Coach Ken Stevenson of Seton Academy (IL) has coached his son Ken Stevenson, Jr. the past four years.  Ken Jr. has just committed to a DI school and Ken Sr. continues to build a strong program in the State of Illinois.  They have endured many growing pains in the program and many highs, including a state championship last season.  But how has the dynamic of coaching your son and being coached by your dad brought these two closer together.  Beantownhoops caught up with both of them to find out.

Interview with Ken Stevenson Jr.

Beantownhoops: Describe what it is like to play for your dad.

Ken Stevenson Jr.:  “It is very challenging but it also a good experience because I get to know what the plays are ahead of time, I get to come home and know what I can do better or what I need to work on. He gets to work with me first hand. I know that he will be harder on me than anyone else. He is so passionate and wants to win all the time so it makes it great to play for him. He wants the best for me so he pushes me hard. My mother could never take sides so she just had to listen, but I believe she was on my side when he got on me. I am ready for college because you cannot get any harder than he is so I am well prepared.”

Beantownhoops: Congratulations on your commitment to college, how was this process enjoyable and how was it difficult?

Ken Stevenson Jr.:  “The whole recruiting process was enjoyable because I got to visit a lot of schools and see the campus and get to know the coaches.  The college I chose had been recruiting me since the end of my sophomore year and they stayed in with me.  The fact that my parents, especially my dad, gets to see me play and the opportunity for me to play right away were the deciding factors.  My future college coaches remind me so much of my dad so that helped as well.  It is a very good school so that played a major role in me committing to them.”

“It was difficult because you can only decide on one school and it was confusing sometimes because coaches were telling me different things and taking the calls at weird hours of the day/night was stressful at times.”

Beantownhoops: What will you miss about being coached by your dad?

Ken Stevenson Jr.:  “I will miss the basketball conversations that we have before and after games.  Just being with my father on a regular basis was good and bad.  The good part was that we spent a lot of time together and I got to really see how passionate he is when it comes to basketball.  The bad part is I never get what the other players get. What I mean is they get told how good they did, I would get what I didn’t do or what I should have done, but in the end it made me a better player for it.  He couldn’t show favoritism toward me so he was tough on me, but I truly understand.  He got to see me play all the time that was the greatest thing about him coaching me. He prepared me well to be in the position to attend college both on the court and off the court.  He did a lot for all of us at Seton Academy.  He truly cares for his players and we enjoy playing for him because of that.”

Beantownhoops:  What advice would you give a player who is being coached by his dad at the high school level?

Ken Stevenson Jr.:  “Be ready to give a 110 percent on or off the court because you will be watched by everyone from the players, parents, teachers, other coaches. Know that it will be out of love when you get yelled at or asked to come out of the game. You have to be a leader on the court and stay after practice to do the extra stuff so you can show people why you are on the team and not because your father is the coach. Do not take anything personal. Just play the game the way it’s meant to be played and enjoy the time spent with your dad.”

Interview with Coach Stevenson

Beantownhoops:  Describe the process of starting a whole new program like you did at Seton Academy.

Coach Stevenson: “It was a very difficult one but challenging. My coaches and I spent a lot of time trying to teach those young men how to compete. We had to get to the basics with a lot of the young men. I have a lot of passion for the game of basketball and the kids saw it. I demanded a lot out of them and I wanted to show people that if you play hard and compete that anything is possible. Once we show people that we can compete, I knew that people would start paying attention to our program. It wasn’t easy and it was a lot of handwork but nothing in life is easy. To be successful you have to have players willing to work and want to win. Those are the kind of players that I had at Seton Academy.

Beantownhoops: After winning a state championship, how do you look to build off your team’s success this season?

Coach Stevenson:  “This will probably be the toughest season I will have ever endured because we are no longer a secret and the bull’s eye is on our backs. The good is that I have eight seniors and they are very experienced so that will help us. They have that taste in their mouth and that feeling that they had at the end of the year. We will constantly look at those state rings and remind ourselves what it took to get those rings, we will look at the tapes to show how dedicated we were last year.”

