Coaching Greats

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats": UCSB's Bob Williams

Jon Teitel — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:54:09 -0700

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" series CHN writer Jon Teitel caught up with current UCSB head coach Bob Williams, the lone coach in this series to represent two schools in the same conference. Williams led UC Davis as a Division II school, building the program up to the point where he won a national title in 1998. From there Williams moved on to UCSB, where he's led the Gauchos to three NCAA tournament appearances and five Big West titles.

Jon Teitel: You became coach at UC Davis in 1990 despite being in the only league in all of Division II at the time that did not give out scholarships. How were you able to be so competitive against other teams who did have scholarships?

Bob Williams: We struggled with some of the elite non-conference teams at the time, but we did okay and had a bunch of great kids with a good work ethic, so the cream rose to the top.

JT: In 1998 you went 31-2 as head coach en route to winning the Division II title and being named Division II Coach of the Year. What did it mean to you to win the title, and what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor?

BW: It was a great honor to be Coach of the Year, but it meant a hell of a lot more to win the title! To be the only non-scholarship team to ever win the title was a Hoosiers-like moment as well as the culmination of eight years of growth and hard work.

JT: After that season you left Davis to become coach at UCSB. Why did you make the move?

BW: I made the move in order to go to a Division I school, and as a California native I had long looked at the UCSB job as a great situation. I had followed the Big West Conference and recruited against it in the past. The scholarships were awful nice to have as well!

JT: What are your memories of the 2002 NCAA tournament (Jason Gardner scored 28 points to lead Arizona to the five-point victory)?

BW: That was definitely our closest game. We competed at a high level and had a free throw to cut it to two with 90 seconds left, but just could not get any closer than that.

JT: What are your memories of the 2010 NCAA tournament (Jon Diebler scored 23 points (7-12 3PT) in the Ohio State victory)?

BW: We were overmatched a little bit but happy to be back in the tournament. Our star Orlando Johnson played well, but Dallas Lauderdale (12 rebounds, eight blocked shots and two steals) was much better defensively than we anticipated.

JT: What are your memories of the 2011 NCAA tournament (Erving Walker scored 18 points to lead Florida past the Gauchos)?

BW: They came out red-hot and we were never in it, especially after losing our starting center Jaime Serna with a broken wrist two minutes into the game.

JT: You recently passed Jerry Pimm for the most wins in school history. What did it mean to you to break the record, and do you think that anyone will ever break your own record?

BW: I am sure someone will break it: records are made to be broken. To have followed Coach Pimm and then won more games than him has been great, but he built this program and it was a much tougher road for him.

JT: Last March you had a three-point loss to Idaho in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. How will you be able to build on that for next year knowing that your top three scorers are graduating (Serna, Johnson and James Nunnally)?

BW: We are losing a lot (including two of the best scorers in school history), but have put together back-to-back good recruiting classes. We feel we have a chance to be competitive but our preseason schedule will test us greatly.

JT: You currently have the best W/L% of all active Big West coaches. What makes you such a good coach, and how long do you plan on sticking around for?

BW: I do not know about either one to be honest. I think you can only be a good coach when you have good players so we try to recruit very well. I will coach as long as I am enjoying what I do.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

BW: I think I want to be remembered for the quality of people we had here.

Williams is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Big West history.

Cal Poly: Jeff Schneider (1995-2001) 70-84, 1 conference title
Cal State Fullerton: Bob Burton (2003-present) 155-122, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title
Cal State Northridge: Bobby Braswell (1996-present) 237-241, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
UC Riverside: John Masi (1979-2005) 462-269, 6-time conference COY
UC Davis: Bob Williams (1990-1998) 158-76, 4 conference titles, 1 D-2 title, 1-time national COY
Long Beach State: Jerry Tarkanian (1968-1973) 122-20, 4 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles
Pacific: Bob Thomason (1988-present) 392-296, 4 NCAA tourneys, 5 conference titles, 5-time conference COY
UC Irvine: Pat Douglass (1997-2010) 197-191, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
UCSB: Bob Williams (1998-present) 237-181, 3 NCAA tourneys, 5 conference titles, 3-time conference COY (ALSO UC DAVIS)

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats": Western Illinois' Jack Margenthaler

Jon Teitel — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:30:36 -0700

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series, CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with former Western Illinois head coach Jack Margenthaler. In fifteen seasons at the school, Margenthaler led the Leathernecks to 221 victories, three conference titles and two NCAA tournament appearances. Both of Margenthaler's sons are currently college assistants, and one-time pupil Scott Nagy led South Dakota State to their first-ever tournament appearance back in March.

Jon Teitel: You were a two-time All-State basketball player at Pinckneyville High School. How good a player were you back in the day?

Jack Margenthaler: We had five guys who had played together since grade school so we knew how to interact on the court. We all averaged double-digits but on any given night any of us could score 20 points.

JT: You played at Houston for Hall of Fame coach Guy Lewis. What made Lewis such a great coach, and what is the most important thing you ever learned from him?

JM: I was so impressed with what he wanted to do. He was a no-nonsense kind of guy who told us what he expected out of us.

1965 NCAA tournament

JT: You scored 13 points in a one-point win over Notre Dame. How were you able to hang on for the win?

JM: It was a close game all the way through but they just had more turnovers toward the end. Lewis was a defensive coach so that was our priority.

JT: You scored seven points in a loss to Oklahoma State. What was the feeling like in your locker room afterwards?

JM: It was a real downer because it was my last collegiate game: it took me a while to accept that it was over. It was dead silence in the locker room when Lewis came in after his radio interview.

JT: You scored 17 points and made a jumper with six seconds left to tie the game, but Charley Beasley made two free throws with no time left on the clock to give SMU a two-point victory third place game. Did you think your shot had won the game, and where does that game rank among the most devastating losses of your career?

JM: When you make a shot like that you feel that you have the game wrapped up, just like you dream about as a kid.

JT: In the summer of 1965 you were drafted by Philadelphia but turned them down to get a master's degree in physical education/science. What did it mean to you to get drafted, and how difficult a decision was it to go back to school?

JM: I was excited to be drafted. I talked to Coach Lewis about it a couple of times and prayed a lot about it. At that particular time I just felt that I should get my master's because I wanted to get into coaching, so I have no regrets.

JT: In 1968 you became head coach at LaSalle-Peru HS, where you went 138-27 and won five conference titles in six seasons. How were you able to be so dominant, and why did you decide to leave?

JM: To be honest you do not recruit players when you are a HS coach. We just had a bunch of great kids and a great staff. The student body/administration was behind us and we sold out every game.

JT: In 1981 and 1982 your team led all of Division I in free throw shooting. What is the secret to free throw shooting, and do you think coaches need to spend more time teaching their players how to shoot free throws?

JM: I was talking to 1 of my son's players who is a great shooter. I told him that nobody should miss a free throw and I asked him why he ever missed one. He said that sometimes his mind wandered but I told him he should never miss. It is a turnover in my book. You just have to believe in yourself. Joe Dykstra made 64 free throws in a row for us back in 1982 and we ended up leading the nation in free throw shooting because all of his teammates tried to make all of their free throws as well.

JT: In 1983 you were named conference Coach of the Year. What did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

JM: It was exciting for me because it was my first college Coach of the Year award. We had a great league with a lot of great coaches so it was a real honor.

JT: One of your assistants at SIU-Edwardsville was current South Dakota State head coach Scott Nagy. Could you tell at the time how great a head coach he would become?

JM: There was no question in my mind. He came from a basketball family. His dad Dick spent many years working for Coach Lou Henson at Illinois. I wish Scott would have stayed with my longer but he had an offer to become coach at South Dakota State. He has helped turn around that program and has a bright future.

JT: Your sons Matt and Ty both became basketball coaches. How proud are you of their success, and which of them is a better coach?

JM: They are both good young coaches. Matt has had phenomenal success here with some good players. Ty is an assistant with the women's team at Wisconsin and will have an opportunity to be a college head coach someday. They both support each other.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

JM: I know it is trite to say this but I just hope that my players go on to become successful. When one of my players calls me back to check in with me it makes my day. Not many people remember the wins but those relationships last forever. I hope people say that I cared about my players and helped make them successful.

Margenthaler is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Summit League history.

IPFW: Andy Piazza (1987-1996) 142-108
IUPUI: Ron Hunter (1994-2011) 254-219, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title, 2-time conference COY
Nebraska-Omaha: Bob Hanson (1969-1994) 382-313
North Dakota State: Erv Inniger (1978-1992) 244-150, 1 conference title
Oakland: Greg Kampe (1999-present) 226-187, 3 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 4-time conference COY
South Dakota: Dave Boots (1988-present) 493-215, 6-time conference COY
South Dakota State: Scott Nagy (1995-present) 316-197, 1 NCAA tourney, 4 conference titles, 5-time conference COY
UMKC: Lee Hunt (1989-1996) 95-99
Western Illinois: Jack Margenthaler (1977-1992) 221-202, 3 conference titles, 1-time conference COY

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats": Prairie View A&M's Elwood Plummer

Jon Teitel — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:34:44 -0700

As part of his "Coaching Greats" interview series, CHN writer Jon Teitel recently caught up with former Prairie View A&M head coach Elwood Plummer. Plummer's teams went through some rough times but did manage to earn the school's first-ever NCAA appearance in 1998.

