NABC - Time-Out Magazine - Fall 2016 by Very Digital Communications

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THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES

Q&A with NABC President Jeff Jones

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 ______________________________________________ NABC EXECUTIVE STAFF 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 Eric Wieberg Director of Digital & Social Media ______________________________________________ 2016-17 NABC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeff Jones, President, Old Dominion University Bill Self, First Vice President, University of Kansas Lorenzo Romar, Second Vice President, University of Washington Charlie Brock, Third Vice President, Springfield College Mike Brey, Fourth Vice President, University of Notre Dame Page Moir, 2014-15 Past President Ron Hunter, 2015-16 Past President, Georgia State University Mark Gottfried, Director, North Carolina State University Gary Stewart, Director, Stevenson University Jamie Dixon, Director, TCU Lennie Acuff, Director, University of Alabama in Huntsville Johnny Dawkins, Director, University of Central Florida John Calipari, Director, University of Kentucky Matt Margenthaler, Director, Minnesota State University, Mankato John Thompson III, Director, Georgetown University Tommy Amaker, Director, Harvard University Pat Cunningham, Director, Trinity (TX) University Bill Coen, Director, Northeastern University Ed Cooley, Director, Providence College Frank Martin, Director, University of South Carolina Matt Painter, Director, Purdue University Gary Waters, Director, Cleveland State University Dave Archer, Director, National High School Basketball Coaches’ Association-NHSBCA Bob Burchard, Director, Columbia College Tom Izzo, Director Emeritus, Michigan State University Ernie Kent, Director Emeritus, Washington State University Phil Martelli, Director Emeritus, Saint Joseph’s University ______________________________________________ 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 Dan Guerrero, Chair, NCAA Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee and Director of Athletics, UCLA Kevin Lennon, NCAA Vice President for Division I Governance

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THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES

2016

COLUMNS From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Introducing New Opportunities For Member Participation Rick Leddy From the Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Q&A To Begin The 2016-17 Season Jim Haney NCAA Eligibility Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Remember This Simple Formula For Initial Eligibility: 4x4=16 National High School Basketball Coaches Association. . . . . . . 19 Valuable Outcomes From NHSBCA Summer Conference Dave Archer National Center for Fathering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Opportunities To Grow And Improve Carey Casey NABC Chaplain’s Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Basketball: Prize Or Platform? Pastor Donnell Jones

FEATURES Q&A With NABC President Jeff Jones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Platform Has Arrived For Small College Basketball. . . . . . . . . . . 13 Eric Wieberg How To Get Your Team Focused On Academics. . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Matt O’Brien, Head Coach, Southwestern College (KS) Coach’s Clinic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Fast Feet, Quick Mind: How To Develop Pivot Work With Mental Acuity Dr. Oliver Eslinger, Head Coach, Caltech COVER NABC President Jeff Jones, Head Coach at Old Dominion University Photos courtesy of ODU External Relations. PHOTO CREDITS Pages 9, 11 - Courtesy of ODU External Relations; Page 13 - Courtesy of Small College Basketball. Time-Out is published quarterly by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Printed by Allen Press.

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FROM THE EDITOR, Rick Leddy

Introducing New Opportunities for Member Participation in 2016-17

As we begin the 2016-17 season, the NABC has added some new opportunities for its members to participate in communications. This is the first edition of Time-Out that features two articles that were submitted by members. Over the summer, I had requested in our monthly newsletter, The Basketball Bulletin, for members to submit clinic articles or other informational pieces for the four issues of Time-Out that would be of interest to other members of the NABC, especially younger coaches coming into the profession. In this issue, Oliver “Doc” Eslinger has contributed an on-court practice clinic entitled FAST FEET, QUICK MIND – How to develop pivot work with mental acuity. Eslinger, the 2016 recipient of a NABC Guardians of the Game award for Education, is the head coach at Caltech. Matt O’Brien, the head coach at Southwestern (KS) College entering his eighth season, went in another direction. He has mapped out his methods for increasing academic success of your student-athletes with his article – How to Get Your Team to Focus on Academics.

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The NABC created this opportunity for member participation in hope that it may: 1. Provide other NABC member coaches with valuable on-court basketball drills and practice plans that may help your team. Copy should be no more than 500 words and preferably have four (4) diagrams. Please also include your contact information and a brief bio. 2. Assist coaches with methods to enhance the performance of your student-athletes away from the court. Copy for these articles should be limited to 750 words and you are asked to include your contact information and a brief bio. 3. In many of our members institutions, coaches are members of the teaching faculty and may be seeking out opportunities to have articles published as a means for professional development. Any current member of the NABC who wishes to make a submission for Time-Out should send the information to be published to Rick Leddy, senior director of communications, by email to RickNABC@gmail.com or by fax to 203-507-2053. The NABC staff will review all articles submitted and those accepted will be published as space permits in Time-Out.

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In the 2016 summer issue of Time-Out, I introduced the newest staff member of the NABC. Eric Wieberg, a University of Kansas graduate who has extensive experience in collegiate athletics with the NCAA, the South Atlantic Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association, as the director of digital and social media for the NABC.

