Springfield College
Lorenzo Romar University of Washington
Gary Stewart Stevenson University
Mike Brey University of Notre Dame
Trent Johnson TCU
Lennie Acuff University of Alabama in Huntsville
Mark Gottfried North Carolina State University
Cy Alexander North Carolina A&T
Jamie Dixon University of Pittsburgh
Johnny Dawkins Stanford University
John Calipari University of Kentucky
John Thompson III Georgetown University
Matt Margenthaler Minnesota State University, Mankato
Pat Cunningham Trinity (TX) University
Tommy Amaker Harvard University
Jim Boeheim Syracuse University
Dave Archer, National High School Basketball Coaches Association
Bob Burchard Columbia College
Ron Hunter Q&A with
Georgia State Head Coach and NABC President
Q: Can you sum up everything that has happened in your life in the last year in five words or less? A: “Best time of my life!” Q: This past season, you not only watched your son, R.J., hit a spectacular, buzzer-beating three-pointer to upset Baylor in the second round of the NCAA tournament, but had a second straight season with 25 wins. Please share your thoughts on Georgia State’s 2014-15 season. A: When I came to Georgia State, I told everyone that I wanted to build a winning program, not just have a successful season every few years. I think the last two years have shown we are moving in that direction. We have created a winning culture where losing is not an option. The wins have added up for many reasons, but one of the biggest is taking care of things at home. In the last two years, we are 25-1 at home. Our fans come out strong and I honestly believe have given us the best home-court advantage in the Sun Belt. I will remember the 2014-15 season for a lot of reasons, including the NCAA tournament. The team was such a pleasure to coach and has helped us establish a winning culture at GSU. Q: Your son, R.J., not only had a spectacular season but was selected this year in the first round of the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics with the 28th overall pick. Please share your thoughts on the events surrounding this year’s NBA draft and R.J.’s selection. A: As a father and a coach, it was an incredible feeling watching R.J. get drafted. The three years that I got to coach him were three of the best years of my life. Not too many fathers get to spend every day with their college-aged son, so I greatly appreciate that. Being with him as he was selected by the Boston Celtics in the NBA draft was special. He was able to have all of his family and friends together which made it even better. It was a night that our family will never forget and I look forward to now getting a chance to be a Dad again. N A B C I TI M E-OUT
Q: As the head coach at IUPUI, you recruited and coached George Hill, who was drafted 26th overall in the 2008 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs. In the last seven seasons, three with the Spurs and the last four with the Indiana Pacers, he has had a solid NBA career, starting more than half of the regular season games he has played and 56 of 67 NBA playoff games. Please tell us how it felt to have Hill drafted in the first round and now to watch the success he’s enjoyed as a professional. A: It has been an absolute pleasure to watch George continue to grow as a player. He has worked hard on his game and is someone that young players should look up to. It was incredible for me to see him get drafted and to now have had a very successful career in the NBA. He proves that it doesn’t matter what level of collegiate basketball you play, if you work hard and take advantage of the most of your opportunities, you can succeed. I still enjoy talking with and seeing him after all these years and know that he is not done having success in the NBA. Q: You have served as a member of the NABC board of directors for many years and are the NABC president this year. Please tell about your experience as a board member and how the NABC serves its members. A: It has been an honor to serve as a board member and now as the NABC president. Getting to work alongside some of the greatest minds in the game has helped me immensely over the years. At the end of the day, all of our coaches want what is best for their program and for the game. I think the NABC has allowed us to work together to improve so many aspects of the game we love. It is a great organization that is and will continue doing great work. Q: The NCAA created a new governance structure for NCAA Division I this year and established a 12-person Division I Men’s
Basketball Oversight Committee. This committee, which includes you and Bill Self of Kansas representing coaches, will oversee actions of the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, provide direction to the Men’s Basketball Rules Committee, and take over many of the duties of the former Division I Men’s Basketball Issues Committee. Please tell us your thoughts on the governance structure, the impact it will have on Division I men’s basketball, and how you see your role as a committee member. A: I am honored that they selected me to be a part of such a committee. I think the goal of every member of the committee is to help college basketball be the best it can be.
