Coaching Advice, Part 7

Socatee High School (SC) head coach Dan D’Antoni believes it is essential for a high school program to raise money because money and exposure help to get players signed.

In his motion offense, Alabama-Huntsville head coach Lennie Acuff encourages his perimeter players to stop in the post and look to set back screens.

East Carolina head coach, Bill Herrion, believes motion offense is the most difficult offense to teach.

Dan D’Antoni believes it is very important that you as a coach are very honest with your players.

Lennie Acuff gives his posts the following options if the ball goes opposite of them: set a back screen and shape-up, set a back screen followed by a flare screen, step out to the short corner and wait, or move across the lane and post up.

Former Texas A&M head coach Tony Barone developed an eight-point blue print for his program:  academics, work ethic, coaching, recruiting, student-body support, community involvement, scheduling and facilities.

Former Georgetown head coach John Thompson says that in order to coach someone you have to be yourself.

In teaching his screening game, Kansas head coach Roy Williams teaches a continuity for the first week and then lets the players go.

Oklahoma head coach Kelvin Sampson wants everything he does to be in an attacking mode.

Clemson head coach Larry Shyatt tells his players “no squeak, no cut.” If there is no squeak noise, the player made a lazy cut.

Tony Barone believes in teaching his players terms or vocabulary to help them communicate better on the court.

John Thompson says players want discipline and direction. Therefore, coaches have an obligation to teach.

Roy Williams divides his practice into the following areas: defense (about 55% of practice), offense and out-of-bounds.

Will Rey, Wright State assistant coach, teaches wings on the help side of the floor to flash or widen against a zone.  The players should move to daylight.

Kelvin Sampson wants his players to break a sweat during shooting drills.

When working on press offense, Larry Shyatt will go three minutes with five-on-seven, three minutes with five-on-six, and three minutes with five-on-five.

Tony Barone believes every good coach has a system and the system will bring about success.

Virginia Commonwealth head coach Mack McCarthy wants to score off one or two passes from out-of-bounds situations.

John Thompson says that everyone has advice, especially those who cannot coach anything.

Roy Williams has one coach assigned to watch block-outs. If they do not block-out, practice is stopped and the players run.