Coaches have influential voices and it’s time to make them heard. The NABC’s Twitter account will prompt periodic topics – spanning in-game strategy to off-court leadership – with the opportunity for coaches to reply with personal insight using the hashtag #NABCvoices. NABC. org will then curate the content online as an educational resource.

Eric is spearheading the NABC’s commitment to enhance its digital presence and engage more members to interact with the association online.

As Guardians of the Game, coaches provide a positive role in the lives of today’s studentathletes. Use the official NABC hashtag #GuardiansOfTheGame on your personal social media platforms to share how you’re living out the core values of the NABC: advocacy, leadership, service and education.

On Twitter and Facebook, follow the NABC’s official Twitter account at @NABC1927 and Facebook page at Facebook.com/NABC1927 for the latest news and information, along with exclusive content from association events.

Coaches Helping Coaches – The NABC Foundation Benevolent Fund The NABC Foundation’s Benevolent Fund, established in 2013, helps NABC members through temporary periods of financial difficulty. If you are a current NABC member experiencing financial difficulties such as a job loss, family illness, or for any other reason, consider applying for financial assistance. Funds are provided on a case-by-case basis. For more information, contact Stephanie Whitcher (Stephanie@NABC.com) or call 816-595-6171. You can also make a charitable donation to the Benevolent Fund at www.NABCFoundation.org.

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ANY AMOUNT you may be able to donate, no matter how large or how small, is very significant in the lives of our fellow coaches in need. We urge individuals who are eligible for assistance to seek help. We know that it takes a lot of courage to do this, but the Benevolent Fund is set up to help coaches in need (and their families), and we want the fund to provide as much help as possible. Your application will be held in the strictest confidence by the Benevolent Fund Committee. No one will know that you even applied for help unless you choose to tell them.

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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Jim Haney

Q&A with Executive Director Jim Haney As we begin the 2016-17 Academic Year, where does the issue of student-athlete time demands stand? During the coming months, the NCAA and the Autonomy 5 conferences will be voting on student-athlete time demand recommendations that will obviously impact our men’s basketball student-athletes as well as coaches. The initiative to study and recommend changes to student-athlete time demands emanates from the results of the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee survey circulated among DI student-athletes in all sports last summer. There is a strong sense of urgency among institutional, conference and NCAA administrators that this matter is important and action needs to occur soon. The NABC Board in January 2016 approved the formation of an Ad Hoc Group to study men’s basketball student-athletes’ time demands and make recommendations. Those recommendations were shared with the DI head coaches during the NABC Convention in March. The Group consisted of former coaches now serving as associate commissioners for DI conferences, men’s basketball student-athletes, NABC Board members Bo Ryan and Paul Hewitt and staff members from the NCAA and NABC. Those recommendations were forwarded to the NCAA and Autonomy 5 conferences in April. The feedback we have received from the NCAA is that the recommendations from the Ad Hoc Group were very helpful and appreciated! There was another Ad Hoc Group that was formed to study and make recommendations to the Men’s Basketball Championship Committee. What is the status of those recommendations? First, let me underscore that the NABC Board of Directors and the Ad Hoc Group members have

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nothing but respect for the Men’s Basketball Committee and the challenges they have in selection of teams, seeding of teams and bracketing of the tournament. At no time does anyone question the integrity of the members of the committee in carrying out their responsibilities. The NABC Board of Directors in May approved the formation of an Ad Hoc Group to make recommendations to the Basketball Committee regarding selection, seeding and bracketing. The Group was comprised of representatives (four of whom were coaches) from each of the Autonomy 5 conferences, five coaches from conferences whose teams have consistently received multiple bids to the NCAA Championship and five coaches representing conferences who historically only receive the automatic qualifier. In addition, Dan Guerrero, director of athletics at UCLA and former chair of the Basketball Committee, Doug Elgin, commissioner of the Missouri Valley Conference and member of the Basketball Committee, and Mike Slive, former commissioner of the SEC and chair of the Basketball Committee served on the Ad Hoc Group. Mike Slive served as co-chair with me. The Group met by conference calls and had one in-person meeting in New York City in late June. The Group forwarded 10 recommendations to the Men’s Basketball Committee. The Basketball Committee met in mid-July. They spent significant time reviewing the recommendations during a meeting that was already packed with agenda items. The response to the Ad Hoc recommendations was very positive. The Committee went to great lengths to reinforce their appreciation for recommendations. Some they immediately approved including providing the number one seed in the championship the opportunity to choose its second and third round

