On defense at St. Anthony's
By Jill Lieber, USA TODAY
JERSEY CITY — Bob Hurley is a giver. As head basketball coach at St. Anthony's High School the past 31 years, he has given 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year to aspiring students from the downtrodden, drug-infested neighborhoods of this city.
Basketball star Terrence Roberts rests inside decrepit St. Anthony's gym. The wall behind him is rotten and falling apart.
He has given as a coach, teacher, father figure, advisor, mentor and friend.
He has nurtured his players with love and nourished them with meals. He has carted them to and from practice and found them jobs. His wife, Chris, has tutored them and prepared them for their SATs. The Hurleys have hauled them to tournaments in California, Hawaii and Florida and taken them on family vacations to their house on the Jersey Shore.
And when his players have been hassled, stabbed or shot at, Hurley has vehemently protected them, standing up to the gang members in the projects.
Now the time has come for Hurley to switch roles, and he's in quite a quandary. Because of a decrease in charitable donations since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, St. Anthony's has fallen into such dire financial straits that it will probably be forced to close at the end of this school year.
"St. Anthony's is a value center in that community," says Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, who lists Hurley's oldest son, Bobby, among his prized pupils. "To remove that, you stand to risk losing the worst you can lose, a place kids learn to play together, to be honest people. That would be such a shame."
After saving hundreds of lives, Hurley has no clue how he's going to save the tiny, yellow brick school on Eighth Street.
"I'm very uncomfortable asking for help," he says. "I've never done it, and I don't know who to ask. Who is my potential audience? Do I say, 'These are good kids who grow up to become productive adults?' I'm happy with that, but is it enough for a potential donor?"
Being in a financial crisis is nothing new for St. Anthony's. Founded in 1952, it was the parish school of the Polish Catholic church five blocks up the street. "Konfesjonal" is still embossed on the confessional booths, but most of the congregation has moved on, a result of "white flight" in the late '70s and early '80s. The dying parish declared St. Anthony's an "independent" school, which eliminated the church from any financial obligation.
By 1991, the school was on the verge of shutting down. St. Anthony's now has a $1.6 million annual operating budget. But because of a steadily declining enrollment, and the school's inability to raise tuition because students can barely pay as is, the school needs at least $500,000 a year to remain up and running. A board of trustees was formed to raise the money each year.
"And every year it's a survival test," says Sister Felicia, the school's principal.
Dual-career track
Although he's too humble to do so, Hurley, 55, probably ought to tell potential donors his story, because that unique little school, and that legendary basketball program, truly are his heart and soul. He's Jersey City, through and through. Born in the Greenville section, in the southern part of the city. Raised in St. Paul's parish. His father a Jersey City cop. His wife a Jersey City girl, from neighboring Sacred Heart parish.
During his sophomore year at local St. Peter's College, Hurley realized he wasn't in the Peacocks' plans, so he walked off the varsity basketball team and right into a volunteer job coaching a CYO grammar school team in his parish. Although he'd wanted to be a teacher, a substitute stint after graduation turned him off. His father suggested he apply as a probation officer, and he held that post for 30 years until retiring last July. He now heads the city's department of recreation.
Coaching, Hurley says, is his avocation, his salvation.
"After working 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., supervising men on probation, poor souls who made bad decisions and wound up with no education and criminal records, I'd be wigged out," he says. "Then, I'd open the gym in the late afternoons, have kids from the same neighborhoods, but see they've got tremendous potential as people. There, I could make an important, lasting impact."
His youngest son, Danny, a former Seton Hall star who's now the head coach at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, says his father's greatest gift is his ability to "penetrate the hardest hearts and the stiffest souls," a talent put to the test in the probation department and in coaching.
"He has an innate feel for kids and what they can do," Danny says. "He knows how to make the most out of what others see as seemingly very little."
Over the years, Hurley has built the Friars into a national powerhouse, and himself into a mythical figure in basketball, amassing a 755-86 record. His teams won 23 state championships, one shy of tying the national record held by Cheyenne (Wyo.) Central.
He makes $6,500 at St. Anthony's but ends up spending more than that on basketballs, Gatorade, water, pizzas, Quarter Pounders and anything else that fuels teenage boys. He regularly donates money to St. Anthony's from his speaking engagements and basketball camps.
Because the school has no gym, the Friars practiced at 25 facilities, the main site at the White Eagle Bingo Hall on Newark Avenue. Hurley renovated the joint, refinishing the basketball court and building a weight room in the basement.
