Assistant Coach - Calipari Style~ Think like a Head Coach!

My first year in high school at Tulsa Memorial high school, I made varsity; it turned out to be the last year of Coach Doug Dugger's long and successful coaching career.  One of his traits, as I was warned by the seniors, was his love of watching game film.  At times, when the only noise was the old school projector running the click click click of the black and white video tape,,, it was very difficult to stay awake.  Laying on the hard court, flipping from leaning on my left hand supported by my left elbow, flip flopping to the right hand and elbow support, to the old hands-clasped behind the neck and LIFT position, after the first hour to hour and a half, it became increasingly difficult to stay awake. 

Tulsa Memorial High School Basketball note: My senior year the Memorial Chargers won their first State Championship by knocking off Oklahoma City Northwest Knights in the championship game. Twenty years later, in 1994, the Chargers captured their 2nd championship. They added a third Championship in 2006.

Compare that to what writer Darrell Bird learned when he interviewed Kentucky assistant coach John Robic regarding the use of tape.

"The first time these guys will see any film will be at the pre-game meal the day of the game. That's it," Robic said. "Cal puts a lot of emphasis on us, not the other team, so we're not a big film program at all. Never have been.

"We didn't watch an entire game film once in the last four years. We want everything short, concise and to the point. Even when us coaches watch film, it's cut down so Cal can watch it without ever hitting the remote."

The same is true for film from his own team's recent play.

"Cal may just say, 'Have them pull out this, this and this and we'll watch it before practice,' " Robic said. "I guarantee it won't be more than five minutes of tape. I think that has a lot to do with Cal coming from the NBA, where you don't have time."

John Robic has been on John Calipari's coaching staff for 13 years beginning at UMass, Memphis and now Kentucky.

"I know what he's thinking when he's thinking it," Robic said.

He also said you won't see even ONE of the assistant coaches watching the games with clipboards, or keeping statistics during the game.  He wants all five of his assistants to act like they are the boss.

"We don't take notes or do stats during the game. He wants us to coach," Robic said. "You're not going to see five guys with clipboards. You're going to see no guys with clipboards. Cal wants us to be thinking like a head coach all the time."

Click this to read Bird's entire article.

 

Tizzz the season~

Tizz the day to be joyful for the incredible influence that Waymon Tisdale spread to all who were lucky enough to be a part of his life.

I was fortunate enough to be assigned by the Tulsa World to cover the Booker T. Washington Hornets basketball game in Waymon's sophomore season. It may have been his first game. He was featured in the story because the (then) scronny, 6' 4" sophomore notched 26 points with a feathery touch on his short mid-range jumpers, snatched 12 rebounds, and blocked 6 shots,,,, all while that [later to be famous!] patented, wide, infectious smile permeated the high school gymnasium, and the spectators from both teams.

When I was assigned a HORNET game the next season, my excitement turned to dismay as I watched the Hornets go through their pregame layup drills.

"Where was the tall skinny kid?" I wondered, so upset that he wasn't present.

As I watched the two lines cycle through their layups again, my jaw dropped when I saw that familiar big, genuine and infectious smile running right at me.

"Thank God!"  He was present. Waymon was in the house! I WOULD see him play again!
I still could not believe my eyes though, because the sleek, SKINNY armed sophomore was history. Waymon had become a MAN. His little chest had ballooned out; his arms had the definition of someone who today would be accused of using illegal steroids. Whether he did the Herschel Walker program of pushups and situps, or got in the weight room, the junior version of Waymon was an amazing physical upgrade.
My first thought was that he was TOO muscular to have kept that feathery, smooth, delicate jumper. After all, basketball players can't look like that and still shoot accurately. Wasn't that the message of those days?
But it didn't phase Tiz as he continued to fire that perfect rotation, soft jumper that regularly ripped the nets,,,,,and as history has shown, the strength only made Waymon the beast that he was to become when he moved up to the next level and play for Billy Tubbs in Soonerland.

Although I didn't have the priviledge of getting to know Waymon as I followed every turn around jumper of his OU and NBA career, I feel very fortunate to have become close with his brother William and his son, William jr.
When my son brought William Jr. home with him the first time, it was as if I was finally getting to know Waymon, his uncle, in a round about way; the nephew also had that great smile; an incredible presence; polite without the Eddie Haskell factor, and a true enjoyment of life was evident. William jr, and his mom Shari and dad are true gems and warm, incredibly wonderful people.  They undoubtedly will continue spreading the Tisdale charm and love of life that their family is known for.

All of Tulsa will miss Waymon; the NBA world~ the music world~ and the Tulsa World.
Thank god that the Tisdale factor will continue to enlighten our world for many years to come.

Rest in peace Waymon.