Beantownhoops:  You’ve coached your son for four years, have you treated him differently on the court than other players?

Coach Stevenson:  “I treated them all the same, but I must admit he got it harder than most. I wanted to win so the best players were going to play and I’m hard on all of them. What made it easy for me is the fact that he could play the game and his peers and teammates knew that because he developed his own reputation in the basketball world. I really didn’t think he was going to come to Seton because he hadn’t said much about it in eighth grade.”

Beantownhoops:  How were you able to help your son in the recruiting process as a father and coach?

Coach Stevenson:  “I wanted whatever was best for him.  We took a lot of visits especially his sophomore and junior years. I wanted him to decide on the best situation for him. I treated him no different than I do my other players. I do not tell players where they should go and that went for him as well. I guide, answer questions and share knowledge. I told him that he has to go somewhere that he will be comfortable playing and attending school. Do not go to a situation where you may never play because then school will be no fun for you. ”

“Overall I do believe that he did a good job on deciding where he wanted to play basketball at.   His mother wanted him to go to the school he chose the very first time he got offered.  The coaches did a great job in the recruiting process and the fact that their program has turned around was a deciding factor. I do believe that they will do a good job with my son and taking him to that next level. It has been a great experience coaching my son and I will truly miss him, but he is on to bigger and better things. I will continue doing what I do but I will still get to see him play and talk to him about his game, that will never change.  We have had a lot of success together at Seton and I am so proud of him words cannot describe it.”

Beantownhoops:  What advice would you give to a coach who is coaching his son at the high school level?

Coach Stevenson:  “It’s very tough coaching your son because you cannot be a fan because you’re coaching. Coach no different that you do if your son wasn’t on the team, that is the best advice I could give. If you love coaching and are all about the kids then you will be fine. If you are just about your kid then it will never work and there will not be any team success. Cherish those moments with your kid because four years go by awfully quick.”

Beantownhoops talked with two coaches from different parts of the country about how they have built a basketball program that has sustained success over a period of time.

Coach Steve Harrington has been coaching at Watertown H.S. in Massachusetts the past fifteen years with a record of 240-103 and has won two state titles, while at the same time helping develop players for the collegiate level.

Coach Gene Nolan has been coaching at Marist H.S. in Illinois the past ten years and has won numerous regional titles; sent players to all levels of collegiate play, and inherited a struggling program and turned it into a perennial contender.

Beantownhoops: When you started your program what were your expectations?

Coach Harrington: “I was 24 and I really wanted to figure out if I would be able to build a program. I quickly found out that this was something that was in my blood I was very passionate about building our program. I wanted Watertown to be able to compete for championships.”

Coach Nolan: “When we began our program at Marist in 2000, we had a lot of work to do. And we couldn’t wait to get started. It was an exciting feeling. As we began, we always tried to focus on the things we could control. Namely, we wanted to establish the “image and identity” of who we were - how we played, how we acted, and the type of program we identified ourselves as. We knew going in that this was going to take some time - maybe a lot of time. As it turned out, our first year, we were 2-22, and 7-70 on all three levels.”

Beantownhoops: What do you think are the essential building blocks to starting a program?

Coach Harrington: “Hard work and constantly thinking how to get better. To be consistently competitive. Being visible in the community with the travel and youth programs. Running programs for younger players to help them with their coaches to reach their potential and most importantly to be able to develop players.”

Coach Nolan: “I believe the essential building block of building a program begins with trying to establish a culture that can endure over time. We constantly use the term “family” here at Marist. All of our coaches, players, alumni, support staff, everyone - we are all in this together. Each year, we have different players, maybe some different coaches, a new manager perhaps - but the culture of who we are and what we do is going to be seen everywhere. Every year. Also, It is essential to have great kids. If we have had any success at Marist, it is because of the GREAT young men who have come here to become Marist student-athletes. With great kids, we feel we can overachieve. I learned a long time ago from a very good coaching friend of mine who said “If a kid is a punk, in the end, he will always let you down.” I have found this to be very true. I have also found the opposite to be true. If a kid is a good kid, in the end, he never lets you down. Great kids always just seem to find a way.”

Beantownhoops: What things do you feel have been the most beneficial to establishing your winning program?

Coach Harrington: “Having great players and getting administration and community support (recreation dept and youth basketball). You also need to have quality assistant coaches.”

Coach Nolan: “The most important part of having established a winning program belongs to the kids who have come to Marist. All of the wins belong to them and the losses (and there are many of them!) belong to me. Our kids have been wonderful to coach. I always try to remember something that I thought of often as a 26 year-old head coach ten years ago, and I never want to forget - and that is that players win games.”

Beantownhoops: What advice would you give a brand new head coach going into this season?

Coach Harrington: “Reach out to the key people in your community and work together to maximize your program. Get help from the right people who have similar goals that you have. Also go all in. In order to be successful over the long haul recognize potential land mines before they happen. What I mean is do not have your blinders on, recognize potential negative situations (angry parents, cancer on team, poor grades, bad home life) and try to deal with them ahead of time before it is too late.”

Coach Nolan: “Any advice I would give to a brand new head coach heading into this season would be:
a. Build your culture first. If it’s done the right way, it will endure.
b. Always look at your players as people first and players second. This way, you will always win.
c. Build your style of play, and be patient. The first year is always exciting, because you can experiment.
d. Have fun. That is why we fell in love with this game a long time ago as kids.
e. Always question yourself, but never doubt yourself.
f. Be true to yourself. It is who you, and your kids, know best.
g. Have a vision of what you want your program to look like, and dream big!
h. Remember what Roy Williams of UNC once said: “Every one of the kids you coach is someday going to look you in the eye as an adult. And he is going to remember something you gave to him. Make sure it is
something positive.”
i. Thank those who have helped you along the way.
j. Help others along their way.”

In the past ten seasons, the Watertown High Red Raiders have compiled an impressive record of 195-42.  During that span, the program has won two state championships, four sectional titles, been to seven sectional finals, and has qualified for the post season every year.  The 2009-2010 team has a lot to live up to, but under the guidance of Coach Steve Harrington, 15th season, the Red Raiders should still be a premier team in the Middlesex League. 

Leading the charge will be the duo of 6′0″ Junior Marco Coppola and 6′3″ Junior Connor Stockdale, but who will fill the other key roles will determine the team’s success this season. “We have a lot of experience to make up for. The quicker the players gain confidence and understand the level of competition the better we will compete. Consistency will be something we will be looking for from new players vying for spots,” said Coach Harrington.  It won’t be an easy road as the rest of the Middlesex League looks to knockout the defending Div. 3 state champs. “The Middlesex League is very strong again. Lexington (Dave Miller), Woburn (Randy Parker, Mikel Simpson, Nick Lund), Belmont (Andrew Musler) and Reading should all be solid for this season. Melrose (Andrew Scocca) will also be a tough team. Playing everyone twice makes this one of the most consistenly strong leagues in the state,” added Coach Harrington.

Expectations will be high and the Red Raiders will be a team that everyone on their schedule will be ready to play.  But if history is any indication, Watertown will be right in the mix again in league play and in the postseason.  Coach Harrington has established a strong program and has a proven track record of developing players, so look for good things again this season from Watertown High.

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Attention all girls basketball players and parents.  If you feel that you can play at the DI level or want your daughter to play in college, read our latest player profile with former Westwood High and Harvard star Lindsay Hallion.

College: Harvard University

Degree and year of graduation:  Psychology 2008

Position:  Point Guard

Beantownhoops:  What are the biggest differences between high school and college basketball?

Lindsay:  “When I think of the biggest differences between high school and college basketball three things come to mind:
1.) Size and Speed. The average height and athleticism of players in a college game and player is a high school game is drastically different. Passes you made in high school might get tipped, drives you had are closed off, shots you could get off in high school may get blocked, and lazy defense can result in a score for the other team instead of a steal for you.