We have seen how extremely popular the sport can be, especially during the NCAA tournament. We need to create that excitement throughout the season, which means putting the best play on the floor and building it the right way. There are a lot of challenges with every sport and hopefully we can tackle the biggest for college basketball and make it even better. FA L L 2 0 1 5 I
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Q: Tell us your feelings on the rules changes for college basketball this season, particularly the reduction of the shot clock to 30 seconds and the increase of the arc in the lane from three to four feet. What effect will those have on the game and how do coaches adjust? A: I think the rules changes are a step in the right direction. It’s good that the shot clock was reduced from 35 to 30 seconds, though I am not sure it is going to give us exactly what we wanted. At the end of the day, I would like to see us get it down to 24 seconds just like the NBA. I think the increase of the arc from three to four feet will be good, but at the end of the day, it comes down to giving the referees the best chance to call the game properly. As for coaches adjusting, I don’t think it will be that big an adjustment for most, especially as teams try and play an up-tempo offense. Q: The NCAA also changed the rule for the undergraduate transfer in NCAA Division I men’s basketball and now student-athletes must sit out for a year when transferring? Please give us your thoughts on this rule. A: I have had a problem with the transfer rules for a long time. We as coaches “transfer” all the time without restrictions. Our Presidents, Athletics Directors and staff “transfer” without restrictions. I understand that the NCAA wants to get the number of transfers down, but honestly, I don’t think it is a college basketball 12
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problem as much as it is one in our society. Student-athletes freely transfer high schools all the time. There has to be a happy medium for the student-athlete and universities when it comes to transferring. I am always in favor of what’s right for our student-athletes. Q: There is a proposal, supported by the NABC, for graduate student-athletes who wish to transfer to another institution for their final year of eligibility would also have to sit out a year in residence before playing but would be allowed a sixth year of eligibility. Please give us your thoughts on this proposal. A: I want what is best for the student-athlete as we need to put them first. If a student-athlete wants to transfer after graduating, they should be able to without penalty. I think it is great that we want to give them a chance to play, but do not necessarily agree with them needing to sit out a year. Many of these student-athletes need structure in their lives and if you take away the ability to play and travel with their team, it may just create more problems. Q: For college coaches everywhere, you have been the face of the Samaritan’s Feet “Barefoot for Barefeet” campaign. How has your association with Samaritan’s Feet affected your life? A: Working with Samaritan’s Feet changed my life. It put so many things in perspec-
tive. I could win every game I coach, win every title possible, however, seeing the smile on the face of a child who we have just given their first pair of shoes will always mean more to me than anything I can do on the basketball court. With the help of so many, including founder Manny Ohonme, Samaritan’s Feet is trying to change the lives of 300 million children around the world who wake up without shoes on their feet. Getting to help them is the biggest reward I could ever ask for in my life and to see that my family and players have joined me in helping makes it even more special. Q: Final Question is multiple choice. My most memorable moment over the last year is: A. The upset of Baylor in the second round of the NCAA tournament B. Falling off the stool after R.J.’s long three-pointer fell to win C. Watching your son selected in the first round of the NBA draft A: C. I want to build Georgia State into one of the best programs in the nation but getting to see my son fulfill his lifelong dream will be the most memorable. I love Georgia State and plan to be here for a long time to come. Family is extremely important to me and I’m glad R.J. wore a Georgia State uniform for three years and will always be a part of the Georgia State family.