The Friars have played "home" games in nine gyms, including the Jersey City Armory, where Hurley also constructed a court and put up a scoreboard. The team currently plays "home" games at the Golden Door Charter School, across the street from St. Anthony's.
His house is their house
All but one of Hurley's players have gone onto college. Five have played in the NBA, including his son, Bobby, an All-America guard at Duke. Two others are playing Major League Baseball: John Valentin of the New York Mets and Willie Banks of the Boston Red Sox. A dozen have become coaches. Three dozen work with at-risk, inner-city youth, teenagers and adults.
Hurley has inspired the faculty and student body to strive for excellence, too. Although 60% of students come from families living below the federal poverty line of about $15,000 a year, every graduate has been accepted to college each of the past 10 years. Last year's valedictorian, Joshua Madrid, who played basketball on the freshman and junior varsity teams, is now at Dartmouth. His parents are laborers who speak little English.
"We really have a place that's almost too good to be true in the way people care about kids," says Sister Alan, the school's athletic director. "You warm to these kids. You love them. St. Anthony's is a place you give your heart to."
It has often been said that kids don't play for Hurley, they enlist. A strict disciplinarian, Hurley demands total commitment. They attend study halls before practice, train all year and live by a narrow set of rules. But in return, the Hurleys are even more committed, embracing their players as family, showering them with unconditional love and support.
"Melissa has been to every game," Chris says of their 21-year-old daughter. "She started going when she was two months old. Bob would take Bobby and Danny to practice to give me a break, and they'd fall asleep on a bed made out of the players' coats."
Just the thought of the school closing has ripped people's hearts out. "Coach Hurley and the St. Anthony's program have been one of the few, if not only, pathways of light to getting out to areas of opportunity," says former Notre Dame star David Rivers, an '84 St. Anthony's graduate. "It's a place rich with discipline, tradition and honor. It prepared me for life. It would be a tragedy, a devastation to Jersey City, if St. Anthony's closes."
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Missed Opportunities
We definitely are going to look back at last night's game with Shade and think about missed opportunities...we missed free throw opportunities, offensive opportunities and defensive opportunities. Most importantly we missed an opportunity to send a huge message to the rest of the West PAC last night with our loss to Shade 63-59.
No Need to Worry...Yet!
Even with the missed opportunities last night, there is still no need to worry about the direction that our season is heading. Once again, I stress that the win/ loss column does not indicate success! I am still extremely excited about how we are continuing to improve as both individuals and as a team. We continue to see positive things out of each and every game. One, we showed again that we have the capability of coming back from a 10 point deficit. Secondly, we showed last night that we are capable of going on the road to play a very good team and performing well. Our shooting is improving with each game and we continue to have guys step up and take shots and make shots in key situations. Our decision making on the court and ball handling is getting better, too.
A Tale of Two Halves
There is a famous saying from Coach Charney that there are 'four quarters to a basketball game'. He is absolutely right. We outplayed Shade last night for about 2 1/2 quarters, outscoring them in the 2nd half to cut their 10 point lead to take a 1 point lead in the 4th quarter. However, missed opportunities at the foul line and our defense did us in at the end. We also learned last night how important it is to get stops on defense, especially in critical times. So, we have showed that we can step up on offense at key times and make baskets, now we must be able to show that we can step up defensively at key times and get stops! We must, however, not take anything away from Shade. Their effort and preperation was excellent, especially on offense. They were disciplined on offense, handled our pressure, set good screens and stuck to their offense and worked for a good shot. Most importantly, they made their free-throws down the stretch by making 10-12 from the line in the 4th quarter, when it mattered most. There is a reason they are undefeated! They have a well balanced team with quality guards and strong post players. We are all starting to understand and see why we are getting beat, now we will have an opportunity to take advantage of a 10 day layoff to dive into the details and really work on some of the most important things.
Attitude is Everything!
Certainly, it is disappointing every time you lose because you go into every game expecting to win and compete at a high level, it does not matter if you are playing Meyersdale, Shade or George Jr. Republic...YOU ALWAYS EXPECT TO WIN! I am still excited with the direction we are heading. We must continue to improve each and every day and learn from each game. We must continue to work hard on our defensive positioning, communication and intensity. Offensively, we need to work on going strong to the basket, drawing contact and getting to the free throw line. Our attitude, togetherness, pride and desire to compete each and every day will determine the outcome of our season. We need to approach each and every practice and game with focus, energy and intesity. I am still excited to find out what we will improve on today!
No Need to Worry...Yet!