Jon Teitel: In the early 1960s you were a two-time all-conference player at San Antonio College. Why did you decide to attend San Antonio, and how good a player were you back then?

Elwood Plummer: San Antonio is my hometown and Coach Tom Smith encouraged me to stay at home. I averaged about 20 points/game during each of my two years there.

JT: What are your memories of the 1965 Division II tournament after transferring to Jackson State (four-point loss to Central Michigan)?

EP: I came off the bench and scored 14 points. It was an outstanding game and we probably should have won, but we just made some mistakes at the wrong time. We were bigger than anyone else in the tournament. We had Danny Manning's father Ed (who was 6-8), and our two other starters in the frontcourt were even taller than Ed.

JT: What are your memories of the 1966 Division II tournament?

EP: We played against Souther Illinois and their star Walt Frazier. Our coach (Dr. Harrison Wilson) gave us a scouting report that Frazier was a roaming guard, and he indeed was all over the court. We had four players assigned to him (two at a time)... but he still ended up with 48 points! I could tell from the opening jump ball that he was an outstanding player.

JT: After your playing days were over you decided to become a coach. Why did you decide to go into coaching?

EP: I had always wanted to be a coach ever since junior high when my coach taught me all about fundamentals. When I got out of college I went back to my old high school as an assistant under Coach Leon Price, and we went 30-2 that year. The following year I became head coach at St. Phillips JC in San Antonio, which was the first of several stops during my coaching career.

JT: After spending several years at Prairie View, you left in 1979 to become coach at Huston-Tillotson. Why did you take the job at Prairie View, and why did you end up changing jobs?

EP: My mom and dad had both gotten sick, which is why I left Prairie View to take the job at Huston-Tillotson. Both of my parents eventually passed away, at which time I went back to Prairie View.

JT: After you returned to Prairie View in 1990 the school announced that it was discontinuing basketball, but changed its mind two months later and decided to make it a non-scholarship sport. What did you do during those two months, and how hard was it to coach without any scholarships?

EP: It was pretty rough because we played a Division I schedule with non-scholarship players. We got bombed out of quite a few games! The following year we got three scholarships, and eventually got things back on track.

JT: In 1992 your team went 0-28. How frustrating was it to go winless, and what did you say to your team after the season was over?

EP: I brought in some new kids the following year and we won about six games, and it picked up after that.

JT: After winning the 1998 SWAC tournament title your team did a postgame step dance called "Hoop Phi Hoop." What did it mean to you to win the title?

EP: I was in another zone when we won. It was a great honor for me and for the school.

JT: What are your memories of the 1998 NCAA tournament, the first in school history despite having a record of 13-16 (Paul Pierce scored 25 points (10-12 FG) in a 58-point win by 1-seed Kansas)?

EP: Kansas was #1 in the nation at the time, and in addition to Pierce they had future lottery pick Raef LaFrentz. It was a big deal around town and in the SWAC.

JT: You currently coach at Huston-Tillotson. How do you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future?

EP: I hope to build a winning program here. I am like a kid in a candy store! I retired from Prairie View in 2005 and was not doing very much besides attending coaching clinics with some of my old friends. I would get chills from watching games on TV, so when Alvin Moore became AD he asked me if I would consider becoming head coach. My wife was already teaching and coaching in Austin, which was also a factor. Huston-Tillotson is a nice school but I told them that I would only take the job as long as I did not have to teach.

Plummer is also on Jon's list of best coaches in SWAC history.

Alabama A&M: L. Vann Pettaway (1986-2011) 453-279, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY
Alabama State: James Oliver (1978-1995) 291-191
Alcorn State: Davey Whitney (1977-1989, 1996-2003) 332-230, 6 NCAA tourneys, 10 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Van Holt (2002-2008) 50-124
Grambling State: Fred Hobdy (1977-1986) 123-126
Jackson State: Harrison B. Wilson (1950-1967) 371-93, 1 conference title
Mississippi Valley State: Lafayette Stribling (1983-2005) 305-318, 3 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
Prairie View A&M: Elwood Plummer (1977-2002) 150-341, 1 NCAA tourney
Southern: Ben Jobe (1986-1996, 2001-2003) 208-142, 4 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles
Texas Southern: Robert Moreland (1977-2001, 2007-2008) 352-354, 3 NCAA tourneys, 6 conference titles, 3-time conference COY

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats": Lamar and Houston's Pat Foster

Jon Teitel — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 14:54:24 -0700

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Pat Foster, who went 134-39 in six seasons at Lamar. From there Foster went on to Houston, where he led the Cougars to multiple NCAA tournament appearances. Before becoming a head coach Foster was an assistant at his alma mater (Arkansas) under Eddie Sutton, and the Razorbacks reached the Final Four in 1978.

Jon Teitel: You were an All-SWC basketball player at Arkansas and played first base on the baseball team. Which sport did you like more, and which one were you better at?

Pat Foster: I liked basketball better because I was more successful at it, but I like baseball as well and have been a baseball fan ever since.

JT: You spent eight years as an assistant to coach Eddie Sutton with fellow assistant Gene Keady at your alma mater, where you helped recruit guys like Sidney Moncrief. How were you able to convince Moncrief to come to Arkansas?

PF: Moncrief, Marvin Delph and Ron Brewer came here because every time one of the assistants went into a meeting that is what we focused on. A lot of times the person who gets credit for recruiting a player is not the person who actually makes it happen. I introduced Sidney and Ron to the program, and Marvin's high school coach and I were friends. I used some contacts that I had in Little Rock who helped convince Moncrief to come here. There are many factors that go into recruiting so I cannot take all the credit.

JT: One of your former players at Arkansas was Houston Nutt, who later became a successful Division I football coach. What was he like as a basketball player, and did you ever imagine that he could become an SEC football coach?

PF: I could see it. I really liked him and I knew his dad. He was a really quick basketball player and could handle the ball. He was fancy before fancy was popular: no-look passes, behind-the-back dribbles, etc. He was not a great shooter and got caught behind a perimeter that was well-stacked. He did not play a lot but was easy to coach, as his dad was a coach as well.

JT: What are your memories of the 1977 NCAA tournament (after finishing the regular season at 26-1, Arkansas suffered a six-point loss to Wake Forest thanks to 26 points [10-17 FG] from Rod Griffin, and Sutton was so upset by that loss that he allegedly refused to speak to any of the players over the following summer)?

PF: That story about Sutton is not true. I had a lot of tough losses but that one is still in the Top 5 for me, even though I was just an assistant. It was a sad time for us because we led by 14 in the second half. It was a brutal situation but Eddie did not take it out on his players.

1978 NCAA tournament

JT: Delph had 23 points and ten rebounds while playing all 40 minutes in a four-point win over UCLA. What was the mood of the team before facing the legendary Bruins, and what did you learn from the 1977 tournament that helped you in 1978?

PF: Experience calms a player down and also gives them confidence. I feel that the 1977 loss helped us win in 1978. We were not cocky at all but were supremely confident...and damn good! The five starters fit together very well even though none of them were alike as basketball players. Jimmy Counce and Moncrief were the two best leaders I was ever around as players. Moncrief made himself a great player: he was only a 6-4 post player in high school. Sutton coached the game based on tough defense. If they drove to the basket then we would pop them.

JT: Regional MVP Brewer hit a 25-foot shot with just over one minute left to clinch a three-point win over Fullerton, during which NBC broadcaster Al McGuire labeled Brewer, Delph and Moncrief the "Triplets". How good a shooter was Brewer, and how did the guys like the nickname?

PF: They liked the nickname just fine. They had supreme respect for authority. Brewer's shot was more like a 17-20 footer. Fullerton came back down the floor and Brewer made a great defensive play to knock the ball loose.

JT: Tourney MOP Jack Givens had 23 points and nine rebounds in a five-point win by eventual champion Kentucky. How devastating was that loss, and where does that Kentucky team rank among the best you have ever seen?

PF: Any loss is a bad loss but it was not a devastating, hang-your-head loss because they were better than we were. Eddie instilled in his players that they had to play to the best of their ability for as long as they could. We really did all that we could do against Kentucky.

JT: Coach Sutton called for a "Brewer Special", so Brewer backed down Bill Hanzlik and made a turnaround jumper at the buzzer in a two-point win over Notre Dame in the third-place game to finish the season 32-4 and tie the then-NCAA record for most wins in a season. Where does Brewer's shot rank among the most clutch you have ever seen, and what was the reaction like when it went in?

PF: At that point in our development as a program it was a real big shot. I do not say this a lot but Brewer might be the most talented player I was ever around. He was a great jump shooter but could also take it to the rim over a bigger player.

