1 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: Hey, what up? Doug Gottlieb here and thanks so much 2 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: for downloading this All Ball podcast. You are gonna love this, 3 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: love it um. Today's guest is the head coach of 4 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: Liberty University and uh man, I've gone Richie for a 5 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: long at the I remembered for a long time, I 6 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: didn't realize that he recruited me to or try to 7 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: recruit me to go to Washington and I didn't go. 8 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:40,480 Speaker 1: He actually Richie McKay end up getting landing Jason Terry 9 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: that year. But if for people that remember Jason Terry 10 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 1: flipped at the last second, went to Arizona and then 11 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 1: a couple of years later they end up getting Dan Dick. 12 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: How that was after he was gone. But Richard McKay's 13 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 1: dad coach at Liberty. The Flames are getting ready for 14 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: the n s A Tournament. They're taken on Oklahoma State, 15 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: Mile Matter and Kay Cunningham. He's had a mere curial, 16 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: crazy journey, um where start off and Indie made his 17 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: way to the Pacific Northwest playing college basketball, played overseas, 18 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: came back to Seattle, bounced around back to Seattle with 19 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: you dub, went to Portland State. Uh uh Portland's state, 20 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: Oregon State, color or Portland state, Colorado State, Oregon State, 21 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,559 Speaker 1: and then ultimately New Mexico got fired. In New Mexico, 22 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: we got a lot to get to. So, UM, I 23 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: think what I'm gonna do is record a special pod 24 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: with some picks and maybe dropped that tomorrow. What do 25 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: you guys say before the tournament starts? I know, the 26 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: first four starts, then record some picks. Um, But I 27 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: thought you'd really enjoy this conversation with a guy who has, 28 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: you know, by his own accounts, own accounts, he's gone 29 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: through some ups and downs in this business. But the 30 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: ups Liberty would have gone last year likely to the tournament, 31 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: and they did go two years ago and they did 32 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: pull an upset. And now they got Oklahoma State that 33 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: they're they're staring down at the Bureau of and we'll 34 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: see if they can pull off that upset. Is thirteen 35 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: seed taken on the floor. The head coach of the 36 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: Liberty Flames is Richard McKay. He joins me, Now, taken 37 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: back your first memories of hoop when and I think 38 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: I was I don't know, five or six and had 39 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: a nerve hoop and I was balling on the nerve hoop, 40 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:25,959 Speaker 1: doug like deep range reverse dunks, all the above. Did 41 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,239 Speaker 1: you have did you have? My dad and mom, they 42 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: had their door to their bedroom. There's like a closet 43 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: next to it on the right hand side, so I 44 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: had the ability to shoot the ball off the side 45 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: and then off the like wall, and like I had 46 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,239 Speaker 1: all the trick shots as well. And then my brother 47 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: and I we would play like these vicious games of 48 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 1: one on one full court dunk hoop because they had 49 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,679 Speaker 1: they had like a little kind of alleyway in their bedroom. 50 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: And so what was the nerve hoop set up? Okay, 51 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: all of that I had an old brother, were getting 52 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: fights every day, and uh we we had the we 53 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: had the JV version of the nerve food, you know, 54 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 1: the net and that was all jacked up and U 55 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: it was yeah. You know, my dad played at the 56 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: University of Mexico and he's from Indianapolis Snaptown. Uh, it's 57 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: where who's just hysteria lived. So basketball was just it 58 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:24,959 Speaker 1: was prevalent in our home. It was always talked about. 59 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 1: That's where I got my passion for it. Um, how 60 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: dinna play it with you? Uh? Not as good as you, 61 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: But uh, you know, I loved the game and I 62 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: eight slept and uh and breathed it. So I was 63 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: highly competitive and ended up playing at Seattle Pacific and 64 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: then overseas for a couple of years. I really, I 65 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: really got the most out of my ability just because 66 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: of how many hours I spent in it or on it. 67 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: But I never really thought I'd coach, but would love 68 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: to play. Okay, so out of Pacific, who's your coach? 69 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: Getting claud Terry? You remember coach Terry, don't you? He 70 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: was the all time at the time. He was the 71 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: all time leading scorer at Stanford. I think Todd Lichty 72 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: passed him and some other sense then, but played the 73 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: NBA or a b A and the NBA. He was 74 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,799 Speaker 1: tremendous for me. Uh not just because of his basketball acumen, 75 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: but he was He was also a tremendous mentor. I 76 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: used to go up to his office acting like I 77 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: wanted to talk some ball, and honestly, Doug, I really 78 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: just wanted to spend time with him, and he was. 79 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:37,160 Speaker 1: He's fabulous. What how do you guys play? Uh? Played 80 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 1: a little up tempo, a little pro style, and then 81 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: in terms of he was just a great mentor like 82 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: what and you want to hang out around him? What 83 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: sorts of things? Like again, you're a college kid, he's 84 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: an adult. You know, he's lived a life, so like 85 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: how would he mentor you? What? What? Because those are 86 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: the building blocks of who you are as a person, 87 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 1: who you are as a coach, like to me, like 88 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: the we we have people and frankly, it's it's in 89 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 1: my profession, not yours, but especially my profession. Who they 90 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:11,280 Speaker 1: minimize the importance of that relationship between college coach and 91 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: player and how much you know, so many kids now 92 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: come from split families. Um, some comes from dysfunctional families, 93 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: but even ones that come from like I had a 94 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: two parent household, but my college coaches were father type figures. 