Even with the missed opportunities last night, there is still no need to worry about the direction that our season is heading. Once again, I stress that the win/ loss column does not indicate success! I am still extremely excited about how we are continuing to improve as both individuals and as a team. We continue to see positive things out of each and every game. One, we showed again that we have the capability of coming back from a 10 point deficit. Secondly, we showed last night that we are capable of going on the road to play a very good team and performing well. Our shooting is improving with each game and we continue to have guys step up and take shots and make shots in key situations. Our decision making on the court and ball handling is getting better, too.
A Tale of Two Halves
There is a famous saying from Coach Charney that there are 'four quarters to a basketball game'. He is absolutely right. We outplayed Shade last night for about 2 1/2 quarters, outscoring them in the 2nd half to cut their 10 point lead to take a 1 point lead in the 4th quarter. However, missed opportunities at the foul line and our defense did us in at the end. We also learned last night how important it is to get stops on defense, especially in critical times. So, we have showed that we can step up on offense at key times and make baskets, now we must be able to show that we can step up defensively at key times and get stops! We must, however, not take anything away from Shade. Their effort and preperation was excellent, especially on offense. They were disciplined on offense, handled our pressure, set good screens and stuck to their offense and worked for a good shot. Most importantly, they made their free-throws down the stretch by making 10-12 from the line in the 4th quarter, when it mattered most. There is a reason they are undefeated! They have a well balanced team with quality guards and strong post players. We are all starting to understand and see why we are getting beat, now we will have an opportunity to take advantage of a 10 day layoff to dive into the details and really work on some of the most important things.
Attitude is Everything!
Certainly, it is disappointing every time you lose because you go into every game expecting to win and compete at a high level, it does not matter if you are playing Meyersdale, Shade or George Jr. Republic...YOU ALWAYS EXPECT TO WIN! I am still excited with the direction we are heading. We must continue to improve each and every day and learn from each game. We must continue to work hard on our defensive positioning, communication and intensity. Offensively, we need to work on going strong to the basket, drawing contact and getting to the free throw line. Our attitude, togetherness, pride and desire to compete each and every day will determine the outcome of our season. We need to approach each and every practice and game with focus, energy and intesity. I am still excited to find out what we will improve on today!
Monday, December 17, 2007
One Under the Belt!
After the snow and ice cleared, all that was left was a well deserved win on Friday night against Meyersdale. Just when you think the program is experiencing difficult times, you face a team like Meyersdale! Give credit to the Meyersdale players and staff for continuing to coach and play hard! When you experience success like our program has experienced over the last 30 years, sometimes winning is taken forgranted, until you lose a few in a row and then that hunger for victory is restored!
Well, the hunger was restored on Friday night as we beat a Meyersdale basketball team who was not very good. Yes, we should have beat a team like that by 20+ points. However, there were still some very good things done. One, Blake Henger finally stepped in to take a charge! Secondly, our press was impressive and it had nothing to do with Meyersdale's inability to handle the basketball, but it had everything to do with us playing with alot of energy and intensity and being in the right positions. It does not matter if you are playing the best team in the state or the worst team in the state, when you play with energy and you are in the right positions, good things are going to happen. The energy was great, hopefully the couple days rest paid off. Now, we must continue to improve each day and forge ahead. Continue to practice and play with poise, focus and a sense of purpose! Prepare like a Champion! Shade has no idea what they are in for! What will we improve on today?
Well, the hunger was restored on Friday night as we beat a Meyersdale basketball team who was not very good. Yes, we should have beat a team like that by 20+ points. However, there were still some very good things done. One, Blake Henger finally stepped in to take a charge! Secondly, our press was impressive and it had nothing to do with Meyersdale's inability to handle the basketball, but it had everything to do with us playing with alot of energy and intensity and being in the right positions. It does not matter if you are playing the best team in the state or the worst team in the state, when you play with energy and you are in the right positions, good things are going to happen. The energy was great, hopefully the couple days rest paid off. Now, we must continue to improve each day and forge ahead. Continue to practice and play with poise, focus and a sense of purpose! Prepare like a Champion! Shade has no idea what they are in for! What will we improve on today?
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Ohhh and Four!
The Bad News...
Okay...so we definitely did not get off to the start that we had hoped for. The bottomline is that we can very easily be 3-1 instead of 0-4 right now. However, despite shooting a dismal 20% from the field against Richland, 22 turnovers against Westmont and giving up 29 points to Somerset in the 3rd quarter, we have had many bright spots in the first four games with some bad breaks. When you start the season 0-3 or 0-4 you start to question alot of things...normally. However, in this case when you factor in the amount of bad "breaks" that we have had, we feel pretty positive in the direction we are heading.