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2015 HARDWOOD CLASSIC CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY FOR
COACHES &TROOPS
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ick Kell, the co-founder and executive director of Feherty’s Troops First Foundation, has been involved with wounded veterans for more than a decade. The genesis of his desire to grow this work into the foundation came while attending a University of Maryland basketball game in 2004. At halftime, as the Terps honored several wounded veterans from the nearby Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the former advertising executive recognized an opportunity. With the assistance of several college basketball-coaching friends, including Gary Williams, Bobby Cremins and Tom Izzo, Kell developed an initiative to travel abroad with college coaches to visit with members of the United States Armed Forces in 2005. These summer journeys, Operation Hoop Talk and Operation Hardwood, began at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait in 2005 and, over the next decade, have significantly impacted the lives of U.S. troops as well as numerous college basketball coaches. Always searching to develop relevant and unique programs, Kell decided this year to bring back Operation Hardwood after a five-year hiatus and organized the Hardwood Classic. “Last April, I met with the colonel at Camp Arifjan and discussed the possibility of bringing Operation Hardwood back,” said Kell. “The U.S. troops had been confined to base after some violence in Kuwait City at the end of Ramadan and I thought holding the 10th anniversary of Operation Hardwood as the Hardwood Classic might be a way to boost morale.” With strong support from the command at Camp Arifjan, Kell put together a team of eight current and former coaches to travel to Kuwait this summer, including several who had made similar trips in the past. The group included Tulane University coach Ed Conroy (4th Hardwood); Oakland University coach Greg Kampe; Siena College coach Jimmy Patsos; Stevenson University coach and NABC board member Gary Stewart (3rd Hardwood); former Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio, now an analyst with ESPN; former University of Virginia coach Pete
Gillen, now a CBS Sports analyst (2nd Hardwood); former St. John’s coach and Fox Sports analyst Steve Lavin (3rd Hardwood); and NABC Deputy Executive Director Reggie Minton, former coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy (6th Hardwood). Prior to this team of coaches leaving the U.S., they visited with wounded warriors receiving treatment and rehabilitation in the Washington, D.C., area. “In the visit before we left for Kuwait, I had a chance to meet with a soldier I had met several years earlier. In an attack on his Humvee, he lost both legs, one arm and most of the other arm,” said Stewart. “Now he has two new fully functional arms implanted and walks with prosthetic legs. He has such an unbelievable spirit along with the determination and will to keep moving forward.” Upon arrival at Camp Arifjan, which has been used as a staging point for troops for Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, the visiting coaches received a hearty welcome as well as temperatures in the 120-degree range. “The atmosphere was different than the previous time I visited Kuwait, when every soldier, even when on the base, always carried a weapon,” said Minton, whose last trip to Kuwait was in 2009. “We were treated very well and with the utmost courtesy.” The history of Operation Hardwood, even after a five-year hiatus, is still evident in the post’s gymnasium. “There are still many photos hanging on the walls in the gym from past events, including photos of Izzo, (Kelvin) Sampson and the late Skip Prosser from the first trip there”, Kell said. When it was time to play basketball, N A B C I TI M E-OUT
each of the coaches “drafted” soldiers for their teams and had time to practice before the three-day Hardwood Classic tournament began. “This was the first time that we had a female participant on each of the teams and it worked really well,” said Kell. “That included Shanda Garth, who played in the first Operation Hardwood in 2005 as a non-commissioned officer and now holds the rank of captain.”
Garth, 44, and a 22-year Army veteran, was a member of Minton’s team. “It was a pleasure to have her on my team and she really held her own,” said Minton. “Her physical conditioning is outstanding and that was very evident in her play.” The competition was among the best ever for Operation Hardwood events with multiple overtime games and even one that went to double overtime. Conroy’s team won the Hardwood Classic championship, topping the team coached by Gaudio in the final. “This was my first winning team in four tries and I told my players that I wanted my picture on the wall,” said Conroy. “I wanted the soldiers on my team to know that we would have fun but would also play very hard. When the games started, it was like conference games in February. Very competitive.” “The Hardwood Classic is special to us stationed at Camp Arifjan because it shows
that people care enough to take time out of their busy schedules to come spend time with the soldiers. Playing basketball was a bonus,” said CWO2 Tarelton “Tyrell” Holmes. “I worked closely with Coach Minton the whole week and I really liked the fact that before we even started talking about basketball, he took the first hour of our practice time to get to know each of the team members. It was also great to see the competitiveness amongst the coaches via trash talk to each other.” The overriding feelings of all of the participants are centered on gratitude and humility. “You go over and say thanks to the men and women for all that they do and what that allows us to do,” said Conroy. “We have a chance to meet so many impressive and wonderful people from different backgrounds. It’s one of the most gratifying experiences of my life and I think about it every day.” “Participating in Operation Hardwood is the best professional experience I have ever experienced. We were there for a week but the relationships last a lifetime,” said Stewart. “It is enriching, educational, and uplifting to see the spirit and commitment of our Service men and women.”