95 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 1: What was What was he like during those times uh 96 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: spent with you when when you pretended like you wanted 97 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: to talk fall Yeah, the word that comes to mind 98 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: is he was transformational? You know, not only did he 99 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: have these great stories and he would help me visualize 100 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 1: the dreams that I had when he when he talked 101 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:47,479 Speaker 1: about the work ethic you needed to be a pro 102 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: or the commitment that you had to have. But what 103 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 1: was most important or most valuable to me, and uh 104 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: do he really he loved me unconditionally, you know, with 105 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: with all of my junk or all of the the 106 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: voids or holes wounds that I had in my life. 107 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: I just felt like he was there, and he was. 108 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: He was the first man that I had ever met 109 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: who actually read the Bible that he had on his 110 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 1: desk and just just tremendously uh considerate of who I 111 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: was as a person, and it made me feel valuable 112 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: um and had these words of life that he would 113 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 1: relate the scripture that I just thought was instrumental to 114 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: my development. And I didn't know it then, but I 115 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: found out later what he was doing is he was 116 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: just preparing me for what was going to be a 117 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: career choice that I was gonna make. And how the 118 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: importance of um of a person's play or the results 119 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 1: of their statistics that wasn't as important as a person's 120 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: heart and a person's uh well being. And I just 121 00:06:55,440 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: think from some of those fundamentally the positive principles, it 122 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: helped shape me. And and I haven't many years, thirty 123 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: years ago and who I am today. So you get 124 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: down playing how good was your king? We're decent, We 125 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: Uh didn't make it to the n c A Tournament, 126 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: but we were decent. So you get down playing and 127 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: then what was the decision? I like to go play overseas. 128 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: I was first working, I was from Seattle, or lived 129 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: in Seattle. I was working for basketball travelers Nels, Hawkinson 130 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: and UH. And I finally got the call to go 131 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: play in New Zealand. And so I did that. I 132 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: had a friend of mine, UH, who I worked with 133 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 1: as a graduate assistant at University of Washington the first 134 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: time I was there. He got me in touch with 135 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: the guy named Dale Lair. In between seasons in New Zealand, 136 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: I went to go be a Division two assistant at 137 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: Queen's College. Never again, never really thought coaching was gonna 138 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: be my deal. I wanted to hoop. I don't wanted 139 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: to play as long as I could, so but one 140 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 1: thing I do, Yeah, go ahead? So wait, wait, So 141 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: Queen's College. Who was the head coach Dale Lair? Okay, 142 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: and that's that's in Queens, New York. It's in Charlotte, 143 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: North Carolina. It was Okay, Queen the Queen City, Okay, 144 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: got it. It was an all girls school and they 145 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 1: hired coach Lair. To bring back basketball, to bring basketball 146 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: to the campus. So the first thirteen men on campus 147 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: for basketball basketball players actually kind of a I mean, 148 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: I know it's a religious school, but it's kind of 149 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 1: a kind of an easy sale. They're like, hey, man, 150 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: you want to come and play basketball at an all 151 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 1: girls school? Like you're literally the only guy. Yeah, the ratio, 152 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: the female to male ratio is like nine to one. 153 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: I mean, dudes, if you can't get a date there, 154 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:45,239 Speaker 1: it's it's it's you're gonna have a rough go of it. 155 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: It's a it's a youth problem, right, you can't get 156 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: a date at Queens College when when when there's there's 157 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: thirteen dudes on campus. What was what was Dale like 158 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: as a coach and what was your what was your 159 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: job during your time you were there? Yeah, you you know, 160 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: at the Division two ranks, you do a little bit 161 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: of everything. Coach Lair was phenomenal. He had a he 162 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 1: had a balance that was really healthy between family life 163 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: and how much time he spent with this career with 164 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: our players. And I lived across the street from the 165 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: gym so and and was single at the time, so 166 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: I had a ton of access to the freedom. Another 167 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: one that the guy sent my way to model for 168 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 1: me what a coach should look like. And I know 169 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: you know this. You your your dad was a coach, 170 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 1: and you know as a as a son who has 171 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:34,079 Speaker 1: a coach in his home, how much time he really 172 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 1: invest in other kids lives? You know? I just felt like, uh, 173 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: coach Lair was he he was committed in developing and transforming, 174 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: but he was also really good in his own home. 175 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: And again another foundational piece for me, uh that that 176 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,319 Speaker 1: would set the table for how I tried to pursue, 177 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: uh my career. When when I was a parent, were 178 00:09:57,520 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: you I know, religion is so important in your life, 179 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 1: and obviously you know you're a place like Liberty, but 180 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: were you raised in a in a very religious home 181 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 1: or is this something that that took place during your 182 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: kind of formative college years where you where your views 183 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 1: became uh much more Christian base. My Uh my mom 184 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: and dad were divorced, So I grew up in a 185 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:28,439 Speaker 1: home that had a they had a faith and we 186 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 1: went to church. My brother, my older brother, really had 187 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: a strong faith that kind of inspired me. And then 188 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: when I was nineteen, I was I was just finishing 189 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: up high school or eighteen, and I went to Junior 190 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: College my freshman year. That's when I invited the Jesus 191 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: into my life. And I have been a Christian every since, 192 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 1: So I think, you know, for me, Doug, I described 193 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: it as you know, I just that that night I 194 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: made that decision. It was like opening the door to 195 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: a mansion, and uh, so many rooms stick for so 196 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 1: many experience that experiences to to have in this in 197 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 1: this great, big old house. And I'm still in the mansion, 198 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: still experiencing him. But he gave me a sense of 199 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 1: peace and purpose that I had never had before. So, Okay, 200 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: Queen's College, you're playing professionally. Uh, what made you come 201 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: back Stateside to coach again? Yeah? I Uh, I came 202 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: back and I got a job at Seattle Pacific. I 203 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: married uh Julie, who has been my wife for thirty 204 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:38,199 Speaker 1: years going on thirty one in August, and uh came 205 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 1: back to my alma minor, and shortly after that I 206 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: got a chance to go to Bradley University with Jim 207 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: Mullinery and then back to the Northwest when I started recruiting. 208 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: You wait, wait, wait, hold on, hold on, You're you're 209 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 1: you're like skipping all around here. So coach mo people 210 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: who know him in the Midwest, right now, did you 211 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: know my dad signed him in college? No? Did he really? Yeah? Yeah, 212 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 1: yeah it was then he's Jim Mullinery. I didn't know 213 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: he had a game. Yeah, I know he was a 214 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: hell of a player. And I think he transferred to 215 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 1: Western Illinois, right that was where he I think you're right. Yeah, 216 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: so he went to Creighton, and I mean it was 217 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,439 Speaker 1: never forget it. Like I did a Bradley game one time, 218 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: and I think my dad had mentioned it. I don't 219 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: really remember how I came up. And then you know, 220 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 1: like he's he's there's a little bit of Forrest Gump 221 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: for Where's Waldo where all of a sudden, like I've 222 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 1: been like I was at Minnesota and there's my coach, 223 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:42,199 Speaker 1: Coach mo On on the staff and then as Neraska 224 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: and there's coach mo On on the staff with Tim 225 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: Miles and and you know all those He's got all 226 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: these stories about my dad. So yeah, yeah, coach was man. 227 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:58,079 Speaker 1: Was he he was so intense the hiring process alone. 228 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: You know, he took me, I was I had never 229 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 1: been Division one and he took me, and uh, he 230 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 1: really grew me. He made me value. Uh how how 231 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: hard it was at that level and uh he was 232 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: relentless in his work ethic, but man, he he was 233 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 1: a really really good coach. In another one, you get 234 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: another one of the people that was valuable in my 235 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: life and building some foundation. But I was only young 236 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: two years so so your wife really enjoyed the areas 237 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 1: that's you're telling me? If Georia, Well, Bob Bender in Seattle, 238 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 1: which is an incredible city, right, and like, I know 239 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,839 Speaker 1: how important basketball is the Peoria. I have a played 240 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 1: in Feoria, right, the old old baub Bill And but 241 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: it's really hard to go from Seattle to Peoria. Let's 242 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: just let's just call it like it is, no doubt, 243 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: no doubt life theory, don't get me wrong. But um, okay, 244 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 1: so and so then you then you got a job 245 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:07,719 Speaker 1: at Yeah. So so Bob Bender left Illinois State. Do 246 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: you go to University Washington? Obviously, the red Birds and 247 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 1: the Braves are uh big rivals, and uh, Bender, I 248 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: think had a little bit of level of respect for 249 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: the job that we were doing at at Bradley, and 250 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: I got to know Ray jack Letty and that recruiting 251 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: process we'd be recruiting against each other, and uh yeah, 252 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: and then so Billy King was his initial hire, and 253 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 1: Billy went to go to the NBA, and Coach Bender 254 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 1: called me in the summer and asked if I wanted 255 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: to come back to Seattle, And a day later I 256 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: was on the plane and uh and started the the 257 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: the rebuilding. You go back, you go all so so 258 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: so right. That speaks with the respect you hire a 259 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: guy who you competed against in the league. And then 260 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 1: of course location wise, it totally made sense. I love 261 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 1: that you were the second choice. That's that's amazing. Yeah 262 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: that that that's that's happened a lot of too. I 263 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: just and then it just works out. Okay, so you 264 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: get to you dubbed it's nineteen three, I believe. Yeah, 265 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: heck Heads a cool place. But I don't remember you 266 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: dubbed being any good at that point in time. Who 267 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: who who perceived was Mark Harshman wasn't the coach? Who 268 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 1: was the coach before coach before Cash after us? It 269 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: was Lynn Nance, It was a coach before I can't 270 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: even remember. It was was it Less Stevens? Lynn Stevens? Okay, yeah, 271 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: use it. Let's just let's just go yes, So okay, 272 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: so you're there, So now it's Sutton, Okay, you have 273 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: to go from the valley, Okay, which was really remember 274 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: that mid nineties at the time, like Tulsa is rolling, 275 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: absolutely rolling. Um, you know, I mean the whole league 276 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: is is kind of ridiculous at that point that people 277 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: forget how good the valley was going going back then, Yeah, 278 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: had the Bears rolling it. That then was Southwest Missouri. 279 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 1: They that was such good basketball and incredibly difficult home 280 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: court venues to go in and try and get it 281 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: dub The valley was Legit was totally legit. Fox Sports 282 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. 283 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot 284 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 1: com and within the I Heart Radio app. Search f 285 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 1: s R to listen live. Okay, so what was what 286 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: was Bob Bender's plan for Was it just we gotta 287 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: we gotta recruit all these local kids are what? What? 288 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: What did you guys said? How do you how did 289 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 1: you decide to rebuild that program? You know, I think 290 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 1: part of it was trying to keep guys in the 291 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: in the Seattle area or Northwest area close to home. 292 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 1: You know, at the time, Oregon wasn't Oregon like it 293 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: is now, and O s you would struggle a little 294 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,199 Speaker 1: bit and and Watchington State. Now, Kelvin was there and 295 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:07,639 Speaker 1: he he kind of had it rolling. So we uh, 296 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 1: we felt like we had to at least try and 297 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: be able to win our state and uh and he 298 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: wanted to do it with West Coast kids. But coach Bender, 299 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 1: you know, it was a former duke assistant, so I 300 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: kind of had contacts all over. We weren't afraid to 301 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 1: go anywhere in the country to try and get someone, 302 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 1: but we really knew we had to be good close 303 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: to home. And uh and again that's that's when I 304 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: saw this. Uh, this this top hard nosed point guard 305 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: that and I don't know people give you enough credit, 306 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 1: but you were one of the best passers that I'd 307 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: ever seen in high school basketball. I mean elite, you 308 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: were elite and uh, you know, but but big time 309 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 1: just you know you you went to Notre Dame and 310 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 1: I didn't big time you. Well, here's how I remember it. Okay, 311 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 1: didn't you have other guards? You had older You had 312 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: older guards, so I would have had to sit for it. 313 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: So again, you have to this is where you have 314 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 1: to factor in like part of our problem, I thought 315 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: in recruiting to my dad and as we kind of 316 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 1: knew too much, right you start. But but and and 317 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 1: also there was a level of of lack of faith 318 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 1: because Washington hadn't been good, just hadn't you knows, before 319 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,640 Speaker 1: Washington took off. It's hard to relate to people now. Um, 320 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: and I don't think people understood heechad and how great 321 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: a place that was the plate back then, right, it 322 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: just all of it hadn't hit yet. Um. But but 323 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,120 Speaker 1: you did, you were you You signed McCollough, right, Dion 324 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: Lewton and Donna Watts. And I believe, I believe before 325 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:39,679 Speaker 1: you left. You tell me if I'm wrong. You guys 326 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 1: actually had a commitment from Jason Terry, Okay, and then 327 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 1: and then what happened? So what happened? Tell me the 328 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: Jayson Terry story, because this is old midnight loot. What 329 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: really happened? How did Jason Terry go from committed hometown 330 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: Washington kid turn this thing around to all of a 331 00:18:57,520 --> 00:18:59,639 Speaker 1: sudden he's playing he's a sea. He went to be 332 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 1: a sick man. He started Arizona till a senior year man. 333 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 1: It's funny about it. You know. I was only there 334 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: two years as well, and then I got the job 335 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: at Portland State as a head coach. But we were 336 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: we were starting to flip it a little bit. We 337 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 1: were becoming more competitive. And when when when Donald Watts committed, 338 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 1: we we had he and Jason Terry on for some 339 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:24,880 Speaker 1: elite camp or something, and I was close to JT 340 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 1: like we we would talk every day. I talked to 341 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: moms and uh and he committed. So we we thought 342 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: we legit had one of the best backcourts in the country, 343 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:37,159 Speaker 1: certainly in the West, but maybe in the country. And 344 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: Jason called one night and he said, hey, coach Man, Coach, 345 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: I didn't get anything to compare to and I'm not 346 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: gonna go to Arizona, but I just got to take 347 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 1: another visit. I'm not going there, Coach. I promise you, 348 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: I'm not going there. I said, you wanta take a visit? 349 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: So yeah, yeah, but I'm not going there. You know, 350 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 1: me and my mom, we we just want to see 351 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:57,880 Speaker 1: something else. You know, it's Arizona, coach, I said, Jay Man, 352 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,440 Speaker 1: I just I'm just telling you it's hard to say 353 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: no to them. Coach Olsen, you know, he's known for 354 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 1: for n having a dude at the midnight hour, and 355 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: he said, he said, coach, coach, you ain't got nothing 356 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: to worry about. I didn't hear. Damos Lashwood didn't hear 357 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:17,400 Speaker 1: from about three days and he called me. He said, 358 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 1: coach coach Man, I made the switch. I said, Man, 359 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 1: I'm not telling coach Benner. You gotta tell him, and 360 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 1: uh yeah, he he broke my heart. But he had 361 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:29,919 Speaker 1: a heck of a career there and uh and in 362 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: the league. But man, that was coach Osa and Matt. 363 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 1: I think there was a few of them. Now, Uh, Matt, 364 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 1: I think who was didn't he commit to UNLV and 365 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,680 Speaker 1: coach clipt Yeah, there was. There was a few of them, 366 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: and and with good reason. Arizona is a great program. 367 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 1: But man, man, that was a tough one. Okay, So 368 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:53,199 Speaker 1: you get to Portland State at the time, they just 369 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:56,800 Speaker 1: go on Division one. Portland State was a restart they 370 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: had in nineteen seventy nine, No Ninth team. Yeah seventy nine. 371 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 1: Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Freeman Williams were three of 372 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 1: the names on the first team All America lists. Well, 373 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: they banned the program after Freeman Williams left because of 374 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: n c A improprieties did not have basketball for sixteen 375 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: years and they decided to restart it. And when they restarted, 376 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:24,239 Speaker 1: they were announced we're going to Vision one and we 377 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 1: had an eight year probationary period that we couldn't play 378 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:30,360 Speaker 1: in the n c A tournament. So I got the job, Doug, 379 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: because nobody else wanted it. I'm twenty nine. I'm I'm 380 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: the youngest head coach in the country. Okay, so you're 381 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: twenty nine. How much are you making? I think the 382 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 1: salary was sixty tho at the time. Beautiful area right 383 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 1: west guy. Anyway, like an incredible play, incredible place to live. 384 00:21:54,760 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 1: So what's the process like legitimately starting a program? Yeah, 385 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: you know, it was incredibly healthy for me. The first 386 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 1: year we were there, we got two scholarships and didn't 387 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 1: feel the team, but we took Brian Town who was 388 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: a walk on at at University of Washington that came 389 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: with us and UH and I had one assistant, Brad Sucy, 390 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: who's been with me every day since then. I know 391 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: he never never leave your side. I got it and 392 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: we took wait, how do you how do you meet? 393 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,679 Speaker 1: Where did you come from? Brad was in UH He 394 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: was a food broker for Damon and associates. I met 395 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:32,159 Speaker 1: him through a mutual friend. He was a heck of 396 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:36,199 Speaker 1: a player at the time Eastern Michigan. He said an 397 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: n c a tournament record for most three pointers in 398 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,399 Speaker 1: the game. He made nine of them. They lost a 399 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:44,479 Speaker 1: pit when Pitt had Demetrius Gore and Sean Miller. Uh, 400 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 1: the Brad scored like twenty seven points in twenty one minutes. 401 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:50,640 Speaker 1: And I said, man, twenty seven points in twenty one minutes. 402 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: White Coach Brown only played you twenty one minutes. You 403 00:22:53,040 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: have seven. That's why I transferred that do the math coach. 404 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: So yeahs Susan and I hit it off. You know, 405 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: faith had to share the same faith, the passion for basketball. 406 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 1: Loved to work with kids. So the first year we 407 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 1: sit out, we played two on two nearly every day. 408 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 1: You know. That's Damon Stodemeyer's dad is Willie. Willie played 409 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,199 Speaker 1: at at Portland State. So Damon would run his summer 410 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: camps at at our gym, and of course Dame would 411 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:27,400 Speaker 1: be there for a day or two, and then we'd 412 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: have some of the best runs in the city at 413 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,639 Speaker 1: Portland's Stage gym. That's where I met email Eudoka and 414 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 1: uh Cabino. All the guys would come to p s 415 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: U and play. So we started, and then we had 416 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: to transfer Jason Hartman our second year and ended up, 417 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 1: yeah we want to Hartman was at you correct, correct, 418 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:59,160 Speaker 1: So that first year, you know, when we didn't have practice, 419 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 1: I would go I visited Dick Davy at Santa Clara, 420 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:07,680 Speaker 1: Dick Bennett who was at was Wisconsin, uh, and and 421 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 1: then I just watched practice. I got to learn. I've 422 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 1: got to absorb. And then the first year of us 423 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 1: actually playing, you know, the internet wasn't what it is 424 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: now and there's not social media, so I got to 425 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: make all these mistakes that no one saw. But we uh, 426 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: we got we had the right kind of kids, so 427 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:29,199 Speaker 1: we got fairly competitive in just two short years and 428 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,199 Speaker 1: went fifteen and twelve. And but I'm telling you it 429 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 1: was it was really hard to recruit that, yeah, we 430 00:24:35,119 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 1: can't go to the tournament for six more years, but 431 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 1: it's you know, and so but the guys we had men, 432 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,199 Speaker 1: I loved coaching them, and they were they were the 433 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 1: guys that no one else wanted and had something to prove. 434 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:50,159 Speaker 1: So it ended up helping us be really competitive in 435 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: a very early stage of our program. How did your 436 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 1: Mexico come to be? So after after Portland State, I 437 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 1: took the job at Colorado State and uh was was 438 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 1: there for two years. Okay, so I have to go. 439 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 1: I've got a lot of dates happen. Uh again, we 440 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: that second year, you know, we took a restar program 441 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: and uh, the a D at the time, Tim Wiser 442 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 1: uh called and said he had an interest. And I 443 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:22,960 Speaker 1: can't remember who the other candidate was. Oh yeah, it's 444 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: it's the late Neil Doherty who was at Kansas, And 445 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:27,800 Speaker 1: it was he and I and I end up getting 446 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 1: a job, and we inherited a program from stumorl who 447 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 1: was a heck of a coach. You remember Coach Moore, 448 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 1: right of course he went to then he went from there, 449 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 1: he went to Uh, that tremendous coach, and we inherited 450 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:44,479 Speaker 1: that program and coach you know, Coach More would call 451 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: play every time down. They used the card system, and 452 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 1: we had a little different philosophy. But so I think 453 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,680 Speaker 1: the kids kind of so good about you know, maybe 454 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 1: being able to play a little bit more freely offensively. 455 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 1: But he had such a good culture. I think we 456 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:00,879 Speaker 1: won nineteen the first year I went to the elite 457 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 1: eight of the n I T and then eighteen the 458 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 1: next year. And uh and man, it was that's that's when, 459 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:11,119 Speaker 1: that's when my my career. I was there for two years, 460 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: so two years at Portland's State, two years at Colorado State, 461 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,439 Speaker 1: and then I took the Oregon State job and uh, 462 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:21,440 Speaker 1: Mitch Barnhardt was the athletic director and uh and and 463 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 1: I took it because number one, my dad was diagnosed 464 00:26:26,359 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 1: with cancer and uh and it was a chance to 465 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:31,360 Speaker 1: recruit l A. B and l A ton go back 466 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: and forth, bigger budget, the pack ten at the time, 467 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: it was, you know, is what I had always aspired for, 468 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:41,919 Speaker 1: um in terms of level. And yeah, it was a 469 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 1: tough job. And I didn't do a good job there, Doug. 470 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: I wasn't. Well, your brother coach there. You you know, 471 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: it's and Wayne Tinkle has done a fabulous job. But 472 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: it's it's a little it's a little it's a it's 473 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 1: a little different now. But I mean, like, look, they 474 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: had young college team is ancients. They've read one a 475 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:02,880 Speaker 1: bunch of it now and they built a practice facility now, right, 476 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:05,840 Speaker 1: But it's you know, I mean, it's nothing short of 477 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:09,439 Speaker 1: a miracle with Ralph Buller did forever and what and 478 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 1: what they're doing, what they're doing now, Like people don't 479 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 1: under you know there in wat zoom is it? Those 480 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 1: are hard, especially with all the money organ spending and 481 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: and and the location of of you doub okay, So 482 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:24,320 Speaker 1: if you could go back and think, okay, should you 483 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 1: have not taken the organ State job? Was it the 484 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: what was there something you did that you would fix? 485 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:34,440 Speaker 1: Like why why don't you think you did a good 486 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:37,639 Speaker 1: enough job at organ State? I bring at Winston Law. Yeah, 487 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 1: we I should have stayed longer at organ State. But 488 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 1: again you gotta understand when So you remember the PAC 489 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 1: ten at the time was ridiculous, ridiculous. It was so 490 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 1: good that every team in that league was an INTIA 491 00:27:56,680 --> 00:28:00,440 Speaker 1: tournament team except for US and UH and watch in State. 492 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 1: So so well, look like let me let me, let 493 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:04,960 Speaker 1: me say what you can't say, okay, calls cheating. At 494 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: the time, they had a man it cat Cotchet. So 495 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: it's not like oh, gott Leave's breaking news, Like, no, 496 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 1: they were buying dudes and they had dudes, right jolligans. 497 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,640 Speaker 1: Dalton didn't have to buy dudes football Tremaine folks, Gilani 498 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:21,439 Speaker 1: Gardener like they had dudes, dude, Sharif dudes, dudes, dude, Okay, 499 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:25,160 Speaker 1: Stanford had Mike Montgomery, who's unbelievable, right, and they had 500 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: they had pros everywhere, uh Adam Keith Colin, twins lick 501 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 1: dy like you kind of go through it, Audi Lee 502 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:35,680 Speaker 1: like they had rebbing Knights. Dude, you Jabba just now 503 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 1: got it finally got it going. Um. Oregon started to 504 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 1: get it going with Jerry Green. You got like seven 505 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 1: or eight pros on their roster. Us USC, I mean, 506 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 1: Arizona Is wins the National Championship during during this period 507 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: of time, they have all NBA players, right, like just dudes. 508 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 1: And then you're like Oregan Oregon State, you know, and 509 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:01,480 Speaker 1: you get the you know, so if you signed Corey 510 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: Benjamin Was that was that your biggest finny that in 511 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 1: sign Corey? He was? He was after me. I was 512 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:09,840 Speaker 1: only there two years again, and I would have stayed 513 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:13,200 Speaker 1: at Oregon State. I think I think we would have 514 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 1: done better. I'm not the same coach now. I was 515 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 1: then had a lot to learn, but you know, my 516 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 1: dad passed away. When when I was there, passed away 517 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 1: in two thousand and the New Mexico job opens in 518 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 1: my second year there. When my dad played at New Mexico, 519 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: it was always my dream job, just like signed. It 520 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 1: was just like signed, signed, signed, plenty there, right, Dad, Dad, 521 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 1: Dad dies, It's New Mexico. All the timing, every thing 522 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:42,280 Speaker 1: of line. It's like the Good Lord giving you a sign. 523 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: This is where you're supposed to be. And literally I 524 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 1: thought when I took the job, I thought, well, that 525 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 1: would be my last job. I'm I'm at the place 526 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 1: where I've always aspired to be, dream job. All of that, 527 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 1: and you know, in our first Frank Priscilla was a 528 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 1: coach that I proceeded. That that I proceeded, and uh, 529 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 1: our first three years were uh, we're the first two 530 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: years were a little tough, and then we you know, 531 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: Danny Granger was there my second year. In our third year, 532 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: I mean, he he was outstanding, like he was sixteen 533 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:16,520 Speaker 1: pick in the draft. Well, we made it to the 534 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:18,520 Speaker 1: tournament in three years, lost to Bill Nova in the 535 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 1: first round. But I really felt like and I got 536 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:23,400 Speaker 1: a contract extension. I really felt like, men, I'm never 537 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 1: gonna leave this place. It's ali querque the fan support 538 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 1: was great all that, and uh, and then Rudy Dabolos 539 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,760 Speaker 1: my a D he retired, and uh, he said, you know, 540 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 1: I'm not so sure you will be long for this 541 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 1: job when I leave. And I, why did you say that, Rudy? 542 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 1: And he said, I just anyway, we got a new 543 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: a D. And uh and and I could tell that 544 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 1: I wasn't his guy. We we weren't winning, so so 545 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 1: why what what? Why? What? What? What? What was it 546 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:55,400 Speaker 1: about you that that all of a sudden, you know, 547 00:30:55,440 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 1: he comes in, Hey, you know good? He said, I 548 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 1: don't know what. Well, you know how volatile the fan 549 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:09,160 Speaker 1: base can be there, and we had lost something that 550 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:12,080 Speaker 1: is the only thing in the state that matters. You 551 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 1: actually go back, no doubt. We we had lost a 552 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: few in a row on the road. Like my fourth 553 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 1: year we were seventeen and thirteen, and then my fifth 554 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:24,840 Speaker 1: and last year, I think we started out like eight 555 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 1: and two. We had beaten the eighth ranked Wichita team, UH, 556 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 1: and then lost to Bobby Huggins Kansas State team in 557 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:34,880 Speaker 1: the final A tournament in Vegas. And then we went 558 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:36,800 Speaker 1: on the road and lost the Bobby Knight for his 559 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: whatever record breaking win and uh, and then lost our 560 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:44,760 Speaker 1: season opener to TCU. And I got back and we 561 00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 1: were like, I want to say, one and one in 562 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:51,240 Speaker 1: neutral games and oh and four on the road and 563 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 1: and uh, Paul Crabs are at a d just we 564 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 1: had a meeting. He said, I'm really concerned about the 565 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:59,640 Speaker 1: road losses. I got jammed up. I gotta I gotta offended. 