Click here to see incredible coverage by the Tulsa World of the Celebration of Waymon's life.

Nolan - Tubby - Hollywood = Tulsa University

Tulsa University basketball has had its ups and downs over the years. I started watching TU as a very short and small person. Joe Swank was the head coach. We played our home games in the Fairgrounds Pavilion, and the seats were mostly wooden.

I remember the thick haze of SMOKE that would linger like a cloud in the upper portion of the pavilion. At times, birds would chirp and make a flight from one crevice to another.

The Golden Hurricane broke the color barrier when they signed players Sherman Dillard, Julian Hammond, Larry Cheatham, Herm Callands and Eldridge Webb [LIVE FROM NEW YORK!!!! writers note: what a superb talent!] to name a few.
Ken Hayes became the next head coach and had standout scorers like Steve Bracey, Bobby "Bingo" Smith and long range bomber Willie Biles whose high arching shots from the deep corner only counted for two points, while he still would easily score over 30 points.

Three hours ago I enjoyed visiting with three coaches that formerly coached at the University of Tulsa. Interestingly, all three of them reached the pinnacle in their chosen career of coaching.

What did these former Hurricane coaches do?

They won the national championship in the NCAA March Madness national championship tournament.

Nolan Richardson led the Arkansas Razorbacks to the title in 1994. They knocked off Duke and Coach K. Grant Hill was the star of the team. Cherokee Parks had the best name. The Duke guard in the game is now the OU SOONERS head coach. Not many of you will remember, but Tulsa's own Clint McDaniel from Booker T Washington nailed a clinching free throw late in the game. One of Arkansas' fans that attended the game just happened to be the person who made Monica Lewinsky and cigars a famous combination. Scotty Thurman hit his 3rd three pointer of the game to put Arkansas in the lead, while current Oklahoma University Coach Capel had a shot blocked by Hog All American Corliss Williamson. Wanna see a few clips? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrZG_qgqrco

Orlando "Tubby" Smith left the friendly confines of Tulsa to the hotseat in Lexington Kentucky. It didn't take him long to show that it was a good hire. He led the blueblood Wildcats to a National Championship in their first year. Tubby was very popular during his Tulsa stint. The personable coach with the fun to say nickname left a lasting impression on our city. After the "Bring your plate home with you" dinner, I had each of the three national champion coaches sign the imprinted white collector plate. As I visited with Tubby, we spoke of a book I had given him during his first months in his head coaching debut job in Tulsa. He asked for my email address and without thinking, I pulled out of my front pocket, the brand new recruiting DVD I had just produced for my 17 yr old, 6' 4 1/2" senior combo guard that can also play the point. And I said, "Coach, this is the only thing I have with my email address on it." He took it, wrote my name on the clear plastic case, and said "Is that your boy?", pointing to the color picture of Brock which was imprinted on the front of the DVD.

I don't know if anything will come of it, but I in surfing around, I found that his son GG, who I saw play in high school at Cascia Hall before Tubby left for Kentucky, is back in the coaching business and is at Loyola of Maryland as an assistant.
I uploaded the two different short "highlight" videos to You_Tube so I could include them in emails if I wanted to.
Brock Morton -Class of 2009 - Video #1
Brock Morton -Class of 2009 - Video #2

Then last year, former Hurricane coach Bill Self, the OSU Cowboy from Edmond who began his coaching career at Oral Roberts University before moving all the way from 81st and Lewis to 11th and Harvard to guide Tulsa University and lead them to the Elite 8. He then jumped over to Illinois before being wooed to Kansas. Self led the Kansas Jayhawks to an improbable late comeback to steal the Championship away from Memphis State.

Nolan may have had the best line of the night when he said, "Everyone keeps asking how I lost all the weight." After the appropriate comediennes pause, he answered, "When I got my ass fired, all the rats left the house,, and there was nothing left to eat!"

The three "Champions" were honored by Herb Suggs, former Tulsa player under Richardson who runs the Basket of Dreams program to help inner city children become healthier, and provide the guidance and support to be great kids. Because great kids become great adults.

My son played basketball for Basket of Dreams three or four years ago and it was a valuable experience for him.

A few former Hurricane players in attendance were Jeff Malham, Jeff Rahilly, David Moss, Anthony Fobbs, Steve "Silk" Harris, Mike Anderson (who happened to coach his Missouri Tigers to the Elite 8 this year!), Tracey Moore, Bob Patterson, Steve Ballard, Rod Thompson, Dante Swanson [one of my all time favorites who is still playing in Poland], Jason Parker [like myself, a member of a Memorial High School State Championship team; Jason played in the NBD league for a team from Texas, but said he is going to Europe this next year], and otheres.