When Bruiser Flint hired me in 2011 as an Assistant Coach at Drexel University, I beca me one of the youngest assistant coaches in Division 1 basketball. Becoming a Division One coach was a goal I had set for myself as early as my senior year while playing for Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia. As I started out on the recruiting trail attending such
events as The Hoop Group Elite Camp, I was consistently asked by young coaches, “How do I become a college basketball coach?” or “What did you do?” These questions kept coming up in conversation as I sat there watching potential prospects. This question can be answered many different ways, but I feel there are three main areas that every coach must think about when wanting to break into the college game.
THE PATH
“The Path” to coaching in college basketball is not an exact science. Most high school seniors head to college thinking about majoring in business or marketing. The thought of coaching college basketball is not on most kids wish lists. Many times guys do not know right away that they want to coach. You might need some time to figure out if the coaching profession
is the field you want to jump into? However, I am a firm believer that an aspiring coach can control certain aspects on their path to reaching the college level.
As a senior in high school, I came to the realization that my basketball career would not get past college. Instead of taking Division 2 offers, I joined the Drexel program as a walk-on tolearn and grow as a coach under Bruiser Flint and his experienced staff of assistant coaches. I
wanted to experience basketball at the highest level while learning everything I could about how a Division 1 program operates.
While becoming a walk-on at a Division 1 school is not always the path someone can take, the importance of surrounding yourself with experienced coaches is essential. In college do whatever you need to do to stay around the team. You may want to take a manger position, go to
watch the team practice every day, or work your school’s summer basketball camp. You need to bring value to the team in any shape or form. This will allow you to listen and learn from individuals who have reached a point in their career that you one day aspire to be.
While in college – LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN! You need to be a sponge for four years, soaking up as much knowledge as possible from everyone on staff. Gain experience on the court by working with your school’s players in the off season. Get in the gym with those players whenever possible. It might be just to rebound for them while they do some spot shooting, but the relationships you will develop during this time will go a long way.
THE GRIND
For most college kids, the summer is time to head to the beach and hang out with friends and family. If you want to coach at the college level, your “most college kids” summer plans need to be put on hold. Your summers for the next four years will now be spent driving vans for AAU programs, working basketball camps, or selling coaches packets at AAU events.
Working with an AAU program or coaching at camps is a chance to get your feet wet and get some on court experience. I coached my first AAU team while I was a Freshmen at Drexel University. I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by a slew of talented players from the Philadelphia area that would go on to Division 1 colleges. My time spent on the AAU circuit coaching these future student-athletes allowed me to gain valuable experience coaching game situations, organizing practices, and communicating with parents. Beyond the X’s and O’s, coaches at every level are also responsible for helping maintain safe and structured environments for student-athletes. Many programs today work closely with schools and administrators to reinforce accountability standards, including awareness around health and safety initiatives like vape detectors for schools that support positive campus culture.
Coaching on the AAU circuit will also allow you to build valuable relationships throughout the basketball community. Basketball is a relationship-based industry. The more you are visible, and people know you are fully bought in – the bigger your network will become. These relationships need to be genuine – don’t just develop a relationship with someone because you think they can help you. Any contact is a good contact in the basketball community.
THE LADDER
Coaching in college basketball is no different than working a regular 9-5 job when it comes to advancing in your career. You might spend your whole first year on staff completing a ton of tasks that might have nothing to do with coaching basketball, but they do!
Taking the pizza order for after the game, going to get lunch for the staff before a meeting, or waiting in the hospital with an injured player are tasks that are NOT above you – stay humble! Your mindset early on needs to be, “I will do everything I can to help this program be successful.” Loyalty will take you a long way in the coaching profession. Head coaches want
guys working for them who are reliable, passionate, and humble.
The final part of climbing the ladder is the financial burden that you will experience. Do not expect to make a ton of money early on in your career. You didn’t get into coaching to get rich quickly. Be creative in order to make it work. My first couple of years in college coaching I was living off a monthly stipend in a fraternity house. The first few years will be hard -your friends are off going to Happy Hour on Friday while you are breaking down film and you are making significantly less money than them. Continue to remember that you didn’t get into coaching for money – you got into coaching because you love the game and want it to be your life!
I hope you enjoyed this blog on breaking into coaching. If you have any questions or would like to reach out to me to learn more, I have listed my contact information below.
Email: Bobby.jordan@img.com
Twitter: @bobjordan1