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site as well as its regional site. The balance of the recommendations is to be addressed by four Basketball Committee members and four Ad Hoc Group members with implementation taking place in 2018, if appropriate. Bob Huggins, Mark Few, Ron Hunter and Phil Martelli will be representing the Ad Hoc Group and the NABC. NABC staff will also participate in the discussions. Can you give us an example of the recommendations? Among the recommendations was the use of a “composite” ranking to replace the RPI as the primary sorting tool during selection and seeding. The Men’s Basketball Committee historically has used the RPI to identify what would be a top 50 win, a top 100 win, etc. There are a number of rankings that now exist that have their own recipe for identifying the quality of a win. The recommendation, similar to all the recommendations, was to respond to the ever changing environment including analytics. Very simply, the question is: Is there a better way today? The Ad Hoc Group believed that using more rankings and thereby creating a “composite” score to rank wins and losses was a better way today of sorting teams for selection and seeding. We have heard recently about “free agency” coming to college basketball. Will you share your thoughts on this matter? Let’s start with the fact that men’s basketball already has a very high transfer rate. Some are projecting as many as 700 men’s basketball players are transferring this year. Any transfer from a DI program transferring to another DI program must sit a year in residence before becoming eligible per NCAA rules. An undergraduate football player has filed a lawsuit challenging that NCAA rule that requires an undergraduate transfer to fulfill a one-year residence requirement at the institution he transfers to before he is eligible to compete. My understanding at this time is the case will be heard early in 2017. The NCAA is prepared to vigorously defend the present rule. The term “free agency” is being applied to the potential recruiting landscape if the court rules in favor of the student-athlete. The result would mean any NABC

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student-athlete in men’s basketball or football that transfers would be immediately eligible. One can envision student-athletes transferring in huge numbers looking for a better playing situation: more playing time, more television exposure, better role on the team, etc. College coaches would be actively recruiting players competing on other teams during the collegiate basketball season. The negative implications on team APR and graduation success could be monumental based on how many studentathletes transfer from your team in any give year. The number of teams ineligible to compete in the NCAA Championship would be significant and the institutions not eligible could be equally significant. We hear the NBA may increase the salaries offered to D-League players. What light can you shed on that topic? We have heard that there are proponents of increasing the salaries for two or three members of D-League teams from the present $20,000 range to upwards of $100,000 per year. The D-League already can take players out of high school. The concern is that heretofore, the salary was so minimal, it was not attractive. However, if a D-League team were to offer upwards of $100,000 that could definitely be a strong draw. How is the Benevolent Fund doing? The program is still relatively young. We have provided relief for 18 members thus far. We are very excited about its impact on coaches in need of financial assistance. We still face a challenge of making our coaches aware that the fund is there for them to draw on if they meet the criteria. The challenges that our members in need face after losing a job or other circumstance that creates a financial hardship is heart breaking. When we help, it is gratifying to know we are responding to their critical situation. You only wish you could do more. The NABC Board at its August meeting established a $300,000 fundraising goal for the next 12 months. In addition, the board is looking for 100% participation by DI head and assistant coaches. There is no required amount, just give! $10 from an assistant coach is meaningful.

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Jeff & QA Jones with NABC President

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You grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky, a region where basketball is an everyday conversation, not only in your home state but also across the river in Indiana. How did the culture of your hometown influence your life?

I’ve loved the game of basketball for as long as I can remember. In Owensboro, basketball was a way of life. Whether it was high school basketball or college basketball, it was a focal point for our entire community.

Your father was a highly respected basketball coach, winning a Division II NCAA title at Kentucky Wesleyan. When did you first know that you wanted to coach?

While my father was never my coach, he taught me the game. I attended all of his games, a lot of practices, and even got to go on the occasional recruiting trip. Being around a college program afforded me a different perspective than many kids. However, I never really considered coaching as a profession until after my college career came to an end. I loved playing the game so much, I wanted to play until I could no longer do so.

single-season record with 200 assists. How much have those positions as a point guard and team captain helped in your coaching career?

Quite simply, the combination of being a coach’s son and a point guard has been priceless throughout my coaching career. I viewed the game with the analytical perspective of a coach even when I was still playing.

Over the many years you have served on the NABC Board of Directors you have been instrumental in conducting the annual Division I college all-star game played during the NCAA Final Four. Please tell us about the impact of that game for the NABC and for the 20 college seniors selected to play.

First and foremost, I think it has been a fun and positive experience for every young man that has competed in that event. The NABC is committed to the All-Star Game being a first-class event. We have had outstanding players, many of whom have gone on to NBA careers. It continues to impress me how hard the young men compete in the game.

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As a four-year starter and senior captain at Virginia, you helped lead the Cavs to 120 wins and the NCAA Final Four in 1981. During that time, you set records as UVA’s all-time assist leader (598) and the

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In your career as a head coach at the University of Virginia, American University and now at Old Dominion University, you have experienced different levels of Division I college basketball. How do you think the recent NCAA legislative actions in

creating the Autonomy Five conferences has changed the Division I basketball landscape?

For years and years, college basketball has evolved and will continue to evolve. Recent legislation is an example of that evolution. There is a greater divide in terms of resources between high majors and low majors probably than ever before, but that isn’t inherently bad. If something is good for collegiate athletics, and especially student-athletes, it seems to me we should try to make that possible.

The NABC has been vocal about the importance of coaches giving back to the game and to the community. What does that mean to you?

I’m so fortunate to have had the experiences and opportunities that go along with the coaching profession; to me, it’s a no-brainer to give back to the game. I can’t even imagine not being a part of a team. The NABC motto – Guardians of the Game – is something that I strongly take to heart. As a member of the NABC and the NABC board, we strive to help make the profession, and the game that we all love, better for everyone. A great example of those efforts is the association’s Benevolent Fund, which is a terrific program. Unfortunately, not enough coaches are aware of it. Giving back to the community is something that is important to virtually every college basketball coach and program throughout the country. Samaritans Feet, Coaches Vs. Cancer, Troops First, and NABC

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groups that support educational values in young children, are just a few examples of organizations that teams and coaches participate with all over the country.