First, we get word at the beginning of December that we will be without our returning leading scorer and best defender from last year, Mike Webb. Then our starting point-guard and returning letterman, Taylor Keiper goes down with a sprained ankle against Westmont. During the very next game, our best outside shooter and 6th man freakishly gets kneed in the stomach, resulting in a hospital visit and bruised kidney. Ohhh, then you throw 2 players with stiches above thier eyes into the mix as well. What do you get...2 bum ankles, 2 bloody eyes and one bruised kidney!
On a more serious note, our basketball program revolves around several key personalities: precise patterns on offense which demands crisp passing and screening with judicious shot selection. It relys on position defense, that commits few fouls, and most importantly masters all those little things better known as fundamentals, discipline and teamwork. Over the past 30 years, those traits have turned our program into one of the areas elite programs.
We have yet to find not only the win column, but we have yet to find our poise. In our first four games, we have tossed the ball away too many times, looked on defense as if our feet were nailed to the hardwood, been out rebounded and consistentantly been inconsistant! There are many other issues that need to be addressed by the time the West PAC conference scheduled begins in January, but many of the issues are centered around one single fact. Our team is not yet as disciplined and fundamentally sound as it needs to be. The solution...more focused practice time. The repetition in practice is critical in teaching our young players how to play the game correctly.
The Good News...
The good news is that we will get healthy. The good news is that we are learning. The good news is that we are gaining experience. The good news is that we are still hungry for success. The good news is that we will have an opportunity to rest and become re-energized before the Rotary Tournament. The good news is that we are getting significant contributions from players unexpectedly. This however is bad news for the rest of the West PAC Conference and District. It will take some time, but these players will grow up, be fun to watch and be competitive! The scoreboard does not determine overall success.
The truth is that we have shown signs of becoming a great team. We have outplayed two of the top teams in the Laurel Highlands in Westmont and Somerset. Westmont, who lost by 2 points to the top single A team in the state (Kennedy Catholic), was on the ropes in the first half against us. Coach Roman's commented as we were jogging off the War Memorial floor, "Windber's jogging off and we are walking off...that's the story of the first half!" We are still holding teams to under 50 points defensively and our shooting on offense is starting to improve. The turnovers need to come down, preferably to what we had against Richland (12). But, our players are stepping up with great courage, especially Blake Henger who made his starting line-up debut by pouring in 14 points against Somerset. You can't forget about Chad Garlena's efforts against Richland, after being cut above the eye early in the JV game, he sprints the length of the floor to take a charge during the varsity game. If that is not an example of a "Rambler basketball player", then I must be from Township! Each and every day, I come to practice or games, not concerned, not down, not frustrated...but filled with excitement! I look forward to seeing what will come together today, what will we improve on today?
Our Identity...Play hard, Play smart, Play together, Play with Pride!
Maybe it is that our team identity is that we are a close knit, blue collared team full of pride, who plays hard, sometimes too hard, is most times under sized, out manned and out talented, but makes no excuses! Wait...isn't that always a Windber basketball team's identity? Play hard. Play smart. Play together. Play with pride!
Have we had some tough games with some tough breaks to start off the 2007-08 season? Yes, indeed we have experienced some adversity in playing some top local talents while missing some key players. Have we been undersized and out numbered in a few of our games? Yes. But, we refuse to make or except any excuses. We still must prepare to practice and play like champions through focus, discipline, determination and preparation. If we can do that, then we will make a habit of playing like champions. And, if you have the habits of a champion, then you will eventually become a champion! This segment of the season will make us better players, better coaches, but most importantly, it will make us better people!
Okay...so we definitely did not get off to the start that we had hoped for. The bottomline is that we can very easily be 3-1 instead of 0-4 right now. However, despite shooting a dismal 20% from the field against Richland, 22 turnovers against Westmont and giving up 29 points to Somerset in the 3rd quarter, we have had many bright spots in the first four games with some bad breaks. When you start the season 0-3 or 0-4 you start to question alot of things...normally. However, in this case when you factor in the amount of bad "breaks" that we have had, we feel pretty positive in the direction we are heading.
First, we get word at the beginning of December that we will be without our returning leading scorer and best defender from last year, Mike Webb. Then our starting point-guard and returning letterman, Taylor Keiper goes down with a sprained ankle against Westmont. During the very next game, our best outside shooter and 6th man freakishly gets kneed in the stomach, resulting in a hospital visit and bruised kidney. Ohhh, then you throw 2 players with stiches above thier eyes into the mix as well. What do you get...2 bum ankles, 2 bloody eyes and one bruised kidney!
