2011-2012 Season is Upon Us

The start of the 2011-2012 season is upon us.  Teams all over the country are getting ready for the first official practice.  Division 1 and Division 2 coaches have had some time to be on the floor with their players, but at the Division 3 level this will be the first time we are allowed to step on the floor with this team. 

The first 4 days of practice for us at Saint Mary's coincides with our fall break.  This is great for us.  We will have 7 or 8 practices in after 4 days.  It really gives us a chance to get a lot of things done and to lay the foundation for a lot of the things we will be doing this year.  We like to think of it as something somewhat similar to an NBA Training Camp. 

As an assistant coach I am putting the final touches on the players notebooks, getting all of our practice gear organized, shoes, locker room, making sure we have everything we need for practice, balls pumped up, etc.  We as a staff are also continuing talks about things we would like to do offensively and defensively.  I am very lucky to be working for a head coach who gives his assistants a lot of opportunity to share their thoughts, he gives us chances to grow as assistant coaches, he wants us to think like head coaches as well.  He is also my father, so that makes all of this a bit unique as well.

One other important aspect that can't get overlooked at this time of the year is recruiting.  With the start of practice here, we still have to make sure we do at least 1 thing in recruiting every day.  Coach Landrum has been all over this fall visiting kids at school and introducing ourselves.  We feel this is important to start to build our relationships with them.  Kids don't grow up wanting to go to Saint Mary's.  It's like that for many division 2 and 3 schools.  Their connection has to be through us as a staff, which will then allow for them to see all the great things our school has to offer.

We are very excited to get going.  Our first game is 37 days from now in Dallas, TX.  It will be a great way to start the year and continue to develop chemistry on and off the floor.  I will update this as much as I can throughout the year.  Hopefully a couple times per week at least.  I will continue to share information on our team, player profiles, and other basketball information I come across throughout the year. 


Like Bart Scott of the Jets says in this interview, "Can't Wait"