Recently, the NABC has taken a leadership role in the formation of ad hoc committees. The first was with the NCAA and the NBA on legislation on players declaring for the NBA draft, and more recently with the NCAA on student-athlete time demands and on the selection, seeding and bracketing for the NCAA Division I championship. As the NABC president, please tell us about the importance of these committees for college coaches.

These committees allow college coaches to have a voice on specific issues that are important to them. It also provides access to the decisionmakers to ensure our views are considered.

In your career, you have gained a reputation as an outstanding teacher, helping numerous players move on to professional NABC

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playing careers and a significant number of assistant coaches on to head coaching positions. How gratifying is that for you to have shared in their accomplishments?

We are committed to helping each of our studentathletes reach their potential both on and off the court. It is extremely gratifying when they are able to further their playing careers in the professional ranks, but it is equally rewarding to see the student-athletes in our program graduate and develop as young men. For any head coach, it is truly special to help an assistant coach move up the ranks. When you work so closely with another person, you are eager to see them succeed.

This profession has changed so much since I became a head coach in 1990. There’s no question college coaches are responsible for more now than ever before. I am not sure all of the responsibilities are realistic, but I don’t anticipate it changing. It is an honor to be in a position to have a positive impact on young people’s lives, and we must understand the gravity of that role.

In just three seasons at ODU, your teams have won 64 percent of your games with 27 and 25 wins in each of the last two seasons. What has been the recipe for success and what is the hope for the future of Monarchs’ basketball?

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The duties and responsibilities of college head coaches, especially in NCAA Division I, have changed considerably, maybe more than ever in the time since you accepted your first head coaching position at the age of 29. What are your thoughts on changes that have occurred and/or what you might like to see in the future?

Our future is extremely bright. I think we have worked incredibly hard, and hopefully worked smart as well. With great support from both our administration and fan base, first class facilities – especially the soon-to-becompleted Mitchum Basketball Performance Center – and the outstanding young men in our program, we have the opportunity to do something special.

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2016-17 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jeff Jones, President Old Dominion University

Bill Self, First Vice President University of Kansas

Lorenzo Romar, Second Vice President University of Washington

Charlie Brock, Third Vice President Springfield College

Mike Brey, Fourth Vice President University of Notre Dame

Page Moir, 2014-15 Past President

Ron Hunter, 2015-16 Past President Georgia State University

Mark Gottfried, Director North Carolina State University

Gary Stewart, Director Stevenson University

Jamie Dixon, Director TCU

Lennie Acuff, Director University of Alabama in Huntsville

Johnny Dawkins, Director University of Central Florida

John Calipari, Director University of Kentucky

Matt Margenthaler, Director Minnesota State University, Mankato

John Thompson III, Director Georgetown University

Tommy Amaker, Director Harvard University

Pat Cunningham, Director Trinity (TX) University

Bill Coen, Director Northeastern University

Ed Cooley, Director Providence College

Frank Martin, Director University of South Carolina

Matt Painter, Director Purdue University

Gary Waters, Director Cleveland State University

Dave Archer, Director National High School Basketball Coaches' Association-NHSBCA

Bob Burchard, Director Columbia College

Tom Izzo, Director Emeritus Michigan State University

Ernie Kent, Director Emeritus Washington State University

Phil Martelli, Director Emeritus Saint Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University

Left to right: Burt Paddock (Head Coach, Davenport University); Jeff Lanham (AD, Rio Grande); Dominez Burnett (Bevo Francis Award winner); John McCarthy (Founder, Small College Basketball), and Don Vyhnalek (teammate of Bevo Francis).

PLATFORM HAS ARRIVED FOR SMALL COLLEGE BASKETBALL By Eric Wieberg, NABC

Basketball is basketball in the eyes of John McCarthy. To the former coach turned administrator, the appeal of college hoops isn’t exclusive to programs that compete in massive arenas on national television. Talented players, legendary coaches and storied histories dot the landscape at every level. And for McCarthy, they deserve a stage as well. Enter Small College Basketball. NABC

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Launched by McCarthy in 2015, Small College Basketball’s mission is to unite those with an interest in the NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA, USCAA and NCCAA levels, and to serve as an ambassador for the game. That vision draws from McCarthy’s own career, which includes stints as the head coach at Wilmington (Del.) College, athletic director at Lynn University, and an executive at the NAIA national office. He spent years in the relative anonymity of the small college scene, developed a passion for it, and now is driven to give back. “The vast majority of people that play four-year college basketball play at the small college level,” McCarthy says. “They are busting their tails, but they don’t get the gear, the publicity, the travel budgets, the meal budgets like everyone else.” “I wanted to create a platform to serve them.” Phase one of McCarthy’s Small College Basketball venture was the launch of a website, engineered as a central hub of information and storytelling about the game’s lesser-known divisions.