On a more serious note, our basketball program revolves around several key personalities: precise patterns on offense which demands crisp passing and screening with judicious shot selection. It relys on position defense, that commits few fouls, and most importantly masters all those little things better known as fundamentals, discipline and teamwork. Over the past 30 years, those traits have turned our program into one of the areas elite programs.
We have yet to find not only the win column, but we have yet to find our poise. In our first four games, we have tossed the ball away too many times, looked on defense as if our feet were nailed to the hardwood, been out rebounded and consistentantly been inconsistant! There are many other issues that need to be addressed by the time the West PAC conference scheduled begins in January, but many of the issues are centered around one single fact. Our team is not yet as disciplined and fundamentally sound as it needs to be. The solution...more focused practice time. The repetition in practice is critical in teaching our young players how to play the game correctly.
The Good News...
The good news is that we will get healthy. The good news is that we are learning. The good news is that we are gaining experience. The good news is that we are still hungry for success. The good news is that we will have an opportunity to rest and become re-energized before the Rotary Tournament. The good news is that we are getting significant contributions from players unexpectedly. This however is bad news for the rest of the West PAC Conference and District. It will take some time, but these players will grow up, be fun to watch and be competitive! The scoreboard does not determine overall success.
The truth is that we have shown signs of becoming a great team. We have outplayed two of the top teams in the Laurel Highlands in Westmont and Somerset. Westmont, who lost by 2 points to the top single A team in the state (Kennedy Catholic), was on the ropes in the first half against us. Coach Roman's commented as we were jogging off the War Memorial floor, "Windber's jogging off and we are walking off...that's the story of the first half!" We are still holding teams to under 50 points defensively and our shooting on offense is starting to improve. The turnovers need to come down, preferably to what we had against Richland (12). But, our players are stepping up with great courage, especially Blake Henger who made his starting line-up debut by pouring in 14 points against Somerset. You can't forget about Chad Garlena's efforts against Richland, after being cut above the eye early in the JV game, he sprints the length of the floor to take a charge during the varsity game. If that is not an example of a "Rambler basketball player", then I must be from Township! Each and every day, I come to practice or games, not concerned, not down, not frustrated...but filled with excitement! I look forward to seeing what will come together today, what will we improve on today?
Our Identity...Play hard, Play smart, Play together, Play with Pride!
Maybe it is that our team identity is that we are a close knit, blue collared team full of pride, who plays hard, sometimes too hard, is most times under sized, out manned and out talented, but makes no excuses! Wait...isn't that always a Windber basketball team's identity? Play hard. Play smart. Play together. Play with pride!
Have we had some tough games with some tough breaks to start off the 2007-08 season? Yes, indeed we have experienced some adversity in playing some top local talents while missing some key players. Have we been undersized and out numbered in a few of our games? Yes. But, we refuse to make or except any excuses. We still must prepare to practice and play like champions through focus, discipline, determination and preparation. If we can do that, then we will make a habit of playing like champions. And, if you have the habits of a champion, then you will eventually become a champion! This segment of the season will make us better players, better coaches, but most importantly, it will make us better people!
With Gillispie at helm, hard work now the norm at UK
By Marlen Garcia, USA TODAY
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Between his ultra-short haircut that keeps every strand in place and his talk of team building and unity, Billy Gillispie almost comes off like a military man. The Kentucky men's basketball coach, in his first season with the Wildcats, is all about effort.
"We're going to work hard, absolutely," Gillispie says with a Texas drawl. "You can't attain the success we've had — going to places that weren't winning and start winning immediately — without working hard. What do you want to do? Have a country club? Is that what you're supposed to do? If you're not going to have high demands, you're going to get what you ask for."
A relentless work ethic brought Gillispie here to one of the most storied programs in college basketball to replace Tubby Smith last spring. Smith departed for Minnesota amid mounting discontent from restless fans. He led Kentucky to an NCAA title in his first season, in 1998, but the Wildcats have been in a Final Four drought since.
With go-getting flair and competitiveness, Gillispie is shaking up the culture of Kentucky basketball. Growing pains are part of the process, Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart says.
"There have been bumps," he says. "There may be more."
By its standards, Kentucky (4-3) is struggling, evident in the Wildcats' 70-51 loss at Indiana on Saturday and the 84-68 upset loss at home Nov. 7 to lightly regarded Gardner-Webb in perhaps the biggest stunner of the season. Injuries are a factor, most notably to sophomore guards Jodie Meeks (recovering from a stress fracture in his pelvis) and Derrick Jasper (microfracture knee surgery in June).