1979 NCAA tournament

JT: Steve Schall had 18 points (9-9 FG) and eight rebounds in a win over Weber State after you had beaten them in the first round of the 1978 tournament. Was Schall just "in the zone" that night, and do you think Weber was getting sick of playing you every year in the tourney?

PF: Probably. Current UCLA coach Ben Howland played for Weber State that year. That was probably Schall's best game.

JT: Moncrief had 27 points and 12 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes in a win over a Louisville team that won the NCAA title the following year. What made Moncrief such a great player, and could you tell at the time that Denny Crum had the pieces in place to make a long run in the tournament the following season?

PF: After Louisville won the title in 1980 Crum told me that he used Moncrief as an example of a guy who could score against anybody. "Possessed" is the best word I could use to describe Moncrief in big games. He just refused to let us lose. He was not the kind of guy who would talk in the huddle, he just led by doing it. Our lanky freshman Scott Hastings dunked a ball in the Louisville game that goes down in my memory as one of the biggest plays I have ever seen.

JT: Larry Bird had 31 points and ten rebounds while playing all 40 minutes in a two-point win by eventual runner-up Indiana State. Was Bird as unstoppable as he seemed, and was he the best opponent you ever faced?

PF: He was the best I ever faced and the most outstanding college basketball player I have ever seen in person. He was like Pistol Pete but under control. God he was great!

JT: What are your memories of the 1981 NCAA tournament in your first year as head coach at Lamar (Lamar beat Missouri by four, but Rudy Macklin scored 31 points in a win by 1-seed LSU)?

PF: We did as well as we could. LSU ended up making it all the way to the Final Four. Missouri had some great players like Jon Sundvold and Steve Stipanovich, but they had a bad game while we shot the lights out. We were the closest thing toGonzaga at that time in terms of a mid-major who could win games in the tournament.

JT: What are your memories of the 1983 NCAA tournament (Lamar beat Alabama then fell to Villanova by two)?

PF: The Alabama game was one of the best games that we ever played. Alabama had won the SEC title but before they knew it we had beat them. The conference tournaments have given the mid-majors a better shot of pulling an upset.

JT: The following season you had a three-point loss to Karl Malone's Louisiana Tech team which snapped Lamar's 80-game home court winning streak at the Beaumont Civic Center (which was the longest in the nation). How close did you come to winning that game, and what was the reaction like after the streak ended?

PF: It was a last-second deal. We had a 6-9 guy named James Gulley who could take it inside and score on Malone, but one great player will beat three good ones every time. Several years later Malone saw me in the airport, walked up to me and said, "Have you talked to Gulley lately?!"

JT: After previously withdrawing your name from consideration as a replacement for the retiring legendary head coach Guy Lewis at Houston, you changed your mind and accepted their offer. Why did you withdraw your name at first, and what made you later change your mind?

PF: I withdrew because they would not make a decision as to whether they wanted me or not. They later came back to me with an offer that I could not refuse. Guy Lewis is one of the nicest coaches I have ever met and was nothing but professional.

JT: What are your memories of the 1990 NCAA tournament (Carl Herrera scored 19 points in a four-point loss to UCSB)?

PF: That is one of my Top 5 worst and is probably equal to the Wake Forest loss. It hurt me really bad. A lot of the Houston fans switched their allegiance from the Cougars to the Rockets once Hakeem Olajuwon left the former for the latter.

JT: In 1992 you were named Southwest Conference Coach of the Year. What did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

PF: I did not remember that. I guess it is better than not getting it! I took every game as an Arkansas assistant coach as personally as if I was the head coach because all of my friends were there. When you win a game or an award you just worry about what you will do next to keep it going, and that pressure is what eventually breaks coaches down.

JT: What are your memories of the 1992 NCAA tournament (Jon Barry scored 17 points in a five-point Georgia Tech victory)?

PF: Bobby Cremins beat me. We had them beat even though they had a few future pros on that team (including Travis Best and Matt Geiger), but could not hang on for the win. They hit an amazing three-pointer towards the end. If you coach long enough you will win games you are not supposed to win...but then it will turn on you!

JT: You had three players who were in the 1992 Olympics: Carl Herrera (Venezuela), Rolando Ferreira (Brazil), and David Diaz (Venezuela). How were you able to recruit so many foreign players, and what impact do you think foreign players will continue to have on college basketball in the 21st century?

PF: A lot, I hope. Many of those guys are throwbacks to the 1970s in terms of fundamentals because the foreign coaches have learned a lot after decades of clinics run by American coaches. Recruiting is the dark side of sports and has ruined a lot of good players, but foreign players were not scarred by that at all. I have always had a great feeling for foreign players and like to see them get the opportunity to come here and play. It is impossible to judge eligibility because some of them get money for playing on club teams. The system is different.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

PF: I have thought about this more than you think. I have some regrets that I did not really do as much for my players as I should have. Winning becomes everything and the pressure to keep winning and supporting the program caused me to worry. Instead of chewing a kid's rear end out I should have had more compassion for the pressure that they were under. After he went to the NBA, Moncrief said that it would be great if coaches could remember how hard it is to play and if players could remember how hard it is to coach.

Foster is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Southland history.

Central Arkansas: Don Dyer (1979-1993) 285-145, 3 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
Lamar: Pat Foster (1980-1986) 134-49, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles
McNeese State: Ralph Ward (1952-1971) 282-194, 6 conference titles, 1 NAIA title
Nicholls State: Rickey Broussard (1990-2002) 150-183, 2 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
Northwestern State: Mike McConathy (1999-present) 200-204, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
SE Louisiana: Billy Kennedy (1999-2005) 80-92, 1 NCAA tourney, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Sam Houston State: Bob Marlin (1998-2010) 225-131, 2 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
Stephen F. Austin: Danny Kaspar (2000-present) 219-136, 1 NCAA tourney, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Texas A&M CC: Ronnie Arrow (1999-2007) 134-91, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY
Texas State: Mike Miller (1994-2000) 87-79, 1 NCAA tourney, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
UT Arlington: Eddie McCarter (1992-2006) 179-211, 1 conference title
UTSA: Tim Carter (1995-2006) 160-152, 2 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats": Chattanooga and VCU's Mack McCarthy

Jon Teitel — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 21:40:55 -0700

In the most recent installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with former Chattanooga, VCU and East Carolina head coach Mack McCarthy. During his time at Chattanooga McCarthy led the Mocs to their lone Sweet 16 appearance in 1997, knocking off Georgia and Illinois before falling to Providence in Birmingham. McCarthy won 243 games at Chattanooga and led the Mocs to five NCAA appearances and eight conference titles.

Jon Teitel: You were an assistant coach for Sonny Smith at Auburn, where you helped recruit future Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. What made Smith such a great coach, and did you ever think that Barkley would become a Hall of Famer?

Mack McCarthy: Sonny is the smartest coach I have ever been around. His feel for the flow of the game was uncanny. He was glib and funny and most times did not get credit for his cerebral understanding of the game. He could recruit as well as anyone because he could read people in an instant. That was how we overcame the existing pecking order in recruiting to get players who had never considered Auburn as a destination. It would have been tough for anyone to project Charles' performance from one level to the next. Coaches (and fans for that matter) like to compare a player to someone who has been successful, but there really was no one like Charles to compare him to from high school to college and then from college to the NBA.

Once he got on campus we knew that he was special, but it was still hard to figure out just how productive he was going to be. Clearly he was a special talent and person who had a great deal to do with Auburn basketball by starting the most successful run in their history. His presence and then the following recruiting classes (with guys like Chuck Person, Gerald White, Frank Ford, Chris Morris, and all the others) led Auburn to a string of NCAA tournaments that has never been repeated there.

JT: What are your memories of the 1984 NCAA tournament (Johnny Newman scored 26 points in a one-point Richmond win)?

MM: Making the tournament was such a special achievement since Auburn had never been before. We lost to a good Richmond team for three reasons. First, Richmond was good. Secondly, Charles was very focused on playing against Coach Bobby Knight (who had cut him from the Olympic team) and his Indiana team in the next round. Lastly, we were really happy just to have made the tournament and did not understand the whole process of how to win games in the Big Dance.

1985 NCAA tournament (as an assistant at Auburn)

JT: Chuck Person scored 20 points in a one-point win over Purdue after a short turnaround jumper by Purdue's James Bullock rolled off the rim at the buzzer. Did you think Bullock's shot was going in, and how big a deal was it to get the first tournament win in school history?

MM: 1985 was a crazy season. Barkley had gone pro so we had a very young but talented team. Our regular season was really disappointing but we knew that we were good. We caught fire and won the SEC tournament, becoming the first team to win four games in four days and beating our archrival Alabama on national TV in the title game. We carried this momentum into the NCAA. Playing in a very difficult SEC prepared us well for the challenges of playing in the NCAA for the second straight year. This time we had more of an idea of what to expect.

Playing a Gene Keady-coached Purdue team in South Bend was tough. We had been involved in so many close games during the season, and then winning each of our four conference tournament games by single digits gave us a lot of confidence that we could (and should) win. At this point we felt like we could beat anyone. Being part of the first NCAA win in the history of the school certainly was a bonding experience that led to Auburn advancing to the Elite 8 the following season.

JT: Frank Ford scored 23 points (9-9 FG) and freshman Danny Manning missed a jumper at the buzzer for a two-point win over three-seed Kansas. Did you think Manning's shot was going in, and where does that weekend rank among the most exciting of your coaching career?

MM: Kansas was a difficult matchup due to Manning and a whole team of highly recruited players. However for the second year in a row we had a team whose entire starting five was later drafted by the NBA. Beating Manning and Coach Larry Brown was really special because it meant that we were headed back to Birmingham, where we had just won the only SEC tournament title in school history.

JT: Person had 16 points and 12 rebounds, but Kenny Smith scored 22 in a six-points North Carolina victory. What was the crowd like at the Birmingham-Jefferson County Civic Center, and could you tell at the time how good a player Smith would become?

MM: Each team we played was better than the one before it. North Carolina had Smith and a slew of other future NBA guys (including Brad Daugherty). The Civic Center was rocking with Auburn fans and it was a great game. We played really well after a rocky start and had a chance to win it at the end. While I left for the head coaching position at Chattanooga, this run definitely set the tone for the next season when Auburn came within one possession of making the Final Four.

JT: In 1985 you became head coach at Chattanooga, where you never had a losing season and your 243 wins equaled the most ever for a SoCon coach. Why did you decide to take the job, and how were you able to remain such a consistent winner during your 12 years there?

MM: I never put a lot of thought into becoming a head coach. If you are in the profession it is usually a goal but it was not something I was obsessed about. The Chattanooga job opened late in the summer. Ironically, we had played in their tournament the year before. It seemed like the next natural step: while working for Sonny I had been allowed to be responsible for every phase of the basketball program. This really prepared me more than I knew for the challenges and opportunities of being a head coach.

While I took over a program that had lost some great players from the previous season, it was also a program that had had great success under Murray Arnold. This momentum really helped us continue to win and even grow upon the success that Murray had. I was fortunate to inherit a good staff and players who were winners. That, along with my experience at Auburn, led to us winning and winning consistently at Chattanooga. The staff evolved and our recruiting continued to improve, which led to our run of several NCAA appearances and eventually to our unprecedented Sweet 16 performance.

JT: One of your basketball players was future All-Pro WR Terrell Owens, who played in the 1995 NCAA tournament loss to Connecticut. How good a basketball player was he, and did you ever think he would become such a great player in the NFL?

MM: There was never any question about what kind of football player T.O. was going to be. Head coach Buddy Nix came back from Alabama after signing him and immediately said that this young man was going to be playing on Sundays. He was an okay basketball player but never really had a chance to work on his game since he was playing football for nine months a year and basketball for only three months a year. He was a super team guy because of his work ethic, his weight room regimen, and his competitive nature in practice.

JT: What are your memories of the 1997 SoCon tournament title game (Chris Mims scored 16 points and made a put-back layup with four seconds left in a one-point win over Marshall)?

MM: We had a great game against a big rival in Marshall. Future NBA star Jason Williams led Marshall, and we had a lottery pick in Johnny Taylor. We also had several veteran guys like Mims, Marquis Collier, Willie Young, and others. Marshall had a possession late in the game where the 6-9 Taylor guarded the 6-1 Williams and caused him to travel. Taylor then missed a shot that Mims tipped in, which allowed us to win the game and go on to the NCAA tournament.

1997 NCAA tournament (at Chattanooga)

JT: Young scored 24 points and Collier blocked GG Smith's shot at the buzzer in a three-point upset win over three-seed Georgia. How were you able to dominate them from the start (scoring the first 15 points of the game), and where does Collier's block rank among the best defensive plays you have ever seen?

MM: We had been to four NCAA tournaments prior to the 1997 appearance, and those experiences helped us as we approached this challenge. We had run into some top seeds during our previous trips (such as Kansas, Connecticut, and Oklahoma). Advancing in the tournament as a lower seed is based to some extent on how good you are, but it is based even more on the matchups (particularly from a size perspective). We got off to a great start against Tubby Smith's Georgia team.

We were ahead 15-0 to start and later 22-2 before they settled in and started to make a comeback. We had a three-point lead late in the game and Georgia had to go the length of the floor to try and tie it. We pressed and were going to foul at midcourt, but they called timeout before we could give the foul. They got the ball to Tubby's son GG in the corner and the 6-9 Collier got a piece of the shot to give us the upset as a #14-seed.

JT: You had a 30-11 run at the end of the second half to clinch an upset six-seed Illinois and become the second 14-seed (and the first SoCon team) to ever advance to the Sweet 16. How were you able to dominate them down the stretch, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus?

MM: We had a good matchup for the second straight game because neither Georgia nor Illinois had a dominant center. Illinois also played a lot like Georgia on both sides of the ball so our preparation did not change a lot in regard to the game plan. It was a very even and physical game until we went to a matchup zone late which confused them a little. I think they only made one field goal in the final seven minutes.

The reaction to the first win was unbelievable but we still had to get ready for the Illinois game. However, after the second win the joy in Chattanooga and the national media coverage was unprecedented. It was so much fun to see our loyal fans enjoy the chance for the nation to know what we already knew about Moc basketball.

JT: Austin Croshere scored 19 points in a six-point win by ten-seed Providence in Birmingham. What was the crowd like at the Civic Center this time around, and how were the Friars able to recover after Croshere picked up his fourth foul?

MM: Ironically, Providence in the Sweet 16 was the lowest seed we faced that March! Despite the intense scrutiny and coverage from the national and local media we had a good week of preparation and played well against Pete Gillen's team. Croshere and Taylor neutralized each other, while Providence's size and God Shammgod beat us down. We could not keep Shammgod out of the lane and their size bothered us near the rim. That being said, we overcame missing a bunch of free throws and made it a game at the end. [Two nights later] Providence lost in overtime to eventual national champion Arizona (who had six guys score in double figures).

JT: UTC Arena (aka "The Roundhouse") was rated the "Third Toughest Place to Play in the NCAA" by Sports Illustrated back in 1995, and you were 83-10 (.892) at home against SoCon opponents. What made it such a tough place for opponents, and did it reach a point where your fans expected you to win every single home game?

MM: Roundhouse is a great venue. It is a steep, loud building that has the tradition of many championship banners hanging in the rafters. Our fans saw many miraculous finishes that added to the mystique and lore of the building. In reality, it probably had a whole lot to do with lots of good players and great support from our passionate fans!

JT: In 1997 you joined your longtime friend Smith at VCU as associate head coach, and later took over for him after he retired. Why did you decide to take the job, and how did the two of you become such great friends?

MM: Don DeVoe game me my first chance as a graduate assistant. Coach DeVoe was a brilliant defensive coach, and I never would have gotten into college coaching without that opportunity. I worked with Sonny as an assistant at Virginia Tech, then followed him to ETSU, and then Auburn. We are still very close and I owe a lot of my success to Sonny and his mentoring. He was Coach of the Year in four different conferences in four very different circumstances. He is still a brilliant offensive strategist and an unappreciated defensive coach too, and he is even a better person than a coach.

JT: In 1999 Bo Jones scored 19 second half points (after going scoreless in the first half) to open the Alltel Pavilion with a five-point win over Louisville. Do you agree with the VCU fans and alumni that voted this as the top moment in VCU sports history, and how were you able to overcome a 20-point deficit?

MM: Winning the inaugural game in the Siegel Center was a real highlight to many people at VCU, including myself. We were supposed to open the arena the year before against Virginia, but construction was delayed so instead we opened the building against Louisville (our old conference foe from the Metro). VCU has such a great tradition and loyal fans that had waited so long for us to play on campus. It was almost like it was destined to be a special night. Coming back from 20 points down against such a prestigious program like Louisville was miraculous.

JT: In 2001 Jones made a 70-foot shot at the buzzer for a three-point overtime win over ECU. Where does that shot rank among the best you have ever seen, and what was the reaction like in your locker room afterwards?

MM: When Bo made the shot to ironically beat ECU (where I later coached), I had no idea what to say...which is exactly what I told ECU coach Billy Herrion after the game, "I don't know what to say!" I have never really been part of anything like that.

JT: In 2004 you joined the Georgia Tech women's basketball staff as an assistant coach. Why did you take the job, and what is the biggest difference between coaching men and coaching women?

MM: Dave Braine, the athletic director at the time, asked me if I might be interested in leaving TV and radio to go back into coaching. MaChelle Joseph had just gotten the head coaching job, and both she and Dave thought that having an experienced assistant might be a good idea. Coach Joseph has gone on to do a really good job, becoming a regular NCAA tournament participant. I loved working at Georgia tech and coaching the women was really fun. They are very receptive to coaching instruction.