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The site instantly took off, attracting an audience ranging from foreign scouts looking for prospects to fans seeking details on national tournaments.

of Fame. “We want for the general public to realize that these coaches, players and contributors came from small schools throughout the country.”

With ambitions to someday integrate podcasts, video features and social media content, McCarthy is confident of the site’s ability to make waves.

The Hall of Fame Classic will take place alongside the annual induction ceremony each November at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. Six NCAA Division II teams are set to compete in predetermined matchups at this year’s event, headlined by 2015 national champion Florida Southern and defending national runner-up Lincoln Memorial.

“There’s so much great stuff going on at the small college level that doesn’t really get the attention of the big boys,” he said. “I want to give them a national voice.” Small College Basketball’s growth isn’t limited to the digital space. In early 2016, it announced the creation of the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame and Hall of Fame Classic. The Hall’s inaugural class reads as a who’s-who of basketball icons, featuring the likes of Phil Jackson, Earl Monroe, Willis Reed, Jerry Sloan and Dr. James Naismith. Each of the 15 inductees share an unquestioned position in the game’s history - and often-overlooked roots. “We simply hope it brings more attention to our game at the small college level,” McCarthy says of the Hall

In partnership with the Evansville Sports Corporation, McCarthy is already hard at work, and promises to deliver a memorable experience. “They’re going to realize this isn’t your normal tournament where you show up, get your meal, then go play,” he says. “This is a celebration of the game.” Awards will also be a staple of the Small College Basketball platform. Introduced first was the Bevo Francis Award – named after the Rio Grande legend from the 1950s – which honors the top small college player. Dominez Burnett of NAIA Davenport University was the award’s initial recipient last year.

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More awards and events are on the way. McCarthy is all-in for the long hall.

Basketball’s future, citing McCarthy’s work ethic and professional success.

“What can we do that is really good for the game, that serves our coaches, student-athletes and contributors, and that is sustainable,” he asks of future initiatives. “I don’t want to do it just for a year to say I did it. I want to build a model that lasts well longer than I’m alive.”

“John is proven, and he has tremendous validity within the small college ranks,” Acuff says. “He’s put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this. I’m very thankful for all he’s done to shine a positive light on small college basketball.”

The involvement of coaches, conference commissioners and athletic directors has also proved vital. Coaches are already serving on committees for the Hall of Fame and national awards, with more opportunities on the horizon. McCarthy is humbled – and, he admits, pleasantly surprised by the eager participation. “The web has spun faster and larger than I’ve expected,” he says. “People have bought into it in a big way, and understand that what we’re doing is good for the game.” Among the believers is Lennie Acuff, an NABC board member and head coach at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Acuff is bullish on Small College

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Acuff’s UAH team will participate in November’s inaugural Hall of Fame Classic. The decision to take part, Acuff insists, was a no-brainer. “It will be a showcase for our level, a first-class event,” he says. “We’re honored to be a part of it.” “Very few people realize how good Division II basketball really is,” Acuff adds. “To have six programs of the quality, the substance and the longevity that are going to be there, it’s about as good as it gets for small college basketball.” Count Trinity University (Texas) coach Pat Cunningham as another strong supporter. The NABC board member sees Small College Basketball as a valuable marketing vehicle for schools that often find them scarce.

“We are all in the business of trying to help our kids, and in any way we can, to honor them and bring what they do to the forefront,” Cunningham says. “There’s just not as many avenues for that at our level.” For McCarthy, Small College Basketball is somewhat of a capstone to an alreadyimpressive career. An opportunity to harness skills developed both on the sideline and in the corner office. And ultimately, success won’t be judged solely on website clicks or sponsorship dollars. If the sport benefits, mission accomplished. “I love the game,” he says. “Each initiative we launch under the umbrella of Small College Basketball, we want to ask if it’s good for the game.” “Our role is to serve the game.”

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HOW TO GET YOUR TEAM

Focused on Academics by Matt O’Brien Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Southwestern College Back to Back NAIA Team Scholar Award (team gpa higher than 3.0)

Getting your team to focus on academics is a tough task for many college and high school coaches. During my seven years as a head coach at the college level, I have learned that the key is providing our players with the information as to why their grades are so important. There are a variety of ways that you can communicate that information, but communicating that information is paramount. Our administration, faculty and fans all want a program that they can be proud of both on and off the floor, and motivating our players to understand that is a key component to having a successful program.

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It has been said by many coaches, “You are what you emphasize.” I address the team a few times every week formally in the locker room about their academics and their future. Even more powerful than this are the conversations I have with my players on a daily basis about their upcoming assignments and tests. I make it a point to look at their syllabus, put their tests on my calendar, and make sure I tell them good luck or ask them how they did. I also give them the gpa they need to obtain in order to be recognized by the institution, the conference and nationally. It is amazing how many players strive to achieve a 3.5 gpa for a chance to be an Academic All-American. I make sure each player that achieves academically is praised and receives as much attention as possible via our website, local newspaper and other campus media. Another great way to motivate is through a team incentive of some sort. If we achieve a 3.0 team gpa, they will receive new uniforms.