566 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:01,560 Speaker 1: I thought, man, I'm doing a great job, or we're 567 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 1: doing a great job, and we should you give it 568 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:06,000 Speaker 1: kind of us a little slack. We you know, we're 569 00:32:06,040 --> 00:32:09,600 Speaker 1: still in the building mode. And I coached honestly, I 570 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:12,479 Speaker 1: coached out of fear the latter part of the season. 571 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 1: And about a month later, Uh, he decided to to 572 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:19,360 Speaker 1: let go, let me go and let me finish the season. 573 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:22,120 Speaker 1: I wasn't gonna do that, but I called Dick Bennett, 574 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:24,320 Speaker 1: who's a mentor, and he said, don't quit on those kids. 575 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:27,560 Speaker 1: Make sure they know you're with them. And we lost 576 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,640 Speaker 1: like our last five and it just it just ended poorly. 577 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: The fan base there was when you said you coached 578 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:37,160 Speaker 1: out of fear, and I understand what you're saying, like 579 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:40,600 Speaker 1: that's it's one of the things that that you know, 580 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 1: Like I think kind of the full school coaches don't 581 00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:45,480 Speaker 1: know that, they don't mean to do it to every kid, 582 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:48,480 Speaker 1: but there's occasionally kids to react away Like I feel 583 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:52,240 Speaker 1: like that was my biggest issue in playing for Coach Sutton. 584 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:55,880 Speaker 1: We all kind of feared him, but I would play 585 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 1: in an effort to try and please him, right, So 586 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:03,240 Speaker 1: I wouldn't shoot because if I shooting it, he'd get mad. 587 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 1: And and it was just I was scared of him 588 00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:07,760 Speaker 1: taking me out of the game. Where the guys and 589 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 1: my team were like, yeah, we can't we without you. 590 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:14,320 Speaker 1: Just do what you do and and let him figure 591 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 1: it out. Well, that sounds right, but when you're a 592 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:19,600 Speaker 1: pleaser as a kid, and your coach's son, who's who 593 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: has been you know all the time, and again like 594 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:24,560 Speaker 1: you do what your coach says. Yeah, you gotta play 595 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:26,720 Speaker 1: your game within reasons. But as a coach, I never 596 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:28,960 Speaker 1: had a coach that you coach out of beer? How 597 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:31,360 Speaker 1: did it? How did it affect you to coach out 598 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 1: of beer? Yeah? It just again, Now, this is my 599 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:37,560 Speaker 1: dream job, this is where my dad played. Uh my, 600 00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 1: my whole desire, one of my greatest desires was to 601 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:43,600 Speaker 1: you know, to make the McKay name, make people proud of, 602 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:47,320 Speaker 1: make my dad proud, and make people proud of of 603 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:54,200 Speaker 1: our our time and as Lobos and the opinion, the 604 00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:57,280 Speaker 1: opinion of others was way too important to me, and 605 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 1: I feared letting them down. And I think when we 606 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:05,320 Speaker 1: as men live in that driving that lane, we're very 607 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:12,080 Speaker 1: susceptible to you know too, to ruin. So it uh 608 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:15,279 Speaker 1: it just yeah, it's and again it wasn't. It wasn't 609 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 1: a time in my life that I felt, uh really 610 00:34:19,080 --> 00:34:23,040 Speaker 1: healthy emotionally or spiritually. And uh, and don't get me wrong, 611 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:25,640 Speaker 1: guy was faithfully he knew I needed to go through that. 612 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:28,360 Speaker 1: Part of that process was, you know, coming to the 613 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:32,000 Speaker 1: end of myself and relying more on my faith. And 614 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 1: I did just on me. So yeah it and and 615 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 1: that was it. That was the year five. I was 616 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:41,800 Speaker 1: done and uh, I was without work for about three weeks, 617 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:46,440 Speaker 1: thought about going into being a color analyst for TV 618 00:34:46,719 --> 00:34:50,000 Speaker 1: and interviewed at the Mountain Network, uh the now defunct 619 00:34:50,040 --> 00:34:53,680 Speaker 1: Mountain Network and and then Liberty Call. And I went 620 00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:55,480 Speaker 1: out to the East Coast for the first time and 621 00:34:55,880 --> 00:35:00,000 Speaker 1: came the head coach at Liberty. Okay, but you left 622 00:35:00,040 --> 00:35:04,839 Speaker 1: in the middle right to work for Tony Bennett. So 623 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:09,920 Speaker 1: I'm at Liberty Years. We have Seth Curry, Steph's brother. Uh. 624 00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:12,960 Speaker 1: He was a nation eating score. We had beaten Virginia 625 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,960 Speaker 1: that my second year, and then I was enjoying it. 626 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:18,040 Speaker 1: I really loved being there. The school was great, people 627 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 1: were great. But Tony called and said, you know, I 628 00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:24,000 Speaker 1: want you to come and be my associate hed coach. 629 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:28,840 Speaker 1: He offered me a ridiculous contract and I first said no, Uh, 630 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:30,799 Speaker 1: I felt good about being a head coach, kind of 631 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:33,959 Speaker 1: like it and uh. And then you know, my wife 632 00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:36,320 Speaker 1: and I we prayed about it, and uh, he asked again, 633 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 1: and man, I just felt like it was I felt 634 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 1: like I needed to go and and serve instead of 635 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:46,080 Speaker 1: be served and being an assistant. I hadn't been assistant 636 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 1: for thirteen years at the time, but I thought it 637 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:51,600 Speaker 1: would be healthy for me just to you know Dick 638 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:54,240 Speaker 1: Bennett again, my mentor. Tony and I were good friends. 639 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:57,839 Speaker 1: I felt like I old Coach Bennett. Something took Coach 640 00:35:57,880 --> 00:35:59,600 Speaker 1: Dick Bennett because of how good he had been to me, 641 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:02,360 Speaker 1: and and I decided to go. Then I didn't know 642 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:04,960 Speaker 1: what I was signing up for. Doug. You know, when 643 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 1: you go from making all those decisions when you practice, 644 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:10,560 Speaker 1: who you recruit, whether or not you can go see 645 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:14,400 Speaker 1: your kids play, and you're an assistant. You're now supporting 646 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:17,440 Speaker 1: a vision, not casting it. It was it was different, 647 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:20,360 Speaker 1: But man, was it really good for me. Not only 648 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:23,719 Speaker 1: not only did I get some mind space back not 649 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:28,200 Speaker 1: being indicted by the loss. Uh, you know coaching and 650 00:36:28,280 --> 00:36:32,760 Speaker 1: freedom really invested in relationships and being that same transformational 651 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:35,680 Speaker 1: type coach that I alluded to that I had. It 652 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:40,799 