2.) Thinking the Game!! Growing up I heard that 90% of basketball is mental, but you don’t realize it until you get to the college level. There are so many more details to pay attention to and so much to learn. You have to be 100% mentally tuned in at all times during practice. College coaches are freakishly aware of when players zone out and then the whole team may be punished, or worse – you could miss something important. Players are expected to know all plays and defenses (for all positions) and have a solid understanding of game situations. Maybe even more so than with remembering offensive plays, defense at the college level requires a lot more focus than in high school. Your athleticism and/or height are no longer enough to get the job done. You have to learn play angles, closeout properly, where to be in help defense, and all rotations for where the ball is or if a teammate gets beat. Overall, the mental intensity needed at the college level is much higher than that at the high school level.

3.) Commitment. While most high school players who aspire to play in college work on their game year round, play on different teams, and are typically very dedicated to the sport the time commitment at the college level increases dramatically. You are training all year long, pre-season, season, post-season, and summer workouts. You will spend time strength training, conditioning, working on individual skills, watching film, and practicing. It is all very rewarding and worth it as you and your team will improve and reach towards your goals. But many freshmen are not prepared for training multiple times a day, traveling, having curfew, etc. You need to be committed to structuring each day so you continue to improve as a basketball player. This means eating right, sleeping enough, going to class and finishing your homework, and giving 100% at each workout you have.”

How well did you understand the process of becoming a D1 player (ACT, SAT, Clearinghouse, etc.)?

“Initially I did not understand that process very well.  However, the coaches I talked to were very helpful in answering questions about testing, being registered with the Clearinghouse, and anything general that came up.  In my opinion it is important to be familiar with the NCAA rules regarding recruiting so you aren’t breaking them, but don’t be shy about asking the coaches you are in contact with about what you need to do to move forward in the process.”

What do you see as the biggest obstacle facing a talented D1 prospect?

“Deciding what YOU want out of your college basketball experience. Don’t forget that college basketball includes college. In the end, it’s your decision and you are the one who will live it out. Listen to advice, weigh pros and cons, decide what is important to you - but don’t let coaches, friends, family push your decision in a certain direction. You have to do what is best for you.”

Is playing AAU in the summer the only route to D1?

“Playing AAU is not the only road to becoming a D1 player, but it definitely helps the process.  Out of all the players I played with in college only one of them did not play AAU.  If you can get involved with the right program and the right coach, AAU can really help you improve as a player and as a recruit.  The thing I loved the most about AAU was the level of competition.  It was great to practice three times a week with an entire team of aspiring college players.  When we played in tournaments we played against some of the best players and teams in the Northeast and sometimes nationally.  Using the months after the high school season ended to play with and against great competition in addition to training on my own really helped me improve from one season to the next.”

What three things would you tell a player who has signed already to do during her senior year to get ready?

“1.) Do not get complacent! Stay focused on your grades, staying out of trouble, and improving as a player.

2.) When you play in your high school games you will have a bulls-eye on your back – so always be gracious and respectful of those you play with, for, and against. Remember now you are not only representing yourself and your high school team, but the college that has signed you as well.

3.) After your high school season, follow the off-season condition manual to a T. Speak with your coaches about expectations they have, things they want you to work on, etc. Get as much information from your coaches as possible so you can set new goals for this new chapter in your basketball career!”

What advice would you give parents about preparing their daughter to play at the collegiate level?

“My first response to this question is that it is ultimately the daughter’s responsibility to prepare herself to play at the collegiate level. Parents can help guide their daughter by guiding her to the right AAU and college programs (what type of school, location, etc.), but most of the work will be on the player. Many of the players I have seen self-destruct do so because of too much parental pressure/expectations. The best thing my parents did for me was supporting me, letting me make my own decisions, and comforting me when I got too crazy about the whole process or about playing well. It is important for both parents and player to remember that while basketball is a big part of who she is, it is not the only thing that makes her awesome.”

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Beantownhoops.com:  What have been some of the similarities and differences between playing and coaching?
Coach LaForce-Mann: “There aren’t many similarities between being a player and a coach. You see the game out of two different lenses. As a coach, you focus on the team and how to get them to perform to the best of their ability. Your main concern is making sure they approach every challenge as a unit. Players on the other hand are more concerned with their individual performance and contribution to the team. I am glad I had a chance to value both perspectives. This helps me understand my players by making them realize that I value their individual contribution to the team.”