Feherty’s Troops First Foundation
___________________________________ Co-founders: Rick Kell and David Feherty Incorporated: 2008 (non-profit corporation) Website: troopsfirstfoundation.org ___________________________________
In addition to Operation Hardwood and Operation Hoop Talk, Troops First also conducts Operation Proper Exit, Operation Warrior Call and the Leroy Petry Village of Honor. Troops First conducts an annual IED (Improvised Explosive Days) Golf Tournament and the held 24/7 Battle Buddies Summer Games in August. FA L L 2 0 1 5 I
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For many, this was the first time that they were able to go on a retreat and gain fellowship with other coaches. The event coordinators were “pleased with the turnout but it wasn’t too many for the first event,” said Donnie Marsh, the associate head coach at Texas Southern University. “We had an opportunity to make it more personal.” “The idea was to do something for coaches that serve in under-resourced environments,” Eric Nelson, AIA Director of Sports TEAM/BASKETBALL. Coaches from HBCU institutions face challenges that are different than those of majority schools. Unfortunately, most HBCU coaches have lower resources and less support available to them. “It’s easy to get in a ditch and feed off the negatives,” Marsh said. “This can affect your relationships with your players, colleagues and staff.” These coaches were able to share their own experiences and brainstorm ways to deal with similar challenges they all face. The less resources, the more creative coaches have to be in using the resources they have available to flourish. “We are in the same family and are trying to figure out what can make our family work,” said Akeem Misdeem, associate head coach at Hampton University. The coaches ranged from veterans who had coached for over 30 years to young coaches who recently started coaching. As a newer coach, Misdeem learned about situations he should avoid and ways that he could improve his leadership.
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“The speakers taught me the importance of having a servant attitude,” Misdeem said. “You have to become a better servant to be a better leader.” Coaches got to hear from people that have been serving in HBCU institutions for lengthy periods of time. They learned what it takes to be successful and the importance of faithfully leading themselves and others in challenging times. One of the highlights for many coaches was when former Delaware State men’s basketball coach Greg Jackson shared some of his experience as a veteran HBCU coach. Jackson is considered one of the winningest coaches in the history of HBCUs and has managed to handle several personal hardships with dignity despite his circumstances. “While some guys view it as a stepping-stone and want to get out of the system, he loves his experience and is proud of serving in HBCUs,” said Nelson. “Amidst all his challenges, he embraced his environment.” Breakout sessions created a safe environment for the coaches to express their thoughts and concerns with the HBCU environment. “This retreat allows them to speak on some common issues and really get hope as a result,” Nelson said. “The small groups that were developed were effective because they gave people a chance to open up in a real vulnerable and safe setting.” Through panel discussions, the coaches learned about how to build a culture that acknowledges wins and losses in the sport but also prepares young adults
for life after they graduate. “A successful coach is one who can get the people around them to do the absolute best that they can,” said Tim Carter, a former member of the NABC board of directors. “It may not result in wins, but when you can get a young person to do what’s best for their team, you’ve just taught them to also do their best in life.” The retreat was a major step in the intentional effort to engage and serve the HBCU community of coaches with AIA. “This will greatly impact coaches as they go back to their lives and help them as they lead their families and their athletes. I thank AIA for having the vision to do this and for having it specifically for HBCU coaches,” Carter said. The retreat also created a reliable network of support for coaches in terms of player and sport related matters or personal matters. “After building some great relationships, we feel comfortable in running things by each other,” said Marsh. “If I’m farther along in my career than other guys, it’s also important that I serve as a mentor to some of the younger coaches.” All of the participants hope that this was just the beginning for an annual retreat that will reenergize coaches and provide some of the support they need. The 2016 HBCU retreat is scheduled for June 3-5. “Sometimes we get caught up in our own situations and forget that we are in an extremely influential position,” said Marsh. “The retreat was a way to refocus and learn how to become better leaders.”