In addition, talented freshman guard Alex Legion, from the Detroit area, quit last week to seek a transfer. He later asked Gillispie to reinstate him, but team spokesman Scott Stricklin said Tuesday that Legion has been released from his scholarship. Legion, a top-50 recruit according to Rivals.com, averaged 6.7 points and 17.5 minutes.
It can take time to warm up to Gillispie, who paid his dues coming up through humble ranks coaching at the high school and junior college levels. That could be why, whether he's working with a McDonald's All-American or an unknown walk-on, he doesn't compromise his coaching principles. The 48-year-old native of small-town Graford, Texas (an hour northwest of Fort Worth), has been a head coach for only five years, but his standards are set in stone.
"He'll never question what he does," says Florida International coach Sergio Rouco, a friend and assistant to Gillispie at Texas-El Paso. "He's not going to change."
When he's not coaching, Gillispie is consumed by recruiting, another area in which he excels. "Our fans enjoy that as much as the game itself," Barnhart says.
Fans were elated that shortly after coming to Kentucky, Gillispie secured the arrival of Patrick Patterson, who has the makings of an All-American. The 6-8 forward from Huntington, W.Va., is second on the team in scoring with a 16.1-point average and first in rebounding (8.3).
Last month his diligence paid off when Gillispie signed two top-35 recruits for 2008: 6-6 forward Darius Miller of Maysville (Ky.), an hour northeast of campus, and 6-6 guard DeAndre Liggins of Chicago.
Yet not every blue-chip prospect can handle playing for Gillispie, Rouco says.
"You better be a grinder to play for him, a blue-collar guy," Rouco says. "He's not Disney World. He's Possum Kingdom Lake." The latter is the best Graford has to offer, beautiful in its own right but far from glitzy and glamorous.
Gillispie is known as a workaholic and demands similar dedication from others. "He's a bear to work with," Rouco says. "He wants you to keep pace with him."
Details, details
His players — two seniors, one junior, the rest freshmen and sophomores — are adjusting to tough practices, even on game days. "I wouldn't say it's a bad thing, but it's something we needed to get used to," says senior point guard Ramel Bradley, who is averaging 12.7 points and 3.1 assists.
They are learning that every detail related to the game counts, that lapses in judgment won't go unpunished. Bradley had started 39 games in a row until Dec. 1, when Gillispie brought him off the bench in an 86-77 loss to North Carolina, then ranked No. 2 and now No. 1. Without elaborating, Bradley said he had been selfish during practice earlier in the week.
During a 62-52 win against Stony Brook on Nov. 27, Gillispie benched 6-8 freshman forward A.J. Stewart and had him face reporters to explain why he didn't play. Stewart said he had fallen asleep during a team meeting. Asked about it later, Gillispie said only, "You don't need to humiliate him anymore." He had done so sufficiently by making the player accountable publicly.
Accounts from players, past and present, offer two sides to Gillispie: the relaxed guy who has players come by the office every day for small talk, and a side full of intensity — a bull in a china shop.
"I prefer him off the court," Patterson says. "On the court he's really strict. He's the type of guy that wants to get it done the right way more so than get it done the wrong way and win."
Patterson is still trying to figure out "the right way" by Gillispie's definition. "I don't know," he says. "I'm so curious about that."
Can always be better
In an 83-35 rout of Texas Southern on Nov. 24, Kentucky gave up only five second-half baskets. Gillispie noted four could have been prevented with better defense.
He's looking for perfection, no doubt a reason he sleeps only two to three hours a night. But is it realistic to try to win 76-0? Gillispie says every effort should be made.
"Who said it's impossible?" he asks. "Just because you win by 48 points — giving up a basket when you didn't perform well, it's supposed to be OK? Then you lose next week by one point. You gave up the same basket. The scoreboard doesn't indicate whether you're successful or not."
These are the principles that elevated Gillispie from coaching high school to junior college to becoming a Division I assistant at Baylor, Tulsa and Illinois. He got his first head coaching job in 2002 at Texas-El Paso, where he followed a forgettable 6-24 rookie season with a 24-8 record and an NCAA tournament berth. That launched his rise that took him to Texas A&M, where in three seasons he built a Sweet 16 team.
Making sacrifices
Gillispie has been handsomely rewarded for his efforts. About five years ago, as an assistant to then-Illinois coach Bill Self, Gillispie was making $98,880 annually. As Kentucky's coach, he'll earn $2.3 million.