What has been the most enjoyable thing about coaching at the DI level?
“The most enjoyable thing about coaching at the Division I level is the opportunity to give full scholarships to qualified student athletes. Due to their academic performance and athletic ability each member of the team is awarded a full scholarship to attend college.”

What has been the toughest part about coaching at the DI level?
“The toughest thing about coaching at the Division I level is it’s level if commitment both for the coaches and they players. This commitment means devoting a lot of time to being competitive both on and off the court.”

What advice would you give a coach looking to coach at the collegiate level?
“The advice I would give is that you have to coach for the right reasons. It’s a demanding and sometimes very stressful. Despite these disadvantages you see the value in a role model, a confidant, and lastly, a coach. You have to embrace all aspects of coaching in order to be a successful coach.“

What coaches have influenced your career and coaching philosophy?
“I try to walk away having learned from every coach I have either played for or worked with. My philosophy is a compilation of learning “what to do” and “what not to do”. Sometimes learning what not to do once you become a head coach is just as valuable as learning what to do. You seem to come up with your our philosophy about coaching both on and off the court.”

What advice would you give a player who thinks they have the ability to play DI basketball?
“My advice would be to pursue their dream. The harder they work the more likely it will happen. Coaches like players who are dedicated and are self motivated. We think we can always teach you how to become a better player but we can’t teach athletes the motivation it takes to be a great player. Also, in order to play at the Division 1 level you must love the game. You will be asked to wake up at 6 a.m. for workouts and possibly spend any free time working on your game. Therefore you must love to play and love to learn the game.”

Any other thoughts on the game of basketball?
“I love this game and the opportunity I have to work with young women not only to make them better basketball players but better individuals. The game is used as a tool to teach life lessons.”

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During my high school coaching career I have seen many things that made me wonder why I got into this business.  Feel free to add any of your items to make this list complete.  The following list is based on real life events as an assistant and head coach.

1.  You spend all off-season and pre-season implementing a new offense or defense and realize about a week before the first game there is no way they will ever get it.

2.   You care more about the game then your players do.

3.  The opposing player you scouted is shooting 6% from the 3-pt. line, but when he plays your team he hits 5 three’s in the third quarter to cut a 20 pt lead to one.

4.  There is always a player on your team who thinks he’s Kobe Bryant.

5.  “Coach, my son was real good in the 4th grade, how come he is not playing a lot as a Senior?”  - a parent comment to me after we beat the #5 team in the state on their homecourt at the buzzer.

6.   You have a 5 point lead late in a playoff game when your star player is called for a foul.  The player then procedes to take off his shoe and throws it in to the crowd for a double tech ejection.  We lost.

7.  Your team was just eliminated from the playoffs when one of your Seniors storms out of the locker room yelling profanities at the coaching staff because he had a bad game.

8.   You lose at the buzzer.

9.  The administration at the school thinks the basketball program is not as important as the chess team.

10. No matter what you do you can’t make your players two inches taller.

Reading my list you might think that I didn’t enjoy coaching, but when I make a list of the things that makes coaching great, it will be a list of 100 rather than 10.  Keep coaching and remember that you’re doing it for the kids.

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One of the most gratifying things about coaching at any level is the relationships that you build with your players in the program. You get to see how these young men and women grow and develop on and off the court and how they deal with the highs and lows of daily life. The most enjoyable moments for me is when players graduate and come back from college to see how you and the team are doing. All the stresses of coaching seem to go away when you see one of your ex-players and find out how their lives have changed since you saw them last.

Unfortunately in this transition from high school to college there are times when tragedy occurs. I was saddened last year when I heard about the tragic death of a former player of mine, Nate Hagen. Nate played for me in Seattle and wasn’t my best player, but someone who always worked hard and would always do whatever the team needed. It was hard for me to handle that he was gone and it was a shame that somebody so young with their life still in front of them was not with us anymore.