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I have found that even 21year old college players get excited about this. We have over-spent our uniform budget in the last two years but having our players develop a culture of “getting it done” in the classroom is well worth it. Study hall has also been successful for our team. We meet once a week for one hour and 30 minutes. All freshmen are required to attend, as well as anyone who has below a 3.0 gpa. We have found it to be amazing the extra effort some of our players will give to ensure they have a high enough gpa so they may have back their Sunday nights and study at their own leisure. In addition to study hall, our players are required to complete grade check sheets throughout each semester. We usually try to limit the grade checks to twice per semester, keeping in mind that our faculty can be overwhelmed if we are constantly requesting information on our athletes. Along with their current grade, we want to know a few key things about each

student’s progress in their classes. Have they submitted all of their assignments? In most situations, if the player has not completed an assignment we will give him a deadline to complete the task, with consequences if that deadline is not met. Have they missed or have been tardy to any classes? When a player is struggling in a certain class, our staff will make contact with that instructor to monitor his progress more carefully.

responsible for each player’s development on the court and in the classroom.

Assistants can play a huge role in monitoring academics. I am blessed with a hardworking staff that understands the value of academics, as well as the work ethic needed to keep our players accountable. They want them to succeed just as much as I do. This really helps in developing a winning culture for our program. This spring my assistant coach who monitors study hall was eager to calculate the team gpa, especially after all of his hard work with monitoring study hall, distributing grade check sheets and following up with instructors throughout the entire year. He has “skin in the game.” Our entire staff feels equally

I am fortunate enough to work for a president and athletic director that not only value our on-court performance, but appreciate the effort and diligence that it takes to succeed off the court. I want our players to understand that we have a continuing responsibility to create an atmosphere of excitement around men’s basketball and also a responsibility to be a part of the total picture of Southwestern College, with strong academic and athletic performance. Our coaching staff works hard to ensure that each player reaches their full potential at Southwestern, not only as basketball players, but as young men.

At the high school level, I would suggest working with the players to determine their goals. Do the research to find out what the admission requirements are at the schools they are interested in. It could also be really beneficial to find a local college coach to talk to your team about the importance of academics.

More than 480,000 college athletes from 1,121 colleges and universities make up the 19,000 teams that send more than 54,000 participants to compete each year in the NCAA’s 90 championships in 24 sports across 3 divisions. 1 opportunity. Limitless possibilities. IF your athletes are looking to play basketball at the Division I or II level, they need to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. As coaches, you are an integral part in helping spread the word about what students must do to meet the NCAA standards. We need your help in emphasizing that from the beginning of ninth grade, courses and grades are more important than ever. Remember this simple formula for initial eligibility: 4x4=16. If your high school students complete 4 English courses (one per year), 4 math courses, 4 science courses and 4 social science courses, they will meet the Division I requirement for 16 core courses. In the second column is a checklist that will help your students as they go through the NCAA registration and certification process. More information to assist your students can be found at www.NCAA.org/playcollegesports.

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COMING SOON The NCAA will be launching a redesigned registration website. The registration website will still be located at www.EligibilityCenter.org. The enhanced site will streamline the registration process, give greater insight to documents needed, and provide further transparency into the academic and amateur certification. Look for changes by the year’s end.

Grade 9 • Ask your counselor for a list of your high school’s NCAA core courses to make sure you take the right classes. Grade 10 • Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at www.EligibilityCenter.org. Grade 11 • Check with your counselor to make sure you will graduate on time with the required number of NCAA core courses. • Take the ACT or SAT and submit your scores to the NCAA using code 9999. • At the end of the year, ask your counselor to upload your official transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center. Grade 12 • Finish your last NCAA core courses. • Take the ACT or SAT again, if necessary, and submit your scores to the NCAA using code 9999. • Complete all academic and amateurism questions in your NCAA Eligibility Center account at www.EligibilityCenter.org. • After you graduate, ask your counselor to submit your final official transcript with proof of graduation to the NCAA Eligibility Center. NABC

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Valuable Outcomes from NHSBCA Summer Conference in Kansas City by Dave Archer, Senior Director of Operations, NHSBCA

The leaders of state basketball coaches associations met at the three-day National High School Basketball Coaches summer conference. A groundbreaking document, A Guide to the Fair Treatment of High School Basketball Coaches was presented and unanimously endorsed. There are changing dynamics in high school sports throughout the country. Being a scholastic basketball coach nowadays is a multi-faceted challenge. The ground rules and landscape are ever changing. The pressure, expectations, time commitment and the use of social media are huge challenges for today’s scholastic coaches. At the same time we seem to see more high school basketball coaches being fired or not rehired. While some of these actions are surely justified, others are not. Unfortunately, many times a coach is not provided reasoning as to why he or she is not being re-hired. At other times the process used to make a decision to not rehire a coach was not as fair and transparent as it could be. There are certainly state and local rules and guidelines to be followed. However in most school coaching positions, there is a very large “gray area” of expectations that comes into play that coaches are not properly made aware of. We think high school basketball coaches should be treated fairly. We understand that scholastic coaches in most cases are “at will employees” with no tenure or job security but still deserve to be treated fairly in regard to their employment.