"If someone deserves the money he's making, it's Billy," Rouco says. "He's busted his tail. He sacrificed having a family."
Gillispie is uncomfortable talking about his personal life, including a divorce several years ago. He is single with no children.
"Every coach sacrifices a tremendous amount," he says. "Every player sacrifices a lot. That's what team building is all about, sacrifice for the benefit of others. That's what makes you successful" in coaching.
For many fans, everything about Kentucky basketball is personal. Retired teachers Joe and Linda Heagen of Middletown, Ohio, 30 miles north of Cincinnati, camp out in tents for four days before the ticket release of season-opening Midnight Madness practice to be up close and personal with players and coaches who stop by.
"You get to know them," Linda says.
When Gillispie bought a 12,000-square-foot house with six bedrooms and eight bathrooms for $1.45 million in August, as reported in the Lexington Herald- Leader, it was news. "Whatever," Gillispie says. "It's not like people aren't going to know where the coach lives in a town the size of Lexington," which, according to the U.S. Census Bureau estimate in 2005, had a population of almost 270,000.
Like his players, he also must adjust to the demands on a high-profile coach.
In October, his assistant for scheduling declined the local Rotary Club's invitations to address 380 members. The group includes several business leaders who had been phoning and e-mailing the executive director, Nell Main, because they didn't want to miss the coach's preseason talk.
That's a tradition Main says began during the era of Adolph Rupp, a Kentucky icon who coached from 1930 to 1972 and won 876 games and four NCAA titles.
"He's probably snowed under with things to do," Main says of Gillispie.
She's right. Gillispie says he has a lot of work to do. "We've got a long ways to go," he says. "A long ways to go."
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Between his ultra-short haircut that keeps every strand in place and his talk of team building and unity, Billy Gillispie almost comes off like a military man. The Kentucky men's basketball coach, in his first season with the Wildcats, is all about effort.
"We're going to work hard, absolutely," Gillispie says with a Texas drawl. "You can't attain the success we've had — going to places that weren't winning and start winning immediately — without working hard. What do you want to do? Have a country club? Is that what you're supposed to do? If you're not going to have high demands, you're going to get what you ask for."
A relentless work ethic brought Gillispie here to one of the most storied programs in college basketball to replace Tubby Smith last spring. Smith departed for Minnesota amid mounting discontent from restless fans. He led Kentucky to an NCAA title in his first season, in 1998, but the Wildcats have been in a Final Four drought since.
With go-getting flair and competitiveness, Gillispie is shaking up the culture of Kentucky basketball. Growing pains are part of the process, Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart says.
"There have been bumps," he says. "There may be more."
By its standards, Kentucky (4-3) is struggling, evident in the Wildcats' 70-51 loss at Indiana on Saturday and the 84-68 upset loss at home Nov. 7 to lightly regarded Gardner-Webb in perhaps the biggest stunner of the season. Injuries are a factor, most notably to sophomore guards Jodie Meeks (recovering from a stress fracture in his pelvis) and Derrick Jasper (microfracture knee surgery in June).
In addition, talented freshman guard Alex Legion, from the Detroit area, quit last week to seek a transfer. He later asked Gillispie to reinstate him, but team spokesman Scott Stricklin said Tuesday that Legion has been released from his scholarship. Legion, a top-50 recruit according to Rivals.com, averaged 6.7 points and 17.5 minutes.
It can take time to warm up to Gillispie, who paid his dues coming up through humble ranks coaching at the high school and junior college levels. That could be why, whether he's working with a McDonald's All-American or an unknown walk-on, he doesn't compromise his coaching principles. The 48-year-old native of small-town Graford, Texas (an hour northwest of Fort Worth), has been a head coach for only five years, but his standards are set in stone.
"He'll never question what he does," says Florida International coach Sergio Rouco, a friend and assistant to Gillispie at Texas-El Paso. "He's not going to change."
When he's not coaching, Gillispie is consumed by recruiting, another area in which he excels. "Our fans enjoy that as much as the game itself," Barnhart says.
Fans were elated that shortly after coming to Kentucky, Gillispie secured the arrival of Patrick Patterson, who has the makings of an All-American. The 6-8 forward from Huntington, W.Va., is second on the team in scoring with a 16.1-point average and first in rebounding (8.3).
Last month his diligence paid off when Gillispie signed two top-35 recruits for 2008: 6-6 forward Darius Miller of Maysville (Ky.), an hour northeast of campus, and 6-6 guard DeAndre Liggins of Chicago.
Yet not every blue-chip prospect can handle playing for Gillispie, Rouco says.