JT: You became head coach at ECU in 2007. Why did you take the job, and why were you unable to duplicate the success you previously had elsewhere?

MM: I came to ECU as an assistant to Ricky Stokes. When he resigned after two years I got the interim job and the following year I got the head job. We did not have the success that I had hoped for. ECU men's basketball has struggled for quite a while. We have made some progress, especially in the team APR (Academic Progress Rate), which had been a real detriment to our improvement on the court. I think that the program is on solid ground now and ready to continue moving in the right direction under Jeff Lebo's leadership.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

MM: I hope that people would look at the job we have been able to do and know that we have left each program in better shape than when we arrived. I would also hope that we are known to have treated people respectfully, worked really hard, and been good contributing citizens in each city. I have so many great relationships because I got to coach at great schools and live in wonderful communities.

McCarthy is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Southern Conference history.

Appalachian State: Buzz Peterson (1996-2000, 2009-2010) 103-52, 1 NCAA tourney, 4 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
Charleston: John Kresse (1979-2002) 560-143, 4 NCAA tourneys, 9 conference titles, 4-time conference COY
Chattanooga: Mack McCarthy (1985-1997) 243-122, 5 NCAA tourneys, 8 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
Citadel: Les Robinson (1974-1985) 132-162, 2-time conference COY
Davidson: Bob McKillop (1989-present) 426-271, 6 NCAA tourneys, 11 conference titles, 1-time national COY, 6-time conference COY
Elon: Bill Miller (1959-1979) 329-224, 2 conference titles
Furman: Joe Williams (1970-1978) 142-87, 5 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Georgia Southern: Frank Kerns (1981-1995) 244-132, 3 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 4-time conference COY
UNC Greensboro: Fran McCaffery (1999-2005) 90-87, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title
Samford: Jimmy Tillette (1997-2012) 229-219, 2 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY
Western Carolina: Steve Cottrell (1977-1987) 145-133, 1-time conference COY
Wofford: Mike Young (2002-present) 156-151, 2 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats": Alabama's Wimp Sanderson

Jon Teitel — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 09:10:40 -0700

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Wimp Sanderson, who was the head coach at Alabama from 1980 to 1992. While known for his plaid blazers, Sanderson also led the Crimson Tide to 265 wins and ten NCAA tournament appearances.

Jon Teitel: You were famous for wearing plaid sport jackets on the sidelines. Why plaid?

Wimp Sanderson: I do not think that I even wore plaid during my first couple of years there. I wore it once and the sportswriters wrote about it, then I wore it again and they kept writing about it, and it just sort of took off from there.

JT: In June 1963 as an assistant coach at Alabama you watched from a window in a building across the street from Foster Auditorium as Governor George Wallace stood at the schoolhouse door to stop two African-American students from enrolling. Did you realize that you were watching history?

WS: Our offices were across the street from the auditorium and I realized that I was watching something that I had never seen before. I knew it was unusual but did not know exactly what it would end up being.

JT: What are your memories of the 1975 NCAA tournament (Leon Douglas had 29 points and 21 rebounds in a three-point loss to Arizona State)?

WS: We got sent out west after losing to Vanderbilt at home, and Lionel Hollins (17 points and five assists) beat us pretty much by himself.

1976 NCAA tournament

JT: Douglas had 35 points and 17 rebounds in a win over North Carolina. Where does Douglas rank among the best players you ever coached?

WS: He was a very good player for us, but we were fortunate to have a lot of good players throughout the years.

JT: National POY Scott May had 25 points and 16 rebounds in a five-point win by eventual undefeated champion Indiana. Did you get the sense that Indiana was going to go undefeated that year?

WS: We had a chance to beat them but missed a couple of shots towards the end and had a controversial charge call made by a Big Ten official. Bobby Knight's team was great.

JT: In 1980 you took over for Hall of Fame coach C.M. Newton, who was the first SEC coach to heavily recruit African-American players. What made Newton such a great coach, and how was he able to convince African-American players to come to Tuscaloosa?

WS: After recruiting Wendell Hudson back in the 1960s (the first African-American scholarship athlete at Alabama), we just tried to recruit the best players in the state. Even after becoming head coach I made sure that I tried to do my part in recruiting.

1982 NCAA tournament

JT: Eddie Phillips scored 16 points (10-10 FT) in a one-point win over St. John's in New York. How were you able to hang on for the win?

WS: We got to the tourney after beating Kentucky in the SEC tournament title game. We were pretty fortunate to win a game against St. John's that went back and forth.

JT: Tournament MOP James Worthy scored 16 points in a five-point win by eventual champion North Carolina in Raleigh. Do you think that Dean Smith was out for revenge after losing to Alabama back in 1976?

WS: I do not think that he was out for revenge. We did a good job guarding Michael Jordan but it was a tough game. The following January we were getting ready to play #1-ranked UCLA on national TV when someone told me that Hall of Fame football coach Bear Bryant had just passed away. We beat the Bruins by two points and I was very proud of that.

JT: What are your memories of the 1984 NCAA tournament (Bobby Lee Hurt had 16 points and ten rebounds in a one-point loss to Illinois State)?

WS: They beat us on an 18-foot jump shot by Lou Stefanovic with eight seconds left.

1985 NCAA tournament

JT: Hurt scored 14 points in a nine-point win over Arizona and then 19 in a four-point win over VCU. What did Hurt learn from the Illinois State loss that helped him in the 1985 tournament?

WS: Lute Olson had a good Arizona team, and we beat them in a hard-fought game with a lot of fans who had made the trip from Tucson. One of VCU's assistant coaches was David Hobbs, who I later hired as one of my own assistants.

JT: Spud Webb scored 14 points in a six-point NC State win. How devastating was that loss?

WS: That was the year I thought we had a chance to win it all.

1986 NCAA tournament

JT: Terry Coner had 12 points and ten assists, and hit an off-balance 12-footer with one second left in a two-point win over Illinois. Do you think that Coner traveled, and where does that rank among the most clutch shots you have ever seen?

WS: Naturally I think he did not travel! Illinois coach Lou Henson asked me the same question after the game and I gave him the same answer.

JT: Kenny Walker had 22 points and three blocks while playing 40 minutes in a five-point Kentucky win. Did you change any of your strategy after losing to the Wildcats only 12 days earlier in the SEC tournament title game?

WS: The NCAA sent all of the SEC schools (Alabama, Kentucky and LSU) to the same regional site in Atlanta, which I think is the worst thing that they have ever done.

1987 NCAA tournament

JT: Derrick McKey had 25 points and 14 rebounds in a win over North Carolina A&T and 26 points (10-12 FG) in a win over New Orleans. How was McKey able to be so dominant that weekend?

WS: We won 19 of 21 conference games that year, and had a chance to win the two that we lost. We were a #2-seed, which was the highest we ever got.

JT: Billy Donovan had 26 points and ten assists in a win by Providence. Could you tell at the time that Donovan's success as a player would later translate to success as a coach?

WS: That was one of the saddest days of my life. I was a sore loser. Donovan wore us out that night.

JT: What are your memories of the 1989 NCAA tournament (Jeff Hodge scored 29 points and made a 23-foot shot with two seconds left in a two-point win by South Alabama in the first-ever meeting between the interstate rivals)?

WS: That was a killer for us. I did not want to play them in the regular season. I would attribute that loss to coaching.

1990 NCAA tournament

JT: Robert Horry scored 27 points (10-14 FG) in a win over Colorado State. Did Horry have the same clutch shooting ability back then that be became famous for in the NBA?

WS: Robert could shoot it well even back then.

JT: Horry scored 21 points but by missed a 15-foot shot at the buzzer in a 62-60 loss to Loyola Marymount. Did you think Horry's shot was going in, and how on earth were you able to hold LMU to 62 points after they had scored a tournament-record 149 PTS in their previous game vs. Michigan?

WS: After beating Arizon in the second round in Long Beach we had several days to prepare for LMU, who was on a roll despite the death of Hank Gathers. I talked to as many other coaches as I could to get a feel for LMU, and several of them told me not to try to run with LMU because that would not work. I told my team to run a little clock when we could, and we played well even though we did not shoot well. LMU coach Paul Westhead came very close to getting called for a technical foul at the end of the first half. If I had to do it over again I would have done something else because slowing it down did not win the game for us. I do not remember Robert's shot, but I remember Bo Kimble making a left-handed free throw in tribute to Hank.

1991 NCAA tournament

JT: PG Gary Waites scored 21 points (5-6 3PT) and had ten assists in an eight-point win over Wake Forest. What made Waites such a great three=point shooter (he had a school record 51.5% 3PT that season)?

WS: The funny part is that Wake Forest coach Dave Odom's son was on my staff...after Dave had hired my son to be on his own staff! It came down to the wire. We decided to play a zone defense at the end and they missed a few shots.

JT: Todd Day scored 31 points in a win by Arkansas. What was it like to face "40 minutes of hell" from Coach Nolan Richardson and his Razorbacks?

