Newly Appointed D-League Head Coach Jason Glover Uses Role In WNBA To Further Coaching Passion

Newly named Reno Bighorns head coach Jason Glover has called Reno, Nevada home for 20 years. Now, after spending four out of the five Bighorns' seasons as associate head coach, Glover will be the man in charge for the club which calls the "Biggest Little City in the World" home.

Glover has coached at many different levels, and currently serves as the Associate Head Coach for close friend Gary Kloppenburg's Tulsa Shock in the WNBA. It is the second season in which Glover has fueled his coaching passion after the NBADL season concludes. Glover spoke with RidiculousUpside.com and explained the reasoning behind his nearly year-round schedule of coaching. "I've been very fortunate to do what I love, and I enjoy being on the court no matter what level or league it is. The WNBA fits in nicely during the NBADL offseason, and has been a great way for me to continue coaching."

Glover served as the interim head coach for Reno last season, after the team parted ways with Paul Mokeski. Glover assumed head coaching duties for the last 12 games of the season, where he helped the team salvage a lackluster finish to their 2012-2013 season.

With a small taste from his interim head coaching stint, Glover is excited to begin his first full season as head coach. "In the last couple of years it has been my goal to be a head coach in the D-League, I really enjoy the NBADL, so I've been really looking forward to this opportunity." Glover said.

Glover is highly skilled in player development, in fact, during the 2010-2011 NBA season Glover worked as a player development coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Over his career, Glover has worked individually with players such as Larry Johnson, Kendall Gill, Stacey Augmon, and more recently Kevin Love, Anthony Tolliver, and Kosta Koufos.

Obviously, one of the main challenges in the NBA D-League is balancing winning and player development. Glover is confident that he can help players achieve both. "Playing in the NBA is the main motivation for players in the D-League, so everybody needs to develop. Most of the guys are just one step away from playing in the NBA. When you're working with a player, you have to gauge what that player does well, and also what he needs to work on. Sometimes its hard to balance winning and development, but you have to do it, and the best can find the perfect balance." Glover added.

Reno, Nevada has been a pleasant backdrop for Glover's coaching career, the Grand Canyon College graduate is also Executive Director of the Nevada Basketball Academy, a program which he created after spending 13-years coaching at the high school and college level. Glover was Pat Foster's top assistant at the University of Nevada from 1993-1999.

"Reno is a great town, I've been here for 20 years. Under the new ownership, the entire organization is on track to match the great atmosphere here. We are starting to build a solid fan base here, and the people have shown that they really love their basketball." Glover concluded.

The Bighorns will look to rebound from their 16-34 record last season, and by elevating Glover to head coach, it appears that Reno will certainly be a contender in the 2013-2014 NBADL season.