Role of assistant coaches for the basketball team?

#1

NuclearVol

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
1,356
Likes
134
#1
We read/talk/hear a lot about the offensive and defensive coordinators, position coaches, etc. for college football teams. Comparatively little discussion (it seems) ever occurs related to the assistant coaches for basketball teams. For instance, I rarely hear the name of one of the assistant basketball coaches on a TV broadcast.

My question is: How do coaching responsibilities break down for a college basketball team? UT has (according to utsports.com) an associate head coach (Tony Jones) and two assistant head coaches (Steve Forbes and Jason Shay). What do these guys do? Does one focus on defense, another on shooting/offense, ...?
 
#2
#2
We read/talk/hear a lot about the offensive and defensive coordinators, position coaches, etc. for college football teams. Comparatively little discussion (it seems) ever occurs related to the assistant coaches for basketball teams. For instance, I rarely hear the name of one of the assistant basketball coaches on a TV broadcast.

My question is: How do coaching responsibilities break down for a college basketball team? UT has (according to utsports.com) an associate head coach (Tony Jones) and two assistant head coaches (Steve Forbes and Jason Shay). What do these guys do? Does one focus on defense, another on shooting/offense, ...?

I can tell you exactly what Bruce Pearl told me this summer....

I asked him who would be the first coach he'd hire if he had a spot open up.....

he said (I'm quoting from memory, so it's not a word for word quote)....

" That's a good question and it would depend on who left....... Tony is like head coach and he is a closer on the recruiting trail. I can just put him on a kid and he'll get him to sign. Forbes is amazing when it comes to organizing stuff....he puts together lists and keeps track of things incredibly....he's also a very good recruiter and develops strong relationships....Shay is a terrific x and o guy....he breaks down games and is a great evaluator of talent....."

So, from my discussion with Pearl, it was kinda clear to me what roles those guys play.....obviously, all coaches do some of everything......

mm
 
#3
#3
To be honest, Jones is the recruiter on the staff. Shay is more the x and o type guy. He gets all the big-game scouts, Forbes is good with scout too, but he is more of the defensive-minded coach. Shay does the least amount of recruiting on the staff, but his knowledge is great.
 
#5
#5
To be honest, Jones is the recruiter on the staff. Shay is more the x and o type guy. He gets all the big-game scouts, Forbes is good with scout too, but he is more of the defensive-minded coach. Shay does the least amount of recruiting on the staff, but his knowledge is great.

well either bruce isn't taking his advice, or he is the worst defensive minded coach of all time
 
#7
#7
I can only speak from my experience, but where I played in college our coaching staff's duties were similar to that of Coach Pearl's. Each coach had a specific role such as recruiting, gameplanning, and scouting etc. However, I played at the DII level where scouting is a little different in that a coach can scout in person and not just on film compared to DI. I had coaches who were more knowledgable on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, but for the most part they were comfortable with both. The situation where I saw coaches become specialist is breaking down positions between post and perimeter players. My former head was a guard in college, and he was always with the guards when we did positional drills or individual workouts. One of our asst. coaches was a post player so it worked out pretty good. In my opinion, the most important aspect of a coaching staff is cohesiveness, speaking the same terminology, and believing in the system. In college it's ussually not a problem considering head coaches can hand pick their staff in most cases, but in high school sometimes it felt like I was hearing three or four different voices concerning the same situation on the floor. Good coaching staffs must have good chemistry and one voice. If not it's impossible for players to believe in their coaches.
 
#8
#8
Supposedly Tony Jones sets all of the rotations as well.

....which is often questionable. I like TJ, have met him a couple of times, and he's good on the radio. He appears to do many things well, but I think rotation and substitions need improvement. I believe Pearl needs be more proactive with substitions and the rotation at times. I'm sure everyone can think of a few instances where things should've been handled differently.
 

VN Store



Back
Top