WS: We had beaten them before in the regular season. We just did not play well that night.

1992 NCAA tournament

JT: Latrell Sprewell scored 23 points in a five-point win over Stanford. What was Sprewell's behavior like when he played for you?

WS: His behavior was just fine. He was a good player for us. Stanford was a good team because Mike Montgomery's players could do a lot of things on offense. I was pretty tough on my players but Spree never gave me any trouble and he played hard. I think money changed him, and I was disappointed in the way he finished up his NBA career. There are three characteristics you could say about our teams back then: we had good players, we played good defense, and we played hard.

JT: James Robinson scored 22 points in a nine-point loss to North Carolina. Were you getting sick of playing the Tar Heels in the tourney all the time?

WS: Horry got a technical foul in that game after getting into a little scrape with Eric Montross.

JT: You son Scott currently coaches at Lipscomb. How proud are you of his success, and what makes him such a good coach?

WS: He is a level-headed guy who can manage whatever comes his way. He can handle wins and losses better than I ever did. All three of my sons were coaches at one time or another and I am proud of all of them.

Sanderson is also on Jon's list of best coaches in SEC history.

Alabama: Wimp Sanderson (1980-1992) 265-118, 10 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 3-time conference COY
Arkansas: Nolan Richardson (1985-2002) 389-169, 13 NCAA tourneys, 7 conference titles, 1 NCAA title, 1-time national COY, 4-time conference COY
Auburn: Cliff Ellis (1994-2004) 186-125, 3 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1-time national COY, 2-time conference COY
Florida: Billy Donovan (1996-present) 386-158, 12 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 2 NCAA titles, 1-time conference COY
Georgia: Hugh Durham (1978-1995) 297-215, 5 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 4-time conference COY
Kentucky: Adolph Rupp (1930-1972) 876-190, 20 NCAA tourneys, 28 conference titles, 4 NCAA titles, 1 NIT title, 4-time national COY, 7-time conference COY
LSU: Dale Brown (1972-1997) 448-301, 13 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 2-time national COY, 4-time conference COY
Mississippi: Rod Barnes (1998-2006) 141-109, 3 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1-time national COY, 1-time conference COY
Mississippi State: Rick Stansbury (1998-2012) 293-166, 6 NCAA tourneys, 5 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
South Carolina: Frank McGuire (1964-1980) 283-142, 4 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY
Tennessee: Ray Mears (1962-1977) 278-112, 3 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
Vanderbilt: Roy Skinner (1958-1976) 278-135, 2 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 3-time conference COY

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats": Bucknell's Charlie Woollum

Jon Teitel — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:41:47 -0700

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with former Bucknell and William & Mary head coach Charlie Woollum. Woollum won 318 games at Bucknell and led the Bison to two NCAA tournament appearances, winning seven regular season conference titles. Woollum is now a color commentator for both William & Mary (his alma mater) and CN8.

Jon Teitel: In 1960 as a player at William & Mary you split the regular season series with West Virginia before losing to them in the Southern Conference tournament. What was it like to play against Jerry West, and could you tell at the time that he was going to become a Hall-of-Famer?

Charlie Woollum: I was a sophomore when West was a senior so I did not play a lot, but West had a special aura about him when he was on the floor. Before I knew him I asked someone which player was West, and the person said, "Just watch, you will find out pretty quick!" He was an unbelievable competitor.

JT: The following year your teammate Jeff Cohen had 31 rebounds and a school-record 49 points in a game vs. Richmond. Where does that rank among the best single-game performance you have ever seen?

CW: Jeff could make hook shots on the court from places where other people had to shoot jump shots. Our offense was designed to get him the ball: he is one of the best to ever play here.

JT: One of your players at Bucknell in the early 1980s was Jay Wright, who is now head coach at Villanova. How good a player was Jay back in the day, and what makes him such a great coach?

CW: Jay was a very good player who just knew the game. He was a crucial member of our team who played behind NBA draftee Jay Andrews. He averaged double digits off the bench for us as a senior. I did not know that he was going to become a coach but he gets along with people. Communication is important in the business.

JT: What are your memories of the 1987 NCAA tournament (Reggie Williams had 21 points and ten rebounds in the Georgetown victory)?

CW: The Hoyas were pretty good. We were not a big team at all (our power forward was only about 6-4) so they wore us down at the end. We had a pretty good run in the 1980s but kept falling short in the conference tournament. The town got behind us and the kids will always remember it.

JT: What are your memories of the 1989 NCAA tournament (Billy Owens had 27 points and 13 rebounds in the Syracuse victory)?

CW: They had a couple of first round picks on that team (Owens and Sherman Douglas) so they were pretty good. Our center Mike Butts had 22 points (10-14 FG), but they were just a better basketball team.

JT: You won six regular-season titles in a ten-year span from 1984-1993. How were you able to remain so consistent over such a long time period?

CW: Back then we only had need-based scholarships but were still able to average about 20 wins a year for over a decade. I was always fortunate to have good people playing for me. We had several kids who got drafted by the NBA. We always had good point guardss, which was a big factor because they were an extension of our coaching staff. We were also a good free throw shooting team.

JT: In 1994 you became coach at William & Mary. Why did you make the switch, and what did it mean to you to become coach at your alma mater?

CW: It was a good experience. I signed a five-year deal and stayed an extra year until I turned 60. Coaching is a tough racket but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I took over a team that had won only four games...and four years later we won 20 games. The CAA is a very competitive basketball league and is better than the credit it gets.

JT: In 1998 you won the only CAA regular season title in school history and earned CAA Coach of the Year honors. How big a deal was it to win the title, and what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

CW: I was hired by AD John Randolph (one of my former classmates). It was sad that he passed away before he had a chance to see us win the title. Our freshmen fit in very well with our upperclassmen. We were 13-3 in the league and people were very excited about it.

JT: You are the all-time winningest coach in Bucknell history. What made you such a great coach, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record?

CW: If you stay at a place long enough you will always have a chance to get a lot of wins. Good coaches have good players, but they also have to like each other and have the same purpose in mind. It means a lot to me because they were some of the greatest years of my life. I am still happy whenever Bucknell does well.

JT: You currently work as a radio analyst for the Tribe basketball team. How do you like the job?

CW: I also do some work for CN8 covering CAA games. I have enjoyed it because it allowed me to stay around the game that I love. I coached for 38 years and this is a nice way to step it down. I have gained a great deal of respect for all the play-by-play guys I have worked with. My wife and I have traveled a bit and I enjoy retirement very much.

Woollum is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Patriot League history.

American: Jeff Jones (2000-present) 201-163, 2 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Army: Bobby Knight (1965-1971) 102-50
Bucknell: Charlie Woollum (1975-1994) 318-221, 2 NCAA tourneys, 7 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Colgate: Bill Reid (1919-1928) 133-55
Holy Cross: George Blaney (1972-1994) 357-276, 3 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Lafayette: Tom Davis (1971-1977) 116-44, 4 conference titles
Lehigh: Billy Taylor (2002-2007) 81-69, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title, 2-time conference COY
Navy: Ben Carnevale (1946-1966) 257-160, 5 NCAA tourneys

Jon Teitel's Coaching Greats: Jacksonville State's Bill Jones

Jon Teitel — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:17:46 -0700

In the most recent installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spoke with former Jacksonville State head coach Bill Jones. In 24 seasons at the school Jones won 449 games and a Division II national title, and was good enough in slow-pitch softball as a pitcher to become a Hall of Famer in that sport as well.

Jon Teitel: You played basketball at Marshall County High School for legendary coach Tom Richey. What made Richey such a great coach, and what was the most important thing you ever learned from him?

Bill Jones: His lessons lasted my entire career and continue today. He was a disciplinarian but taught us how important every single player on the team was (even the last guy on the bench). He showed us that you have to work hard to get what you want.

JT: You were an All-Conference basketball player at Jacksonville State, averaging around 18 points per game while helping to lead your school to two straight conference titles. How good a player were you back then, and what is the secret to being a good scorer?

BJ: I reflect back to the people who would ask Pete Maravich about his fancy moves on the court. Pete said that he threw 3,000 behind-the-back passes each day before trying one out in a game. I was the stereotypical gym rat who would shoot baskets outside until my parents made me come inside. Coach Richey also helped me with my shooting form. My parents' encouragement and my own aggressiveness also helped a lot.

JT: You set a school record by making 31 straight free throws. What is the secret to being a great free throw shooter?

BJ: It should not be that hard. It is the only time during the game when someone does not have a hand in your face. The key is to relax and have a system in place to block out everything around you (be it three dribbles, a deep breath, etc.). I have a multi-step system: toe placement, ball elevation, etc. Positive reinforcement also helps. Success is built around repetition.

JT: After college you signed a contract to play baseball for the Pirates but only spent one year with the organization before retiring. Which sport did you enjoy more, and which sport were you better at?

