Second Chances

[randy]

Association started 1950, with no team history (i.e. 0 wins, 0 championships, etc.). Other attributes of the association are:

• No conference movement
• No illegal recruiting
• Players can declare early
• No conference tournament; this makes the (conference) regular season games very important

I simulated the association for one year. In 1951, I decided to apply for a job, starting as a 3rd assistant coach with Norfolk St. I worked as an assistant coach for 11 years, and has done the "rounds" including practice, scouting, and most recently recruiting (see coach history in the next post). Over the span of 11 years, I improved on my coaching attributes, most especially on recruiting since that was main focus for the past 6 years.

The previous season, my contract was not renewed by Georgia Southern, hence I was forced to apply to another school. I tried applying as 1st assistant in some major programs (e.g. Michigan, Tulsa, etc.) but my reputation is not high enough for them to consider.

With all remaining coaching vacancies about to be filled in, I decided to take the plunge and step up to be a head coach. I got accepted as a HC for Delaware State


Second Chances

My main philosophy for this dynasty is not on specific coaching styles, but by giving players "second chances". For example, my target would be talented high school seniors who weren't admitted to big schools because of their SAT scores, or transfer students who became academically ineligible from their previous programs. I may also take in JuCo recruits (sidenote: in my other association, I found early success because of actively pursuing talented JuCo players; so I am a little skeptical if I am going to use that route again in this association)

By taking such students, I am hoping I would play a part in turning their life around, by improving on their academics. For really talented players, who knows, they may have a chance to to get drafted in the pros. Conversely, if we can find success also on the basketball court, I am hoping that these students can also help me improve my reputation as a HC.

At least, this would be my objectives at the start of my HC career, as I realize it would take a while before I can be considered to coach high-prestige programs.

[randy]

Coaching Career

Current

• School: Delaware St
• Job: Head Coach
• Yrs at School: 0
• Salary: 72,000
• Yrs Left: 4
• Age: 35

Skills

• Reputation: 10
• Offense: 24
• Defense: 24
• Recruiting: 60
• Scouting: 35
• Development: 29

History

• Career Yrs (Total): 11
• Career Yrs (HC): 0
• Career Earnings: 395,000
• Summary
  
  • 1962-present: Delaware St (Head Coach)
  • 1959-1962: Georgia Southern (1st Assistant - Recruitment)
  • 1956-1959: Long Island (1st Assistant - Recruitment)
  • 1954-1956: Morgan St (2nd Assistant - Scouting)
  • 1951-1954: Norfolk St (3rd Assistant - Practice)

[randy]

After accepting the HC post at Delaware St, I found out that we still have 2 more scholarship slots to fill (there were 4 other HS recruits, whom already signed their LOIs prior to my hiring). And true to enough to my objectives, I was able to sign the following player

SG Gareth Clark, 6-2, HS Sr

• Hometown: Aurora, CO
• High School: Smoky Hill
• GPA: 1.9 (SAT: 820)
• Class Rank: #44 (Pos: #11)
• Overall Rating: A (Scoring: A)

It is clear why Clark was not recruited by other major programs because of his low SAT scores. Delaware St only requires a minimum SAT score of 800, so I was more than welcome to sign him.

I tried signing another good prospect (#6 class rank, 810 SAT) for the remaining scholarship slot. Too bad, he did not accept our offer. I was wondering why, since no other program will accept at this time where recruitment is about to end. Oh well, I will instead use this slot to get a transfer student.

[randy]

1. Fr PG Russell Marquis: 2.1
2. Fr SG Gareth Clark: 1.9
3. Jr SF Greg Lee: 2.9
4. Fr SF Cory Florence: 2.2
5. Jr SF Caleb Carlisle: 3.0
6. Jr PF Russell Carr: 2.7
7. Sr(R) PF Marcus Campbell: 3.0
8. Sr PF James Long: 2.9
9. Fr PF Scotty Wright: 2.0
10. Fr C Mike Howard: 2.1
11. Sr C William Paben: 2.8
12. So C Ray Williams: 2.6
    
13. So PG Shannon Starkey (transfer): 1.6

[randy]

My search focused on players with GPA below 2.0. I will take my chances in them becoming eligible before the start of next season

I was bale to sign:

So PG Shannon Starkey, 6-1

• Former School: Memphis
• GPA: 1.6
• Last Season's Stats: 11 GP, 9.7 ppg, 2.3 apg

[randy]

3 scholarship slots open. SO far, was able to sign an in-state recruit

SG Gary Caroll, 6-1

• Hometown: Middletown, DE
• High School: Middletown
• Class Rank: #67 (Pos: #17)
• GPA: 2.4