"You better be a grinder to play for him, a blue-collar guy," Rouco says. "He's not Disney World. He's Possum Kingdom Lake." The latter is the best Graford has to offer, beautiful in its own right but far from glitzy and glamorous.
Gillispie is known as a workaholic and demands similar dedication from others. "He's a bear to work with," Rouco says. "He wants you to keep pace with him."
Details, details
His players — two seniors, one junior, the rest freshmen and sophomores — are adjusting to tough practices, even on game days. "I wouldn't say it's a bad thing, but it's something we needed to get used to," says senior point guard Ramel Bradley, who is averaging 12.7 points and 3.1 assists.
They are learning that every detail related to the game counts, that lapses in judgment won't go unpunished. Bradley had started 39 games in a row until Dec. 1, when Gillispie brought him off the bench in an 86-77 loss to North Carolina, then ranked No. 2 and now No. 1. Without elaborating, Bradley said he had been selfish during practice earlier in the week.
During a 62-52 win against Stony Brook on Nov. 27, Gillispie benched 6-8 freshman forward A.J. Stewart and had him face reporters to explain why he didn't play. Stewart said he had fallen asleep during a team meeting. Asked about it later, Gillispie said only, "You don't need to humiliate him anymore." He had done so sufficiently by making the player accountable publicly.
Accounts from players, past and present, offer two sides to Gillispie: the relaxed guy who has players come by the office every day for small talk, and a side full of intensity — a bull in a china shop.
"I prefer him off the court," Patterson says. "On the court he's really strict. He's the type of guy that wants to get it done the right way more so than get it done the wrong way and win."
Patterson is still trying to figure out "the right way" by Gillispie's definition. "I don't know," he says. "I'm so curious about that."
Can always be better
In an 83-35 rout of Texas Southern on Nov. 24, Kentucky gave up only five second-half baskets. Gillispie noted four could have been prevented with better defense.
He's looking for perfection, no doubt a reason he sleeps only two to three hours a night. But is it realistic to try to win 76-0? Gillispie says every effort should be made.
"Who said it's impossible?" he asks. "Just because you win by 48 points — giving up a basket when you didn't perform well, it's supposed to be OK? Then you lose next week by one point. You gave up the same basket. The scoreboard doesn't indicate whether you're successful or not."
These are the principles that elevated Gillispie from coaching high school to junior college to becoming a Division I assistant at Baylor, Tulsa and Illinois. He got his first head coaching job in 2002 at Texas-El Paso, where he followed a forgettable 6-24 rookie season with a 24-8 record and an NCAA tournament berth. That launched his rise that took him to Texas A&M, where in three seasons he built a Sweet 16 team.
Making sacrifices
Gillispie has been handsomely rewarded for his efforts. About five years ago, as an assistant to then-Illinois coach Bill Self, Gillispie was making $98,880 annually. As Kentucky's coach, he'll earn $2.3 million.
"If someone deserves the money he's making, it's Billy," Rouco says. "He's busted his tail. He sacrificed having a family."
Gillispie is uncomfortable talking about his personal life, including a divorce several years ago. He is single with no children.
"Every coach sacrifices a tremendous amount," he says. "Every player sacrifices a lot. That's what team building is all about, sacrifice for the benefit of others. That's what makes you successful" in coaching.
For many fans, everything about Kentucky basketball is personal. Retired teachers Joe and Linda Heagen of Middletown, Ohio, 30 miles north of Cincinnati, camp out in tents for four days before the ticket release of season-opening Midnight Madness practice to be up close and personal with players and coaches who stop by.
"You get to know them," Linda says.
When Gillispie bought a 12,000-square-foot house with six bedrooms and eight bathrooms for $1.45 million in August, as reported in the Lexington Herald- Leader, it was news. "Whatever," Gillispie says. "It's not like people aren't going to know where the coach lives in a town the size of Lexington," which, according to the U.S. Census Bureau estimate in 2005, had a population of almost 270,000.
Like his players, he also must adjust to the demands on a high-profile coach.
In October, his assistant for scheduling declined the local Rotary Club's invitations to address 380 members. The group includes several business leaders who had been phoning and e-mailing the executive director, Nell Main, because they didn't want to miss the coach's preseason talk.
That's a tradition Main says began during the era of Adolph Rupp, a Kentucky icon who coached from 1930 to 1972 and won 876 games and four NCAA titles.
"He's probably snowed under with things to do," Main says of Gillispie.
She's right. Gillispie says he has a lot of work to do. "We've got a long ways to go," he says. "A long ways to go."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