BJ: Growing up I enjoyed baseball more due to the weather, the nuances of coaching signals, positioning myself on the mound, etc. I had several games where I played a different position in every inning, which taught me about everyone's different roles on the field. I still love baseball today, and follow the Braves and Cubs religiously. I fell into the basketball coaching ranks by accident but I love it as well.

JT: You had a 28-17 record in two years as head coach at North Alabama before being replaced by Bill L. Jones in 1974. Why did you take the job at Jacksonville State, and was it weird to be replaced by a guy who was also named Bill Jones?!

BJ: I accused the president of replacing me with Coach Jones solely in order to keep the stationery the same! It was hard to leave but I left the new coach with a pretty good team. Since I had played at Jacksonville State it was an easy decision to make, and the school president was very inspiring.

JT: You overcame a five-point deficit with two minutes left to get a one-point win over South Dakota State to win the Division II national title in 1985. How were you able to come from behind, and what did it mean to you to win the title?

BJ: It was an enjoyable, productive season. We had to come from behind several times that year because our league featured a lot of good teams. Our players just believed that we could come back. We were playing a triangle-and-2 defense, and Pat Williams came off the bench to play some great defense.

JT: After losing your season opener to Belmont Abbey by one that year you proceeded to win 31 straight games en route to being named national Coach of the Year. What did you tell your team after the loss, and what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

BJ: I was in the pits after the loss but we had good chemistry. I was not an easy guy to play for. I made about five of our cheerleaders cry just for making noise during one of our practices! I was talking to another coach after the loss who helped teach me about playing a delay-type of game, and he told me that he thought we were going to win the title.

I learned early on not to take anything for granted so I worked my fanny off to make sure we were prepared for every game. I had several rules (be on time, curfew, study hall for some players, etc.), but we went that entire year without having any distractions. It was a combination of athletic players who threw themselves into the fire.

JT: In 1993 you were inducted into the American Softball Association Hall of Fame. How did you get into softball, and where does that rank among your career highlights?

BJ: I love softball but it was strange how I got into it. My friend Vandy Cobb invited me several times to play on his slow-pitch team and I finally relented because he was going to forfeit a tourney game without me. The first pitch I saw looked like a watermelon...and I popped it straight up into the air! I continued to play for the next 25 years and made five times more friends than I did in basketball.

I was inducted as a pitcher because I could put a lot of arc on the ball. In 1977 we finished third in the world. We played one game that lasted over three hours, but the people in charge wanted us to finish our games in 55 minutes.

JT: In 1998 you retired as the all-time winningest coach in school history. What made you such a great coach, and do you think anyone will ever break your record?

BJ: I am sure that someone will break my record. I broke the record that was set by my own coach, who was great himself. We obviously had some really good players so recruiting was a big element, but nobody outworked us. I would talk to the bus drivers and janitors; they were the people who knew everything and give me an honest answer. I tried to recruit hungry players who would listen to me and fit into our system. If I had anything, it was the ability to lead people and get a feel for how they would fit in with my philosophy and spirit of competition.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

BJ: I would love for people to appreciate our fast-paced game. We were tenacious on defense even when we were scoring 100+ PPG. I hope people remember the excitement of a slam-packed gym with hundreds of people standing outside who could not get inside. We had great fans, ball girls, and a totally exhilarating experience: we played hard and wanted to win.

Jones is also on Jon's list of best coaches in OVC history.

Austin Peay: Dave Loos (1990-present) 363-310, 3 NCAA tourneys, 5 conference titles, 5-time conference COY
Eastern Illinois: Rick Samuels (1981-2005) 344-349, 2 NCAA tourneys
Eastern Kentucky: Paul McBrayer (1946-1962) 219-144, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles
Jacksonville State: Bill Jones (1974-1998) 449-210, 1 D-2 national title, 3-time conference COY, 1-time national COY
Morehead State: Bobby Laughlin (1953-1965) 166-119, 3 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles
Murray State: Steve Newton (1985-1991) 116-65, 3 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
SIU-Edwardsville: Larry Graham (1984-1992) 147-84
SE Missouri State: Ron Shumate (1981-1997) 306-171, 7 conference titles, 2-time national COY
Tennessee State: John McLendon (1954-1959) 149-20, 5 conference titles, 3 NAIA titles
Tennessee Tech: John Oldham (1955-1964) 118-83, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Tennessee-Martin: Bret Campbell (1999-2009) 125-168, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY

Jon Teitel's Coaching Greats: CCSU's Bill Detrick

Jon Teitel — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:44:47 -0700

In the most recent installment in his "Coaching Greats" series, CHN writer Jon Teitel caught up with former Central Connecticut State head coach Bill Detrick. During his time in New Britain Detrick, whose name now adorns the Blue Devils' home arena, won 468 games and helped the program transition to Division I.

Jon Teitel: You went to college at Central Connecticut State, where you played football, basketball and baseball. Which sport were you best at, and which one did you enjoy the most?

Bill Detrick: I was definitely best at football, but I loved baseball and played in the minors after graduation for about $95/month. I was captain of the basketball team but it was not my best sport.

JT: After your playing career you became a coach at CCSU. What made you get into coaching?

BD: Basketball was the best sport to coach because you were really able to teach the game and it is where the action is. You have to use every skill you can think of, whereas some football players can just be stronger than anyone else. I wanted to coach since third grade because if you wanted to play on the playground it was better to be the guy picking the teams!

My PE teachers and coaches were kind of my idols, as I was not a good student. John Chaney at Cheyney State was the best guy I ever coached against. He forced me to change some of the things I did.

JT: What are your memories of the 1966 Division II tournament (CCSU won three games before losing to eventual champ Kentucky Wesleyan)?

BD: We were just a state teachers college in NAIA so a lot of the Division II schools shunned us. It was a big deal for us. The governor even showed up to watch us play. I always wanted us to go to Division I but I was not in any position of power to do so, whereas Kentucky Wesleyan was the opposite and just continued to dominate at the Division II level. When I was coaching my guys were as good as those at Connecticut because we took a lot of guys who were not able to get in there.

JT: One of your former players was Howie Dickenman (the first player in school history with 1000 career points and rebounds), who later became the only coach to lead the Blue Devils to the Division I tournament. What made Dickenman such a great player, and did you ever think he would become such a good coach?

BD: Howie was a man's man. His father was also a great coach so I assume he just followed in his footsteps. He was a great leader and could jump very high. Howie and I are still close and we talk a lot. I always ask him how he could play for me and turn out to be such a defensive genius! I just marveled at how Howie beat up UMass a couple of seasons ago. He learned a lot from Coach Jim Calhoun.

JT: After stepping down in 1988 you took one year off before spending a year as coach at the Coast Guard Academy. How did you enjoy the year off, and why did you decide to get back on the sideline?

BD: I did not get the AD job so my choice was to go back to coaching or retire, and I decided to retire with most of my pension. I decided to go back because I had some new ideas that I wanted to try out. We were 11-11 going into our last game and we lost by one point to finish with a losing record, which was very disappointing. I had a player make 59 straight free throws, which set a national record.

I called a timeout after he made the record-setting free throw so that the crowd would give him a big ovation, and he came over to the sideline and said, "Who the hell called that timeout!?" I realized that I had a lot of perks at Central Connecticut State because the players at the Coast Guard were treated just like all the other students!

JT: You spent the past two decades as golf coach at Trinity (CT) College. How did you switch from coaching basketball to coaching golf, and which sport do you enjoy coaching more?

BD: I have such a dilemma coaching golf, as the players all have their own swing coaches. I just help them to grow up and improve their academics. If I had known 20 years ago that I was going to still be doing this, I would have spent a lot more time being a coach rather than being a teacher. The academic culture at Trinity left me shell-shocked. Some of the players will get a 3% deduction in their grade if they skip a class to play in a golf match!

JT: Your wife Barbara was a teacher, and each of your three kids ended up going into public education. How important is education to you, and how do you get your players to balance academics with athletics?

BD: When I went to Trinity I thought that we could not win...and I was right. However, we have been able to get a lot of Academic All-Americans who have gone on to get great jobs after graduation. Athletics came first for me, but if my players tell me that they need to study then I let them study. A good teacher is hard to find. I taught at Central for 35 years and only had a few students who failed to graduate.

JT: You are the winningest coach in school history. What made you such a great coach?

BD: You have to have great players: that is the main thing. I am coaching in my sixth straight decade and it has changed a lot. My golfers asked me how they would do if they played basketball for me, and I told them that they would sit on the bench! When I tell them to change their grip and they tell me their grip is just fine...oh no. I have two rules: you have to be able to relate to people and then you have to know what you are talking about. You have to continually readjust things to make sure it still works.

JT: The gym at Central Connecticut State now bears your name. What did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor?