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Awareness and Access to Information are Critical Components With New Division I Academic Standards Approaching With new NCAA Division I academic standards approaching, high school student-athletes, parents and coaches need to be aware. If your athletes want to play NCAA Division I or II sports, they need to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. That means in addition to being a great athlete, they also must be a great student. As coaches, you are vital in helping spread the word about these academic standards. We need your help in emphasizing that from the beginning of ninth grade, courses and grades are more important than ever. It may seem hard to know where to turn these days for families to find the most accurate information about a very important topic – the academic requirements students must meet to compete at an NCAA school. Your student-athletes and their parents may have access to more advice about NCAA standards than ever before, but they need to be sure the information they receive is accurate and up-to-date. NCAA websites are the best sources for helpful material. Make sure your students have all the facts as they plan their schedule through the next school year. The NCAA Eligibility Center has launched a new website at NCAA.org/playcollegesports to help high school student-athletes successfully transition to college. The enhanced online content guides student-athletes through current and upcoming initial-eligibility requirements, recruiting guidelines, and timelines for staying on track in high school. A wide range of frequently-asked questions addressing issues, from academic and amateurism eligibility to high school and core-course review, are easily searchable and continue to be expanded. New online content for high school staff and coaches at NCAA.org/eligibilitycenter provides immediate access to initial-eligibility printouts, videos and tutorials. Stay current with initial-eligibility news by subscribing to the Coaches’ Newsletter, sent by email. Please share the NCAA Eligibility Center’s online resources with your student-athletes, their families and your colleagues. Find us on Twitter @NCAA_EC.
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Share this information – including the available downloads at 2point3.org – with players, fellow coaches, parents and high school administrators. Together we can make sure students have the information needed to become successful both on and off the court. Academic achievement has always been important. Now, more than ever, students must pay attention to their high school courses and grades. Tell students who plan to compete in Division I to visit 2point3.org for the full list of eligibility requirements. Coaches, here is a handy checklist to assist your athletes and parents with the NCAA initial-eligibility process.
CHECKLIST
How You Can Help • Visit NFHSLearn.com and join the more than 24,000 other coaches who have completed the free online NCAA Initial Eligibility course. • Make sure your athletes who want to play sports in college have registered at eligibilitycenter.org. • Talk to the parents of your athletes about the upcoming increase in academic standards. • Spread the word to your colleagues in the scholastic and nonscholastic coaching communities, including athletics directors. • High school counselors should have received a letter from the NCAA Eligibility Center. When requesting transcripts or on visits to high schools, take a moment to talk with the counselors to make sure they are familiar with the academic standards.
NABC I TIME-OUT
Report on Annual Summer Meeting by Dave Archer, Senior Director of NHSBCA Operations website: www.nhsbca.org
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Twitter: @NHSBCA
he National High School Basketball Coaches Association held its Annual Summer meeting in Las Vegas over three days in July. The multi-faceted conference included workshops, business meeting, partner presentations, best practice models and a Court of Honors award banquet. Greg Grantham (North Carolina), Nalin Sood (Washington) and Gary Wusterbarth (Washington) were this year’s award recipients at the Court of Honor Banquet. Toronto Raptors’ coach Dwayne Casey delivered terrific remarks as the speaker at the event. This year’s honorees, as well as all past honorees, received rings courtesy of Baron Championship Rings. Workshops were presented by Tom Hursey (Michigan) – “Growing Your Membership”; Don Logan (Iowa) – “Planning a Successful Clinic ”; Tom Barrick (Ohio) – “Communication With Membership”; and Steve Witty (Indiana) “Finding Partnerships”. The NHSBCA is establishing relations with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Danielle Donehew, executive director of the WBCA, outlined the organization’s purposes, functions and values in her presentation at the conference. Specific plans were developed to establish a mutually beneficial relationship. The NHSBCA is also starting a relationship with the NBA Coaches’ Association. Some of our coaches were able to attend some NBA D-Leagues while in Las Vegas. Connections have also begun with representatives of the NAIA and the National Junior College offices, who made presentations at the conference. At the conference, each state was allotted three minutes “on the clock” to bring up items from their state: Alaska – has incrediN A B C I TI M E-O UT