I'm leaving one slot open for April signing (might strike some gold then), and another for a transfer recruit next season

[randy]

Starting Lineup

• 1: Fr PG Russell Marquis, 6-0, 2.0/3.0
• 2: Fr SG Gareth Clark, 6-2, 3.0/5.0
• 3: Jr SF Caleb Carlisle, 6-7, 2.0/3.5
• 4: Sr(R) Marcus Campbell, 6-7, 2.0/3.5
• 5: Sr C William Paben, 6-7, 1.5/2.5

Bench

• 3/4: Sr PF James Long, 6-6, 2.0/3.5
• 1/2/3: Jr SF Greg Lee, 6-4, 1.5/3.5
• 2/3: Fr SF Cory Florence, 6-7, 1.5/4.5
• 4/5: Fr C Mike Howard, 6-9, 1.0/3.5
• 3/4: Jr PF Russell Carr, 6-7, 1.5/2.0
• 4/5: So C Ray Williams, 6-9, 1.0/3.5

Walk-ons

• 1/2: Jr PG Andrei Fanning, 6-3, 2.5/2.5
• 1/2: So SG Anthony Smith, 6-1, 0.5/0.5

Redshirt (ineligible to play this season)

• 3/4: Fr PF Scotty Wright, 6-7, 1.5/3.5

Transfer (ineligible to play this season)

• 1/2: So PG Shannon Starkey, 6-1, 4.0/5.0

[randy]

Offensive Strategy

• Offensive Freedom: 70%
• Offensive Focus: Balanced
• Motion: 20%
• Flex: 12%
• Shuffle: 22%
• Princeton: 6%
• Triangle: 37%
• 5-Out: 3%

Half-Court Defensive Strategy

• Def Intensity: 5
• Man To Man: 55%
• 2-3 Zone: 12%
• 1-2-2 Zone: 33%

Pressure Defensive Strategy

• Press Frequency: 5
• Man To Man: 82%
• 1-2-2 Press: 18%

[randy]

Nov 16, 1962: Albany (0-0) @ Delaware St (0-0)

1st Half
[INDENT]Both teams started slow. Tied at 5, 15:31. We got into penalty early, with SG Gareth Clark picking up 2. ALB also in the penalty, about a minute after. Up 13-11, 11:19. ALB getting a lot of off rebs, so we increased def reb crash. Up 24-16, 7:33. ALB not shooting well, 31% FG. Up 38-21, 2:18. ALB continues to shoot bricks, 23% FG
[/INDENT]
Halftime, Up 41-27

• Key stat: ALB 25% FG; DELST 50% FG
• Both teams missed a lot of FTs: ALB 9-17 FT; DELST 18-27
• ALB has 10 off rebs, so we'll max out def rebounding crash
• Top performer(s): DELST - SF Greg Lee 10 pts off the bench

2nd Half
[INDENT]Up 43-32, 15:28. We committed 4 turn overs already in less than 5 mins of the 2nd half. Up 50-38, 10:56. C Mike Howard 10 pts off the bench. Up 54-40, 7:30. We were able to keep ALB at bay, as SF Greg Lee continues to score, 15 pts; Lee, who can play 3 positions, has played a lot of minutes die to the foul trouble of our starting back court. Up 62-45, 3:52. We'll slow down the game
[/INDENT]


Final Score: Albany -50, Delaware St - 68


Box Scores
[INDENT]Lee 15, 4, 2 (*)
Howard 10, 3, 0
Carlisle 7, 7, 1
Marquis 6, 5, 1, fouled out
Florence 6, 2, 0
Williams 6, 0, 1
Clark 5, 3, 1
Long 5, 1, 0
Campbell 4, 4, 1
Carr 2, 2, 0
Paben 1, 5, 0
Fanning 1, 4, 1
Smith 0, 1, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 46-22%
REB: +6
TO: +7
Pts in paint: +14
2nd chance: Even
Fast break: -1
[/INDENT]
Notes

• A total of 51 combined fouls were called, resulting in 75 combined FTs
• We limited ALB to 3 off rebs in the 2nd half, after giving up 10 in the 1st half
• Aside from controlling the def glass, we need to improve also on handling the ball; 12 turn overs in the 2nd half (16 for the game)
• Overall, it was a good debut game as head coach. Great defensive effort. The bench stepped up on offense, scoring 45 of our 68 pts.

[PointGuard]

Nice last-minute pickup on Gareth Clark. Plus Shannon Starkey should be a huge help next year.

Love that minimum SAT for the school being so low.