Just recently, I found out about the sudden death of another player, Jim Griffin. “Griff”,as we called him, was entering his Senior year of playing basketball at Samford University. He was found dead in his sleep and the coroner,at the time of this writing, had yet to release the details. I was an assistant coach at Marist High School in Chicago, under Coach Gene Nolan, Griff’s Senior season. He was the catalyst on that team and one of the main reasons the team went on to win over 25 games. He was the model citizen, student, and player and every coach would love to have a Jim Griffin on their team. He will be dearly missed by all that knew him.

It is a sad day for every basketball coach when a player passes away. We are given a huge responsibility to help mold our players into becoming better people and athletes while at the same time being there as a mentor after their playing days with us our over. When I hear this type of news, whether I coached the player or not, I realize how important our jobs are to young people. There is pressure to win and coaches are fired if they don’t succeed in the win column. It is an unfortunate part of the business, but what is never measured is the impact coaches have on their players for the rest of their lives. I hope all coaches understand this and are always there for their players when basketball is done. Rest in peace Nate and Griff.

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Beantownhoops.com recently caught up with VCU Assistant Coach Will Wade to get his insight on coaching at the DI level.

Coach Wade’s Background
Playing Experience:
None at the College Level, Manager at Clemson

College Coaching Experience:
Clemson University - Graduate Assistant (05-06), Director of Operations (06-07), Harvard University - Assistant Coach (07-08, 08-09), VCU Assistant Coach (09-present)

Beantownhoops.com:   What are your current duties at your school?
Coach Wade:  “All of our assistants take an active role is all facets of the program - Recruiting, Individual Workouts, Game Planning, etc … We do not have certain staff members pinned that only do certain things as Coach Smart wants to develop all of us individually while making our team stronger.”

What has been the most enjoyable thing about coaching at the DI level?
“The relationships I have built with players, coaches and just all of the people around basketball.”

What has been the toughest part about coaching at the DI level?
“The time constraints are great … I always tell people that this is a lifestyle and not a job … I have a very difficult time getting away from my work as I always feel like there is so much more I can be doing for our players, team, or in recruiting … It is a never ending process.”

What advice would you give a coach looking to coach at the collegiate level?
“Work hard at the job you have as you never know who is watching … Keep building relationships with everyone as you never know when you will need to call on one of those relationships … Every day at your current job is like an interview so treat it as such.”

What coaches have influenced your career and coaching philosophy?
“I have been influenced by every coach I have been around … I have tried to take the good from each coach and incorporate it into my own philosophy … One thing I like about recruiting is watching a ton of high school games and practices so I enjoy picking their brains as well and learning things from them also … The coaches I have worked for who I have taken things from are Larry Shyatt, Oliver Purnell, Tommy Amaker, and Shaka Smart … Each one of them has different backgrounds and it has been a great learning experience for me.”

What advice would you give a player who thinks they have the ability to play DI basketball?
“Be competitive in everything that you do … Never take a day off and continue to work hard on your game daily … Never think that you have arrived - There is always something that you can improve on … Focus on those things and get better at those … Also, I think players get way to caught up in rankings - Don’t worry about those and just worry about what you can control = Put your blinders on to get better.”

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Do you aspire to be a high school head coach or a Division I or II college coach?  Read our interview with Shay Boyle of Gordon Tech High School in Chicago.

Beantownhoops.com: How did you get started in college coaching?
Coach Boyle:  “I was very fortunate to get my start in college coaching as a graduate assistant coach at Lewis University, a Division 2 school, in Romeoville, IL.   I was a computer consultant for a Big 4 accounting firm at the time after college, but I had a burning desire to pursue my coaching dream so I gave that all up (against the wishes of about everybody who knew me) and packed up my Wrigleyville apartment and moved into a college dorm again and collected my $4,000 a year stipend! I knew that I was a very young assistant coach so I worked hard everyday to prove that I could be a successful college coach.”