ble travel budgets due to distance between schools; Arkansas – is experiencing tremendous membership growth; Delaware – provides scholarships for student-athletes through an objective process; Illinois – is going through a transition after the passing of legend Chuck Rolinski, and is also looking to construct a basketball museum; Indiana – its girls tourney is completed before the boys tourney even starts, they are adding minutes to junior varsity game quarters; Iowa – continues to enhance the professional development of its coaches through its website and a great clinic; Kentucky – Scott Chalk is new executive director taking over for founding member Ken Trivette, who retired; Maine – its association is 35 years old and has a wonderful tourney in a state full of small schools; Maryland – is looking to re-establish a basketball coaches association; Michigan – continues to be the largest state basketball coaches association and shared ideas that other states could use; Minnesota – is looking to enhance their website; Missouri – has a great “Coaches vs. Cancer” program (Norm Stewart Classic) and also does a lot with Special Olympics; New Hampshire – Nearly 100% membership in a small state with small schools; New York – got back the two regular season games that had been taken away a few years ago and their Summer Hoops Festival continues to grow; North Carolina – established an extra endowment game in 1984, with one-quarter of the gate going to the state athletic association. Has raised nearly $10 million; Ohio – continues to operate its association through shared responsibilities among the leaders; Oregon – has an “all-sports” association/no basketball specific group; Pennsylvania – does not currently have a state basketball coaches association but is planning to get one started and get it done; Texas – continues to operate one of the nation’s largest clinics; Washington – exists under the umbrella of the overall state coaches association and continues to grow; – runs the premier all star games, which this year took in over $350,000. A major concern expressed by almost all states is a shortage in the number of scholastic coaches. It seems that fewer people are entering the profession and fewer coaches are committing to coaching as a career, leading to a rapid turnover. It has been reported that in the nation the average shelf life of a high school coach is about four years. There appears to be multiple reasons: (a) - emphasis on standardized academic tests leaves little free time for teachers to commit to coaching; (b) dealing with overzealous parents; (c) non-supportive administrators; (d) criticism on social media; (e) no interest in what is increasingly seen as a thankless job in what used to be an honored position; (f) players and parents placing more importance on the role of the non-scholastic coach compared to scholastic coaches. The NHSBCA is being pro-active and plans to be a “solution agent,” with this issue. The goal is to help grow the numbers of scholastic coaches and create climates where coaches will stay in the profession. FA L L 2 0 1 5 I
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NABC Chaplain’s Corner, Pastor Donnell Jones
TEAM
The Art of Becoming One
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f you lead a team, join a team or just watch one, you know the challenge of getting everyone to work well together. “A boat doesn’t go forward if each one rows their own way.” The greatest talent may be in the boat, but until all that talent rows together, it’s just one big splash. To go forward, each one has to give up rowing their own way and own the way of the team. To go forward, a team must learn the art of becoming one. Marriage, for example, is a team where rowing together is essential. My wife and I are polar opposites. I’m an extrovert. She’s an introvert. Being with people energizes me. Being alone energizes her. I prefer cold. She prefers heat. I’m talkative. She’s quiet. I’m a visual learner. She’s an audio learner. Given our differences, becoming one has proved to be a wonderful challenge. After years of practice, we actually make a pretty good team. We learned that we are different by design, but dynamic by decision. Differences are intended to be a source of complement, not a source of conflict. Many teams experience far more conflict than complement. This is true not only in marriage, but sports, business and most any team. The struggle to become one is real, but it’s all good. To go forward, a team must become aware, acknowledge, accept and appreciate the individual differences.
Awareness The first phase of becoming one is knowing specific differences. This is the moment a team becomes consciously aware of how each individual is different from the other team members. Until this happens, the team is unclear as to the source of ongoing conflict. Once there is team awareness of differences, a team can move from just seeing conflicts to solving conflicts.
Acknowledge The second phase of becoming one is communicating specific differences. This is the moment a team intentionally expresses what is known in a constructive vs. deconstructive way. Constructive communication involves discussing and discovering the benefits of specific differences. Deconstructive communication is what happens when the water cooler conversation spirals down to harmful information with people who are not part of the problem or solution. Communication is already happening on a team. The question is simply is simply is it constructive or deconstructive. Healthy communication allows a team to understand the “way” differences can shape the team for the best.
Accept The third phase of becoming one is embracing differences. This is the moment a team accepts the differences of the individual members. If team chemistry is ever to be evident, team acceptance must take place. The challenge at this stage is to ensure acceptance is more than just a toleration of differences. Otherwise, the team will maximize individual weaknesses and minimize individual strengths. It plays out when we say things like “that’s just the way he/she is” or “because you are this way, we cannot accomplish our goal.” The ability to work through challenges and remove obstacles becomes paramount.