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We think A Guide to the Fair Treatment of High School Basketball Coaches is a good guideline to be followed in relations between a school district and a basketball coach. These guidelines were prepared by Ropes & Gray, LLP, the legal counsel to the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Other segments of the Kansas City meetings included the Idea Exchange portion of the opening session. Each state briefly stated what is going well for them and what are some challenges they face. A Focus on State Associations provided good ideas and examples of how to work with the various entities and organizations in each state. Providing benefits to members was covered as well. A Focus on Supporting Scholastic Basketball Coaches centered on the status of high school coaches in our society, getting scholastic coaches more involved with the recruiting of their players and how to get more educators involved in coaching. The NHSBCA Court of Honor Awards honored three worthy individuals and for the first time honored a group as well. Pat Carroll (Ohio), Ken Barrett (Wisconsin) and Jerry Petitgoue (Wisconsin) were the individuals recognized. The group that was honored was the members of the executive staff of the National Association of Basketball Coaches who have played a major role in the growth and stability of the NHSBCA. The group also paid a visit to NAIA Headquarters, where presentations were made to explain the various NAIA initiatives and programs. The conference concluded with a visit to the amazing CBE (College Basketball Experience). About NHSBCA The National High School Basketball Coaches Association is an organization uniting the 30-plus states that have State Basketball Coaches Associations to work for the betterment of the game. The NHSBCA also serves as the High School Congress within the NABC. The NHSBCA is the national voice for high school basketball coaches, working to foster high standards of professionalism and to support coaches.

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Opportunities to Grow and Improve by Carey Casey, CEO, National Center for Fathering

It’s still difficult for me to think about this year’s NCAA tournament championship game. Like many years, I had the privilege of attending the Final Four games since I did a personal development seminar at the NABC coaches’ convention. This year that entire weekend was even more special since I’m a North Carolina alumnus from years back. Of course, the outcome wasn’t what I had hoped for. It’s hard to imagine a more crushing outcome than that incredible last-second shot by Villanova’s Kris Jenkins. And congratulations to them! Since then, I have thought a lot about what Roy Williams probably did to help his players bounce back and move on after that defeat. Those young men had an amazing season and made it to the final game, but on that night they suffered a heart-wrenching loss. I heard that, right after the game, Coach Williams arranged a room for them where they could unload some their frustrations and other emotions before meeting with the media. Still, I wonder: What did he say to them? Did he take any extra actions for his players because of how it all ended? What about during the months since that night last April?

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I have some experience with defeat myself. In high school, I was on the football team that lost the 1971 state championship game to the Titans of T.C. Williams High School, as dramatized in the movie Remember the Titans. (The score was actually 27-0. The movie portrayed one of their more competitive games from earlier in the season.)

I believe it’s a key role for coaches— as well as fathers and mentors—to help kids recover from and, we hope, learn from the defeats and failures in life. As I have seen, going through challenges with others can bond you and build unity, and we’re often motivated to learn and grow more from the agony of defeat than from the thrill of victory.

Then, when I played at North Carolina, I had my eye on being drafted into the NFL until a knee injury derailed those dreams.

So here’s my encouragement for you coaches—and I suppose this may be so central to the coaching process that it goes without saying: Be prepared to help your team handle losing and other adversities in positive ways. Give it ample attention right along with post moves and conditioning drills.

Some might say these were crushing defeats in my life, but today I can look back and see how I have been blessed beyond what I could have imagined, and those setbacks helped me mature. Although I never made it to the NFL, my years in sports have helped me identify with athletes, and I’ve had opportunities to speak to dozens of college and professional teams through the years. Even that high school loss to the Titans has turned into a lot of good. After my senior year, I had a chance to play for Coach Herman Boone on a high school all-star team along with some of the players from the Titans. Many of them are still friends to this day. Also, because of my connection to that team and that movie, people are often drawn to my messages about responsible fathering or making good choices in life. Now, I’m all about doing your best and working hard to win when you compete. There’s a lot to be said for excellence and reaching goals. But we must also recognize that losing is a part of competition and all of life. In each year’s NCAA tournament, every team loses except for one! It’s that way in most sports.

I also suggest telling your players (and your children, when they’re old enough) about some of your failures and regrets, especially if those things may have opened doors or given you the motivation to achieve something great in another area of life. Tell them what you learned or how you grew. Help them see the bigger picture of losses or failures— that there’s a bigger picture to their lives, and momentary setbacks don’t have to define them, but can help to positively shape them.

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 dad at www.Fathers.com or contact NCF at Dads@Fathers.com.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the NABC.

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BASKETBALL Prize or Platform? Donnell Jones Pastor, Grace Covenant Church DC www.GraceCovDC.org Thank You Coach! I pray I have the opportunity to meet you face to face to ENCOURAGE you personally! You work very hard under intense pressure. People who are not coaches evaluate you on the basis of a 2-hour game with little or no regard for the 80+ hours you work all week. Most people have no clue of all that comes with being a coach because they do not walk in your shoes. The pressure to perform is overwhelming. Managing life personally becomes increasingly difficult. It’s hard not to bleed emotionally on your family, your staff and your players. Few men ever find their purpose. Purpose is the reason why you exist. Purpose is the reason why you do what you do! In his book Halftime: Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance, author Bob Buford explains how the first half of his life was all about success. The second half of his life became all about significance. Many people become successful without ever becoming significant. True significance is success. Prize or Platform? Is basketball your prize or your platform? You love the game! You love to play it, coach it, study it. You love the X’s & O’s. You love to recruit, but is it your prize or is it your platform?

