Looking at Aspects of Coaching in the D-League

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 24, 2009 9:00 AM EDT

It's 2:37 a.m. I just woke up from a nap - I fell asleep early, but then woke up watching CMT, listening to a little boy scream and a British nanny telling his father to ignore him in the middle of a crowded grocery store. I nearly threw my PS3 controller at this terrible advice - she shoud have let him shut the kid up. I'd still be nestled in my slumber, dreaming of my Hawaiian vacation featuring Joel Abelson, Josh Davis, JRose, Jessica Alba (Honey version), Jessica Biel, Jon L and the world's newest power couple: IcemanCometh and Luna Vachon. I was footing the bill as they say, since I had a job and wanted to flaunt my newfound wealth. Oh boy, how that wretched lady ruined my first solid slumber in ages!

(Mood lightened from yesterday's ridiculous comments section? Yes? Good.)

Anyway, the mediocre french toast maker himself, our own Jon L, has been handling the D-League Finals coverage, with a Game Two preview coming a little bit later this morning. Since that's covered, I'll dig a bit into a topic I've been wanting to get in since myself and Rumble talked coaching earlier this week in the comments, mostly because I wanted to get it out in the mainstream as well. Well, at least as mainstream as the front page of a D-League blog can get.

Anyway, first I'll brief you with a couple of new changes thus far, just so we're caught up. (former/current/I have no idea) Anaheim coach Sam Vincent was just named head coach of the Jamaican men's and women's national team. This seems like a pretty broad assignment, but he's pretty well versed in randomness - he's the only coach to go from a D-League head coach to an NBA head coach and back to a D-League coach, and he did it in a rather short time span.

Also, Gary Garner, assistant coach of the Iowa Energy, took the head coaching job at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota.

As far as I can tell, that leaves an opening for a new staff in Tulsa, Fort Wayne, Springfield, Portland and an assistant job open in Iowa. That's about 10 positions that are currently open for D-League coaching. What exactly should they be looking for to fill these spots? Check after the jump!

To effectively coach in the D-League, there are three major requirements:

A familiarity with the D-League system of acquiring players or ability to not be easily frustrated. The D-League system can be described many different ways, depending on where you've coached. It's simple - the D-League signs players, coaches just say "I want this player" and Boom! He's on his way to Boise. It's complex - "Well, we already have 4 'A' level salaries, but our affiliate really likes him. We're not at the top of the waiver wire anyway, so we have no chance. Wait, what if we do a sign and trade?" It's much easier than other minor leagues - Chris Alpert signs players during the season that have the skills needed to play in the D-League, so all you have to do is send an email and that player is yours. It's so much harder than other minor leagues - "Well, I'd love for you to come play for me, but we're number 11 on the waiver wire. Just sit at home until next month, hope for 10 guys to come into the league worth acquiring off the waiver wire, and you can come back up here if you really wanna play for us." That's not even getting into the confounded allocation process.

Previous minor league playing/coaching experience. This just makes sense. To get players to actually buy into the D-League system, a coach has to have previously demonstrated the ability of getting from the minor's to the major's. This is well documented on the assistant coaches bio's in the D-League: The still Single with a capital 'S' Deane Martin bio says he had hands on action action developing Lou Amundson, Tony Fritz has coached Raja Bell and Ronny Turiaf, Randy Livingston and Darvin Ham went undrafted but had a decent NBA career, Casey Owens developed many players while he was in Dakota, and the list goes on. If the coach doesn't have extensive minor league experience, he's probably not the right coach for the D-League, where players are going to want to play for someone that can teach them how to make the jump.

The ability to adjust on the run. This might be the hardest thing to accurately hire for, but I'm sure the guys doing the hiring try to get a feel for this as well. In the D-League, players leave for more money overseas, NBA call-ups and injuries. With just 10 players, players that are gone mean a new player has to come in to fill his spot. Plus, with the D-League constantly bringing in new players, a coach has to be ready to radically alter his team if a great player comes in while his team is at the top of the waiver wire (Quincy Douby to Erie was one I saw mentioned this season). There's also the issue of NBA-assigned players. It's not easy to keep the chemistry going through all of that, I'm sure.

Even if a coach possesses all of those skills, he still has to have a good basketball mind. Pretty self-explanatory.

Looking at the two firings this postseason, it looks to me like either Woolpert wasn't familiar enough with the D-League system of acquiring players or he wasn't able to effectively deal with injuries and NBA-assignments; as for Jackson, he didn't integrate the Pistons players well in their brief time in Fort Wayne, but I'd also have to question his coaching ability, as it's tough to finish last in the division with two all-star's on the team.

In a round about way, this is what I'm telling you D-League coach hirerer's: Hire from within the D-League or look at guys with past D-League experience. Joey Meyer and Michael Sanders come to mind, as they dominated in Asheville. Randy Livingston will be getting a head coaching job, as he's effectively demonstrated his coaching abilities both as a player and coach.

Other hirings will come down to how many openings there end up being. Will Quin Snyder get a call-up to the Spurs? Is Jay Humphries going to get a look with the Suns? Will Duane Ticknor hang up his suit? Where will the Colorado coaches end up? This will be an interesting offseason of coaching changes, to say the least.

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Comments

I wish I was dating a girl like Luna Vachon

I need my women to be feral, crazy, and handcuffed to a wrestling ring.

by Aisander D on Apr 24, 2009 9:43 AM EDT reply actions

I'm fairly certain...