Appreciate The fourth phase of becoming one is valuing differences. This is the moment a team experiences synergy. At the moment a team maximizes its strength of the members and minimizes the weaknesses, the team produces something greater than any individual member. This is when a team discovers and leverages the differences for good. Liabilities are turned into assets. What’s in the individual makes everyone so much better. What’s in the individual makes all great. All four stages are critical to moving from conflict to complement. A great team is much more than a talented group of individuals. A great team is a talented group that functions together as one. In other words, talent plus unity leads to greatness. This is what happens when each one rows the same way. Pastor Donnell Jones is pastor of Grace Covenant Church in Washington, D.C., Character Coach for the Maryland Terrapins and Chaplain of the NABC. 20
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NABC I TIME-OUT
Four Things Every Coach Can Give His Kids by Carey Casey, CEO, National Center for Fathering
should look for and how they should expect to be treated by him. We must give kids clear examples—in our words and our actions—that communicate respect and honor toward women.
Fathers and other men make important investments in the lives of youth and children. Coaches are part of that, and I know many of you are fathers as well as coaches, so you have numerous opportunities every day to be a positive influence. But what will you do with that influence? Here are four needs of children to keep in mind as you interact with them. Although these were originally conceived with fathers in mind, you can find appropriate ways to apply these with your players. 1. They need a living example. Being a role model encompasses every part of life, but there are a few areas where we really need to be intentional. First, set a good example for expressing emotions responsibly. With many men, anger is the only emotion that they show, and often the results are not pretty. So kids around us need to see how we deal with strong emotions in healthy ways. A big part of that is not shutting down and shutting people out, but having the courage to stay engaged. We can learn to regulate negative emotions. Another big area for our modeling is relationships. Boys get most of their ideas about women and how to relate to women from the key father figures in their lives, and girls figure out what kind of man they
N A B C I TI M E-OUT
2. They need a plan for the future. Young people don’t need to be pressured about adult matters, but they do need to be prepared for adulthood, and we are in a perfect position to do that. With fathers, I talk about the importance of helping kids explore vocational opportunities and matching their gifts and interests with possible career tracks. Also, they will benefit from our insights about relational matters—how to get along with people, being a good friend, and keys to finding (and becoming) a good spouse someday. Coaches can do these things too, but one of the main investments to make in your players’ future is to help them develop important skills, attitudes and values that will help them be winners no matter what they pursue. I’m talking about perseverance, humility, thankfulness, personal integrity, teamwork—whatever you believe is vital to their future. Find ways to teach those as you have the opportunity. 3. They need moral benchmarks. Moral benchmarks are events, experiences, or habits that help young people live based on deep convictions. Ultimately, we want them to look out beyond themselves and seek to make a difference for the greater good. One way to help them build strong character is to challenge them to respect authority—and hold them accountable when they show disrespect toward
someone. Also, I love how so many coaches these days emphasize volunteering, where teammates join together to visit a hospital or complete a project. Those real-life experiences of service give them better understanding for how worthwhile it is to get out of their comfort zones to help others. 4. They need our comfort. This doesn’t come easy for many men, but I believe we can show affirmation and comfort even as we’re trying to shape and teach the kids in our care. (This is probably even more important in dealing with young women.) Deep down, they want to know that they matter to us as people—especially when they make a mistake, forget something, or defy us in some way. We have to be sensitive enough to encourage them even when we’re trying to correct something they have done wrong. Many times it starts with simply listening. If we can patiently allow young people to express their feelings, show genuine concern, and then respond with empathy, we put ourselves on their side as they go through life’s ups and downs. That’s much better than having them view us as an adversary. I hope these thoughts will help you expand the definition of your “coaching” for your players—and help you love and equip your own children for life.
Carey Casey is CEO at the National Center for Fathering (NCF) and author of Championship Fathering. He is married with four children and nine grandchildren. The vision of NCF is to have an actively engaged father or father figure in the life of every child. See more articles and resources for dads at www.fathers.com, or contact NCF with a question or comment at dads@fathers.com.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the NABC.
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Cornerstone (MI) University
5 on 4 Continuous Drill By Kim Elders, Head Basketball Coach
Over the last 17 years, the Cornerstone University basketball team has been on of the top scoring teams in Division II of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), averaging 84 points per game. One of the biggest reasons for this statistic is the up-tempo style of basketball we’ve played over this period of time. We believe in playing 94-foot basketball and creating easy scoring opportunities predicated on our full-court pressure defense. Every drill that we do at Cornerstone emphasizes up-tempo basketball. We believe in playing the game fast and quick. Phrases that we continually instill into our players’ minds every day include: ‘zero downtime,’ ‘every time’ and ‘now!’ Every drill that we have is based on this premise – do things fast and quick but never in a hurry. When players are in a hurry or rush, mistakes are inevitable. The 2015 UPS NABC Coach of the Year in NAIA Division II, Kim Elders is beginning his 23rd season as head coach at Cornerstone University. The Golden Eagles captured NAIA Division II national championships in 1999, 2011 and 2015 and Elders’ teams have an overall won-lost record of 561-217 (.721).
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Our drills at Cornerstone have a two-fold purpose. The first is to train our players to play the game fast and quick both mentally and physically. The second is to condition our players with fast, continuous drills with no rest. One of our favorite drills and the one that emphasizes our up-tempo philosophy better than any other is our 5-4 Defensive Continuous Drill. This drill forces our players to play fast, quick and to be proactive. With the defense always outnumbered 5-4 in this drill, it teaches our five defensive rules – Awareness, Communication, Effort, Position and Together -- better than any other drill we use. Even though this is primarily a defensive drill, all of our drills have an offensive component to them as well. In this case, we want our players to get the outlet pass to half court quickly, attack the defense before it gets set, handle the ball without mistakes and find the open man by moving the ball to score.
5-4 Drill The drill begins at half court with the offensive team (five players). The defensive team (four players) starts in a box near the lane. The offense has no rules other than that the players must start behind the midcourt line before they can attack. The offense is doing whatever needs to be done to score. The defense has four rules: 1. Guard the ball hard; 2. Defend the four most dangerous players after each pass; 3. A player cannot guard the ball on two consecutive passes; 4. The closest player must rotate to the ball. We tell our players that they are playing man-to-man, not in a zone. If the offense scores, the players must get the ball out of the net before it hits the floor and outlet it to their extra offensive teammate at half-court (Diagram A). The rebounder drops off the floor and goes to half-court for the next outlet pass (Diagram B). The offense attacks the defense with the player (06) who received the outlet pass at half-court and the four players who were on the floor the previous possession. Zero downtime! If the defense gets a stop (Diagram C), the players must get the ball to their extra teammate at half-court with a quick, accurate outlet pass. They now become offensive players and are trying to score before the new defense gets set. The team that was on offense must drop one of its five players off the court (who then goes to half-court – Diagram D). The losing team must run two down and backs (timed). For the purpose of this drill, we have the extra player(s) from one team on the right side at half-court and the extra player(s) from the other team on the left side of half-court. In real game situations, almost every defensive possession will require at least one of two rotations. We believe that our 5-4 drill teaches our players to trust each other and to cover for each other as well as any drill we use. It also teaches our players how to make their defensive rotations and to execute closeouts. This drill takes the normal 5-4 drill and creates numerous situations where players are forced to play fast, quick and be proactive. This is a fun, fast-paced drill that helps train our players to play an up-tempo style of basketball while being conditioned at a very high level.
NABC I TIME-OUT
Diagram A
Diagram B x4
x3
x3 x4 04 05
05
04
x1
x2
02
x2 03
02
01 03
x5 x6
01 06
06
In this diagram, 01 passes to 02 who passes to 04. 04 drives and scores. 05 gets the ball out of the net and outlets it to 06 at half court. 5-4 resumes.
05 drops off the court and runs back to half court for next outlet pass.
Diagram C
Diagram D x3
x4 05
x3
04
x4 05
04
x2
x1
x1
x2
02
02 03 01
03
x5 x6
01 06
In this diagram, 01 passes to 02 who passes to 05. 05 shoots and missed. X4 rebounds the ball and outlets it to X5 at half court. The defense is now on offense attacking and looking to score.
x5 x6
06
One of the players who was on offense drops off the court and runs to half court for next outlet pass.