Basketball is the gift God gave Dr. James Naismith. He thought he could have more influence on the playground than in the pulpit. So he asked the COACH of all coaches to give him a game through which he could win men. Basketball became his platform and God his prize. Basketball was simply the platform through which he made known his prize to men. He wanted to win men! He wanted to win men who were addicted to drugs and alcohol; men who were overtaken by greed, lust and arrogance; men who lived for themselves rather than for God and others. His PLATFORM became the means. His PRIZE was the end. Is Basketball your means or your end? Are men your means or your end? What’s your PLATFORM? What’s your PRIZE? When basketball is your prize, you might achieve success without significance. When basketball is your platform, your influence will be significant--and that is success. Are you living for the next win, the next championship? Are you living for HIM by making a difference in the lives of young men? Are you an agent that is winning men--men who have character, consistency, integrity, faithfulness, honor, respect, humility? Let’s become and develop men who are great on the court and even greater off the court. The kind of men who influence a generation to become amazing when they open their mouth to speak, outstanding in the way they serve others and spectacular when they do what they do! All men die, but few men ever serve the purpose for which they were born. May you discover God’s purpose and live it to the fullest.

If it is everything to you, if it drives you, if it is the dominant thing in your life, if it is above most – if not everything in your life, then it’s your prize. It’s what you live for. If it is the thing upon which you stand to broadcast the greatness of God, how much you appreciate his kindness and how thankful you are to make him known through the game he has given you – then it is your platform. Pastor Donnell Jones is pastor of Grace Covenant Church in Washington, D.C., Character Coach for the Maryland Terrapins and Chaplain of the NABC.

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FAST FEET, QUICK MIND How to develop pivot work with mental acuity

By Dr. Oliver Eslinger, Head Basketball Coach, Caltech

A question often asked about a player is: “Can he create his own shot?” In order to develop the answer to this vital phase of the game, we’ve developed a drill for use on a daily basis named “Rhythm and Cadence”. It emphasizes communication, competitiveness, and a collaboration between body and mind. It’s best accomplished with three players: a “worker”, who is the recipient of the ball and the call, and two feeders who alternate between “passer” and “spotter”. Skills addressed are: -Footwork, specifically “Pivots and Points” -Eyework, effectively referred to as “Gaze” on the rim -Teammate “Interaction” -Leadership “Call and Response” reaction time -Scoring “Resilience” The goal of the worker is to listen, react, and score with proper feet, focus, and finishes. He will catch the ball from the designated passer and respond to voice instruction. The spotter ensures the worker keeps his eyes on the rim without a gaze drop to the court. It’s imperative the worker converts each shot before moving to the next. We strive to create a scoring rhythm based on call and action cadences. The initial catch can take place anywhere on the court. Depending on the day, we often designate post, mid, or arc for our players so they get work from various positions. In this example, the starting catchspot is the “nail.”

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Worker cuts to the reception spot while passer calls out the pivot direction (front or back followed by right or left). He has to make a strong catch under quick directive. As he pivots, the spotter cuts closer to the basket to watch his eyes -- if the gaze deviates from the rim, the worker will have to repeat the move even if he hits the shot. The goal is to make the move, make the shot, retrieve the ball, and initiate action from the other side at game speed. In the example, worker is told “front-right”; on the catch he front pivots on his left foot towards the right and shoots a midrange jumper (Frame 2). He follows his shot and passes to the right wing where the teammate who was the spotter now becomes the caller and passer. In frame 5, we see a “back-right” call. After the four options of front-right, front-left, back-right, and back-left have been converted from EACH cutting direction for a total of eight baskets, the next level begins. The passer will shout the direction followed by “one”, telling the worker to create space with one dribble after the pivot. Frame 6 shows a “front-left-1” call. Again, the directive is to make eight shots. For an added challenge, direct players to convert all shots in succession. If a player misses or gaze drops, he has to restart the level. After one-dribble sequences, we add “two” dribble sequences, then “cross”, “go”, and a number of other moves. We develop the ability to work within a small space and generate a shot in myriad ways with pivot adjustments. In addition, we value consecutive shots without misses to build mental resilience. “Doc” Eslinger is the head men’s basketball at Caltech and a recipient of the 2016 NABC Guardian of the Game Award for Education. He serves on the board of MOCAP Analytics and has contributed writing to ESPN.com and NBA.com. The Caltech program was featured in the November 23, 2015 issue of Sports Illustrated. Email: HoopItUp@CalTech.edu Twitter: @DocsHeadGames

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Frame #1

Frame #2

1 Spotter

Frame #3

Spotter

Frame #5

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Frame #4

Front Right

Frame #6

Back Right

Front Left 1

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