Everyone knows this. If that weren’t the truth, I’d be worried.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 24, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Nice job

D-League coaches get a lot of variables thrown their way, and on the whole I’ve been impressed with a lot of the coaches I’ve seen this year. Of course it’s hard to know an an executive what you’re going to get in hiring a new coach, but I think there will come a point where there have been enough assistants who have served for long enough that there will be a pretty good pool of potential head coaches to choose from.

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we knew who Mike Taylor was before you did.

by Jon L on Apr 24, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

That's the thing

I’m still trying to figure out a good indicator of D-League assistant’s moving to D-League head coaches… Bryan Gates did a good job of this, Coffino did this, Jaren did this, Clay Moser did this. Brad Jones was an advance scout for the Flash. Bob MacKinnon comes from college. The majority of the others all had been coaching in the minors for awhile.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 24, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions

The toughest job you'll ever love...

…has to be that of a DLeague coach. Consider the following:

- dealing with players that are in the top 1% of their profession but either a) just one short step shy of improving their pay/travel/swag/cache by an order of magnitude more than any job promotion you can get on the planet earth OR b) that while they have been anointed to be at that highest level they are in fact being told they have to take a “remedial class” which reminds them just how close their careers are from falling into the abyss.

- dealing with ownership and fans that want to see a) a winning/competitive team, b) exciting basketball, c) players progress so they can say “I remember when he played here…” and d) managing costs like a mother because there either is no money or if there is, no one wants you blowing at this level.

- dealing with the Association and the affiliate partners who are a) naturally suspect about your organization and your ability to handle their “investment” b) concerned first and foremost about their own end product versus yours and c) have no qualms about placing your livelihood in the hands of another developmental group (also known as referees).

and finally – dealing with your own career because no matter how much you enjoy coaching, in the end it is much like the players vantage point: there is nothing like reaching the pinnacle of the profession and receiving the benefits that come with it.

Whew…those are a lot of balls to keep in the air.

So beyond Scott’s thoughts (which in the mutual admiration society we have developed I believe are spot on) I would add that a DLeague coach must have the ability to prioritize, compromise and maybe most important, be humble, on the highest order. When do you teach and when do you play for the win? When do you spend and when do you save? Talented player that is a head case or a lessor talent that you perceive will be more of a team player? Can you sell the NBA kid on assignment that he doesn’t have to start but will still get his minutes (and by the way can you not flaunt the fact that you make 15x more than anyone here even though you have never really proven your game on the professional level)? When is it time for you to move on?

In watching one of the best of the business in Bryan Gates, I have noticed these traits:

- it is never about him publicly, always about the ownership, players and fans
- he pretends to embrace the strength and quirks of his ownership group, namely being so damn cheap and again, he deflects any franchise success to them
- he makes sure that everyone that is producing is getting minutes…never what they want of course…but something
- he has player rotation that he uses while willing and even though it is not set, it does seem to be consistent and the NBA assignee plugs into that rotation and not the other way around
- he will speak anywhere to anyone to market the program making staff happy
- he does not seem to publicly hold grudges against his players post dust up (Allred this season), will go out of his way to assist them when everyone else is wondering why (Bergersen) and as caustic as he can be with the officiating they don’t seem to hold a grudge against him or his team
- he is prepared when he drafts and looking for players both in regard to talent and how they will fit in to the way he wants things done
- he lets experienced players lead and set the program tone which makes them want to come back and play for him.

Gates stated the other day when talking about players that after three years in the DLeague that it is major decision time for the players as to their career path. I would submit, that Gates, in his third year – is in the same boat. It will be interesting to see what decisions he makes in regard to his own career.

Humble Rumble

by Rumble on Apr 24, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Oh Rumble

You see, you’re always right. That’s what I enjoy about you. Usually, if someone is going to write something that long on one of my posts, I’ll dissect it, let you know everything you’re wrong about, and we’ll get into a heated battle. This afternoon, I’ll just agree, apologize my posts don’t go to Jon L-type lengths, and say thanks for the add on. Hopefully everyone reads your comment.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 24, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I tried to read it all....

and did. I also agree, from my limited D-League experience I’d say Rumble knows what he’s talking about.

by Aisander D on Apr 24, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Iceman...you are a great judge of knowledge and talent...

…keep up the good work!

by Rumble on Apr 24, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Good Move Scott...

…I haven’t been wrong about ANYTHING* in my life since the Stamps exited the playoffs and I will continue to “know it all” until the playoffs end – which should be sometime this evening.

Now to get Jon cookin’ up some quality French Toast…

Rumble

This includes a liberal interpretation of being wrong – e.g. my prediction of Utah winning in game one which they would have had they played like I expected them to play…I mean it’s not like its my fault that Utah didn’t show up for the first half.

by Rumble on Apr 24, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I feel bad about Jon's lack of french toast making abilities.

I probably shouldn’t have pointed that out, but really? Is it that hard?

Now, the playoffs should end this evening. I’ll agree with you there.

As for your prediction for game one, I doubted you. Between the two of us, I doubt we’ve ever been wrong. Ever.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 24, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

You'd think it wouldn't be.

Sometimes I do it well. Other times I run out of the batter or whatever you call it, or I have too much and it’s like I’m making a side of scrambled eggs.

At least I can make salad.

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we knew who Mike Taylor was before you did.

by Jon L on Apr 24, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions