Portraits of top NCAA Coaches: Billy Donovan
Billy Donovan was Nicknamed ‘Billy the Kid’ by Petino while he played at Providence. Donovan blossomed under a young coach just off a stint with the New Jersey Nets: Rick Pitino. While playing under Pitino the Friars flourished and Donovan averaged 15 points per game as a junior and 20 as a senior. During Donovan’s senior season, the Friars would go to the Final Four.
After graduating with a degree in general social studies, Donovan was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the third round of the 1987 NBA Draft. After being waived by the Jazz, Donovan went to the Wyoming Wildcatters of the CBA and then played for short stint alongside his college coach Rick Pitino with the New York Knicks.
Read MoreBasketball Idols: A Portrait of Larry Bird
Larry Bird was a small time country boy when he came to the city to play basketball. His legendary fame in the game was for a whole 13 seasons, where he entertained his fans with his spontaneous game reasoning’s and brilliant game. He is regarded as one of basketballs all time greats and can be listed among the likes of Earvin “Magic” Johnson. When he left the game he was called “Larry Legend” and was NBA’s three times Most Valuable Player.
One of his famous quotes were “I always know what’s happening on the court. I see a situation occur, and I respond.”-Larry Bird on Basketball.
This is proof enough of the player’s insight of the game and to analyze situations much before hand. Along with Earvin “Magic” Johnson he helped catapult the game of basketball as a popular worldwide sport.
Read MorePortraits of top NCAA Coaches: Tom Izzo
Earlier this week, there were reports that Tom Izzo, coach of the Michigan State University Spartans would leave to open the new Matthew Knight arena at the University of Oregon. The man who had lead the Spartans since 1995, never missing a post-season tournament in the process, would open up their new arena, paid for by alumnus and Nike founder Phil Knight, and return their team to former glory.
But, as the saying goes, “If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is.” Izzo denied that he had been contacted and confirmed his commitment to the Spartans. “I’m happy with the job that I have,” Izzo said.
Read MorePortraits of top NCAA Coaches: Jim Boeheim
Usually when a person spends more then five years at a University without gaining a Ph.D. it’s frowned upon. However, I don’t think anyone will be making a fuss about Jim Boeheim staying at Syracuse since his playing days in 1962.
Boeheim was born in Lyon’s New York on November 17, 1944. He would graduate from Lyons Central High School in 1962 and promptly enrolled at Syracuse, setting the stage for a long career as a member of the Orange family.
Boeheim was a good student who walked unto (not a scholarship athlete) the team during his freshman year. Perhaps it was serendipitous that Boeheim’s roommate during that year was Dave Bing, who would go on to be one of the most decorated players in the history of the university.
Read MorePortraits of top NCAA Coaches: Bill Self
When coaching at a program like the University of Kansas, you have to find a way to stand out among distinguished company. In their history the Jayhawks have produced both great players and coaches. The names are legendary: Wilt Chamberlin, Phog Allen, Roy Williams, Larry Brown and Paul Pierce, just to name a few. The university sets the bar so high, that it fired a basketball coach (Ted Owens) after he had won 6 conference Regular Season Titles, 1 Conference Tournament Championship and appeared in 2 Final Fours, all while posting a .657 winning percentage.
It is clear, that if you want to be considered great at the University of Kansas you can’t just win, you have to make yourself big. The best way to do that you ask? Win a National Championship.
Read MorePortraits of top NCAA Coaches: Jim Calhoun
In this age of the college basketball-coaching carousel, where a coach bolts at the mere smell of money, you can associate only a handful of coaches with a certain program. Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, Jim Boeheim at Syracuse and Tom Izzo at Michigan State are three who have been in the spotlight during this year’s NCAA tournament, however one name has been curiously absent: Jim Calhoun.
In a final four that features 2 long serving coaches the absence of Calhoun and his Uconn team looms large after a surprising regular season that ended with his team just two games over .500. This record and surprising exit from the second round of the NIT show that the team clearly struggled. But, struggle is something that Jim Calhoun is as used to as victory.
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