How’s the team going to look this year?
“I am entering my 2nd year as head coach at Gordon Tech High School in the Chicago Catholic League. We have made many strides in year 1 and it was a great learning experience as a head coach because you see everything differently and you learn so much, especially taking over a last place team who had gone 3-27 the prior season in the toughest conference in Illinois. We were fortunate to win a Regional Championship and improve our win total by 8 games in year 1 and send our 3 seniors to play college ball. We have a proud tradition at Gordon Tech that we are fighting to bring back everyday. We enjoyed a very successful summer and have a lot of dedicated players returning this season so I’m looking forward to another exciting year for the Rams. Finally, my GT fun fact for beantownhoops readers is that legendary coaches Dick Versace (Pistons), Bob Oceipka (Bulls), Tony Barone (Grizzlies), and Ed Janka (Nike) all got their start at Gordon so we have a very proud tradition here.”


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It was the best ad campaign in the 1980’s with highlights of great plays set to the music of the Pointer Sisters or one hit wonder Leo Sayer (”You make me feel like dancing”). To conclude this montage of dunks, great passes, and big hair was a Hollywood star, usually filmed at the old Forum, saying “The NBA, it’s fantastic!”

I do miss those days of the Association. Larry, Magic, Doc, Jordan, Nique, Barkley, Kareem, Akeem, Isiah and their teams defined the best days of professional basketball. Back then, you knew the rosters of each team and could identify with their styles of play, “Showtime”, “Bad Boys”, and the “Twin Towers” to name a few. Today, the NBA is seeing a decline in ratings and the echo of this statement from sports fans everywhere, “I can’t stand the NBA, college basketball is so much better.”

Much like other professional sport teams, the popularity of a sport depends on the success of your local team. If you don’t have a local team, you adopt one. When that team is eliminated from the playoffs or doesn’t make the playoffs at all, you stop to watch. But take a closer look at the league and you’ll see something very special to the coaching profession. As coaches, we watch the game from a much different perspective than the fan does. The casual fan will have reservations about the NBA and will criticize it. I wasn’t coaching in the 80’s, I was a fan. Now that I am a coach, to me it is clear that the NBA is one of the best coaching tools for coaches at all levels.

Let’s take a closer look at what the league offers coaches:

1. Sideline o.b.’s: Watch these closely, especially in late game situations. My team last year had three sideline o.b. plays that I stole from the NBA. Don’t believe me…go to youtube and type in Dwight Howard vs. Spurs game winning ally oop, Derek Fisher vs. the Spurs playoffs, or Vince Carter vs. Toronto game winner to name a few. You’ll put them in your playbook when you see them.

2. Double teams: The biggest complaint high school coaches have is that we don’t have enough practice time to prepare. Well, neither does the NBA in my opinion. Once season starts, the 82 game schedule takes over and practices become glorified shoot arounds. This leaves coaches with about a month of training camp to get everything in. That being said, the way pro teams double the post or double a star player is unbelievable. Doubling from the weakside post, doubling from the ball side entry, doubling from the weakside top can occur in three consecutive defensive possessions. Try teaching your team that!

3. Match-up zone: With the zone defense being implemented a few years back, many teams have hired college assistants who know this defense well. When the season starts, watch how teams play it and how teams break it. The match up zone causes many problems for high school teams and if your team is not prepared to play it, your team will struggle.

4. Help and Recover: Most of us have it set in stone how we defend the dribble. I always liked to never give up dribble penetration so my helpers had to close driving lanes and then recover to a shooter. Watch the NBA and it will differ from player to player on the opposing team. I always enjoyed watching how an NBA coach game planned for this. Keep an eye on this next time.

5. The Pick and Roll: If you don’t have an idea how to run or defend it, I suggest you tune in opening night or watch some pre-season NBA. Many high school teams have opened up their offense, much like the spread offense in football, and this usually includes some type of ball screen in the offense. Get your team prepared now.

Finally, to our non-coaches out there. If you can’t enjoy watching Lebron, Kobe, and Chris Paul play you’re missing out. These are special players who would have excited us in any decade. The NBA may be losing popularity, but for a coach and true fan of the game, it still is fantastic.
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