BD: Some people give a school $1,000,000 to get their name on a building. I gave them a $1,000,000 in sweat and hard work. I never missed a game or practice. I saw a lot of coaches holding onto their job too long and I did not want to get into that situation. When my grandkids go to a game and see the family name up there they really get a kick out of it. It means more and more every year.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

BD: I wish I knew the answer to that. A lot of people have called me a fierce competitor, so I like to think that I competed pretty well. I tried to provide an environment for my players to do well and use some psychological techniques to get them prepared. If a kid had the drive and desire then he could play for me.

Detrick is also on Jon's list of best coaches in NEC history:

Bryant: Max Good (2001-2008) 132-86
Central Connecticut State Bill Detrick (1959-1988) 468-266
Fairleigh Dickinson Tom Green (1983-2009) 407-351, 4 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
LIU Brooklyn: Clair Bee (1931-1943, 1945-1951) 360-80-2, 2 NIT titles, 1 Helms title
Monmouth: Bill Boylan (1956-1977) 367-157
Mount St. Mary's: Jim Phelan (1954-2003) 830-524, 2 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 16 D-2 tourneys, 1 D-2 title, 2-time national COY, 2-time conference COY
Quinnipiac: Burt Kahn (1960-1991) 459-358
Robert Morris: Jarrett Durham (1984-1996) 157-183, 3 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
Sacred Heart: Dave Bike (1978-present) 519-480, 1 D-2 title, 1-time D-2 national COY
St. Francis (NY): Daniel Lynch (1948-1969) 283-237, 2 conference titles
Saint Francis (PA): Skip Hughes (1945-1966) 293-206-1
Wagner: Tim Capstraw (1989-1999) 117-164, 1-time conference COY

Jon Teitel's Coaching Greats: Lamar, Oklahoma and TCU's Billy Tubbs

Jon Teitel — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:47:49 -0700

In the most recent installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN's Jon Teitel caught up with Billy Tubbs, who led three different schools to the NCAA tournament during his career. At TCU Tubbs won 156 games, leading the Horned Frogs to their last NCAA appearance (1998) during his time in Fort Worth. Also to his credit are multiple tournament appearances at both Lamar and Oklahoma, losing to Kansas in the 1988 national title game when at OU.

Jon Teitel: You were an All-American guard at Lon Morris JC, where you helped the Bearcats to the NJCAA semifinals. How good a player were you back then?

Billy Tubbs: I was an okay player who played on some good teams. I also played at Lamar where I was an average player at best.

1979 NCAA tournament (head coach at Lamar)

JT: Clarence Kea had 33 points and a tournament school-record 19 rebounds in 33 minutes in an eight-point upset of Detroit. What made Kea so unstoppable?

BT: He was a real tough kid who played hard. He was an undersized post man but was physically and mentally strong.

JT: Magic Johnson had a triple-double (13 points, 17 rebounds and ten assists) in a win by eventual champion Michigan State. Could you tell at the time that Magic was going to become a star?

BT: Magic was an All-American that year and it was quite obvious that he was a special player.

1980 NCAA tournament

JT: Mike Olliver had a tournament school-record 37 points in a one-point win over Weber State on its home court. How much of a home-court advantage did the Wildcats have, and how were you able to hang on for the win?

BT: Anytime you are playing a ranked team on their home floor it is a big advantage for them, but our guys accepted the challenge. We had a big lead and barely hung on to win the game, which helped us in the next game.

JT: Cestrakiah Lewis had 11 points and 11 rebounds in a four-point win over Oregon State, which is still the highest-ranked Division I team ever beaten by Lamar. Where does that win rank among the best in your career?

BT: That has to be one of the highlights, without question.

JT: In 1983 after becoming coach at Oklahoma you spent two weeks in intensive care after being hit by a car. How close did you come to dying, and what impact did that incident have on your life (if any)?

BT: I had a severe concussion and some pelvic injuries so I missed the last several games of the season. Many people thought that I would never coach again, but I was able to prove that I could make it back to the sideline.

JT: What are your memories of the 1984 NCAA tournament (Roosevelt Chapman scored 41 points in 40 minutes in a four-point Dayton upset victory)?

BT: We played pretty well but just could not stop Chapman. We had a first-round bye which is something I never wanted because they often led to upsets.

1985 NCAA tournament (at Oklahoma)

JT: Karl Malone had 20 points and 16 rebounds, but Wayman Tisdale made a turn-around eight-foot shot that bounced several times on the rim before going in with three seconds left in a two-point win over Louisiana Tech. Did you think that Tisdale's shot was going in, and was it extra-special to beat Coach Andy Russo after he said you reneged on a contract to play the first-ever game in Louisiana Tech's new arena three years before?

BT: Russo and I had played against each other back in college but the special thing was just to win the game. The fact that the shot rolled around the rim for a couple of seconds really helped us because Louisiana Tech did not have a chance to come down the court and respond.

JT: Keith Lee had 23 points and 11 rebounds in a two-point Memphis victory. How close did you come to winning that game?

BT: It could have gone either way at the end but Memphis made plays and we did not.

1987 NCAA tournament

JT: Tim McCalister had 28 points in a three-point win over Pittsburgh after Demetreus Gore and Jerome Lane each missed three-point shots in the final seconds. Did you think that you were headed to overtime?

BT: I just remember beating them. It was kind of an upset.

JT: Kevin Gamble had a career-high 26 points (11-13 FG) and made a 21-foot shot with two seconds left in a two-point overtime win by Iowa. Where does Gamble's shot rank among the most clutch you have ever seen?

BT: The thing I remember is that we ran a good out-of-bounds play that was set up to take a charge, but the ref made a no-call even after our guy got ran over.

JT: What are your memories of the 1988 NCAA title game (tournament MOP Danny Manning had 31 points and 18 rebounds in a four-point Kansas victory)?

BT: It was a hard-fought game. The whole Final Four process was very exhausting, especially talking to the media. We played the late game on Saturday and I think we were tired by Monday night.

JT: During a 1989 Oklahoma/Missouri game you picked up the microphone and told your fans to stop throwing things on the floor no matter how bad the referees were. Why did you do that, and would you do the same thing if you had it to do all over again?

BT: Probably. The refs were the ones who told me to tell the fans to stop throwing stuff.

JT: What are your memories of the 1989 NCAA tournament (Stacey King had 28 points and ten rebounds in a one-point win over #16-seed ETSU)?

BT: We were very lucky to win. The only time we had the lead was at the end of the game.

JT: What are your memories of the 1990 NCAA tournament (Rick Fox scored 23 points and made a leaner off the glass at the buzzer for a two-point North Carolina victory)?

BT: It was very unusual because even though we were the #1-seed we had to play a great team like North Carolina in the second round (they were the #8-seed). There were a couple of bad calls late. I could not say it back then, but I can say it now!

JT: What are your memories of the 1998 NCAA tournament as coach at TCU (Lee Nailon scored 32 points before fouling out in a nine-point loss to Florida State)?

BT: Florida State played exceptionally well. We had a good inside game but we were below-average from the perimeter. We had a really good year but could not get the win.

JT: You were known for having a high-scoring offense and full-court-pressing defense. How did you decide to use those styles, and why were they so effective?

BT: I liked to coach that way because that is how I had success as a player (in terms of offense). I think our defense was always underrated. It was a very hard defense to play against because we tried to cover 100% of the floor. It was a simple case of risk/reward and was great when it worked for us. That was how I believe the game should be played, and it attracted attention. Our fans liked it because it was fun to watch and it helped our recruiting because guys wanted to play for us. We recruited players who could run, jump and shoot. The main reason I played that style is because we could win that way!

JT: You are one of a handful of coaches in NCAA history to record 100 wins at three different schools. How were you able to have so much success at so many different programs?

BT: I considered myself a program-builder: I never inherited a lot of great teams. I liked to take programs that people said would not succeed and then show them that they could. When I left Lamar coach Pat Foster inherited a great team and took them to the NCAA tournament.

JT: Your son Tommy played point guard for you at Oklahoma and was an assistant coach for you at Lamar. What was it like to coach your own son, and how proud are you of all his success?

BT: It was great to coach Tommy. However, he is the only player who I ever thought I was unfair to: he probably deserved more playing time. The 1 thing that hurt Tommy is that I did not want to be like the little league baseball dad who let his son play the entire game...or at least that is what his mother always tells me!

Tubbs is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Mountain West history.

Air Force: Bob Spear (1957-1971) 165-166, 2 NCAA tourneys
Boise State: Bobby Dye (1983-1995) 213-133, 3 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
Colorado State: Jim Williams (1954-1980) 352-293, 4 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title
New Mexico: Dave Bliss (1988-1999) 246-108, 7 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 2-time conference COY
San Diego State: Steve Fisher (1999-present) 258-160, 5 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1-time national COY, 1-time conference COY
TCU: Billy Tubbs (1994-2002) 156-95, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY
UNLV: Jerry Tarkanian (1973-1992) 509-105, 12 NCAA tourneys, 12 conference titles, 1 NCAA title, 1-time national COY, 8-time conference COY
Wyoming: Everett Shelton (1939-1959) 328-201, 8 NCAA tourneys, 8 conference titles, 1 NCAA title