Speaker 1: helped me recalibrate and recenter what what my purpose was 653 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:43,759 Speaker 1: in coaching. And then I learned. I learned from the 654 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:47,920 Speaker 1: best a defensive system that you know we've we've implemented 655 00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:56,279 Speaker 1: here that's proven to be pretty efficient. Um, how did 656 00:36:57,120 --> 00:36:59,640 Speaker 1: how does Tony do it? How do you in this 657 00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:04,080 Speaker 1: in this climate? And if you have to run, you 658 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:08,400 Speaker 1: just tell me now you're good? Um, in this climate 659 00:37:09,239 --> 00:37:14,200 Speaker 1: where basketball is just not taught the the most a 660 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:19,719 Speaker 1: you kids, high level kids, the way it's played at Virginia. Right, 661 00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:24,400 Speaker 1: And I remember when Tony got the job and you 662 00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:26,880 Speaker 1: we could go back and you know, because it was 663 00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:30,440 Speaker 1: a search firm higher and tied to the area, it 664 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:34,120 Speaker 1: will never work. Right. You gotta recruit the d m B. 665 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:39,319 Speaker 1: You gotta get local kids. You can't play slow. How 666 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:42,400 Speaker 1: did he do it? So? I think Tone wanted the 667 00:37:42,520 --> 00:37:45,600 Speaker 1: job because he thought it could be like a Stanford 668 00:37:45,680 --> 00:37:48,759 Speaker 1: on the East coast. And he had admired the fit 669 00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:52,719 Speaker 1: that you know, Stanford kids had, because they had a 670 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:57,160 Speaker 1: conscientiousness in the classroom and that sometimes translates on the 671 00:37:57,200 --> 00:38:01,160 Speaker 1: court as well. And our first recruiting class, not I'm 672 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:02,920 Speaker 1: not talking about when we first got there in April, 673 00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:06,560 Speaker 1: but the class after that, man, they were called the 674 00:38:06,680 --> 00:38:09,880 Speaker 1: six Shooters. It was it was six games, it was 675 00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:11,799 Speaker 1: ranked fifth in the country or something, and it was 676 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:16,759 Speaker 1: six players, of which only two of them stayed. And 677 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:20,360 Speaker 1: so our first two years were fifteen and sixteen and 678 00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:22,600 Speaker 1: then sixteen and fifteen. So we're thirty one and thirty 679 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:28,360 Speaker 1: one after two and men. The three things that I 680 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:32,759 Speaker 1: think would answer your question. Number one, he's amazingly consistent. 681 00:38:33,520 --> 00:38:38,480 Speaker 1: He's got an unwavering belief in the way you played defensively, 682 00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:40,480 Speaker 1: in the commitment that you have to have to it. 683 00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:45,279 Speaker 1: Number two, he recruits the right kind of guys like 684 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:49,400 Speaker 1: he he was uninterested in what the ranking was. He 685 00:38:49,560 --> 00:38:51,960 Speaker 1: like you, I know you were a highly rated recruit, 686 00:38:52,280 --> 00:38:56,319 Speaker 1: but you had to have a sense of selflessness and 687 00:38:56,440 --> 00:39:01,680 Speaker 1: a really competitive uh, and passed that disposition for the 688 00:39:01,760 --> 00:39:05,600 Speaker 1: game in order to be successful for him. And then 689 00:39:06,160 --> 00:39:09,880 Speaker 1: I'm telling you, like Joe Harris and London Perantas and 690 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:13,360 Speaker 1: Anthony gil and like, we just took to kill Mitchell. 691 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:17,000 Speaker 1: We took guys. We are beaten. We are beating mid 692 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:21,800 Speaker 1: majors on guys and uh. And I think then thirdly, 693 00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:26,720 Speaker 1: what's not talked about, you know, because not many people 694 00:39:27,040 --> 00:39:30,880 Speaker 1: he's such a humble, humble individual. He's really one of 695 00:39:30,920 --> 00:39:33,759 Speaker 1: the best coaches I've been around, but one of one 696 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:37,200 Speaker 1: of the best people. He's got this. But how is 697 00:39:37,239 --> 00:39:40,319 Speaker 1: that that's real? Okay? I mean? Is that is that 698 00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:46,120 Speaker 1: I never forget when they when Virginia lost the UNBC 699 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:50,960 Speaker 1: and when the year before and had the thing once 700 00:39:51,080 --> 00:39:54,360 Speaker 1: going to the final four, right and they grabbed Johnnie 701 00:39:54,360 --> 00:39:58,000 Speaker 1: after the game. And I mean, I have no ties 702 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:02,239 Speaker 1: to the program, zero other than I've known Tony most 703 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:05,839 Speaker 1: of my life and I respect environment and he's been 704 00:40:05,880 --> 00:40:11,560 Speaker 1: incredible to me as his dad. But this this calm 705 00:40:11,640 --> 00:40:16,560 Speaker 1: kind of brace compassion, is that's that's a real thing. 706 00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:20,440 Speaker 1: That's not just the TV thing. Oh, no doubt, no doubt, 707 00:40:20,560 --> 00:40:25,680 Speaker 1: he's he's Uh. You know, his dad would tell you 708 00:40:25,719 --> 00:40:30,000 Speaker 1: how temperamental he was, and that's why he retired like 709 00:40:30,120 --> 00:40:33,799 Speaker 1: he he just it just the little things bothered his dad. 710 00:40:33,880 --> 00:40:37,120 Speaker 1: And tone has this ability. His faith is he's deeply rooted, 711 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:42,080 Speaker 1: but he's he's got this ability that I'm just telling 712 00:40:42,080 --> 00:40:47,319 Speaker 1: you that third quality. He's insatiable about getting better. So 713 00:40:47,680 --> 00:40:51,480 Speaker 1: but he's got this ability to to process the negative 714 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:57,279 Speaker 1: in such a way that it motivates him or inspires 715 00:40:57,360 --> 00:41:00,200 Speaker 1: him to turn it to the good, to turn it 716 00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:03,799 Speaker 1: to improvement, to use it as a lesson and not 717 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:07,799 Speaker 1: a loss. He's it's uncanny, It's like and not not 718 00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:12,200 Speaker 1: many people have the depth that he has, uh, in 719 00:41:12,280 --> 00:41:14,920 Speaker 1: his not only his faith, but in his person. And 720 00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:18,520 Speaker 1: I think because of that man, you know, he probably 721 00:41:18,560 --> 00:41:20,920 Speaker 1: doesn't have an enemy in the in the world, but 722 00:41:21,040 --> 00:41:25,600 Speaker 1: I think he has success because he's relentless in pursuing 723 00:41:26,280 --> 00:41:31,799 Speaker 1: desired outcome and unwavered by adversity. Um, what was your 724 00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:35,960 Speaker 1: decision like to leave? Uh? It wasn't hard because it 725 00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:38,480 Speaker 1: was back to liberty, a place that I really had 726 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:43,800 Speaker 1: an affinity for. Yet I knew I was gonna miss 727 00:41:44,040 --> 00:41:47,520 Speaker 1: the significance of the game, you know when you're like 728 00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:49,520 Speaker 1: when I left, we were number two in the country 729 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:52,920 Speaker 1: for I don't know ten weeks of the year, and 730 00:41:54,400 --> 00:41:56,400 Speaker 1: every game was a big game, and it was sold 731 00:41:56,440 --> 00:42:00,160 Speaker 1: out every venue we played in and just being able 732 00:42:00,160 --> 00:42:04,000 Speaker 1: to compete for it all was I really really liked it. 733 00:42:04,280 --> 00:42:06,560 Speaker 1: I wanted to be a head coach again. And uh, 734 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:09,320 Speaker 1: and I couldn't imagine a better place to get a 735 00:42:09,400 --> 00:42:12,160 Speaker 1: chance to do it at the time. And Liberty, so 736 00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:15,799 Speaker 1: that was that didn't make it hard, but and and 737 00:42:15,840 --> 00:42:17,880 Speaker 1: it was an hour from Tone and and Laurel, so 738 00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:21,759 Speaker 1: you know we're close for friends. Uh, it felt right, 739 00:42:22,520 --> 00:42:26,120 Speaker 1: But I do miss the you know, the significance of 740 00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:29,399 Speaker 1: the game on occasions. Yet you know, they've reached such 741 00:42:29,440 --> 00:42:31,799 Speaker 1: a high level now whenever they lose, it's the sky 742 00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:35,839 Speaker 1: is falling. He's created an expectation there that's, uh, that's 743 00:42:35,960 --> 00:42:39,960 Speaker 1: hard to keep up with. What is it? What does 744 00:42:40,040 --> 00:42:43,600 Speaker 1: it mean to you? What is it signified? The people 745 00:42:43,680 --> 00:42:47,520 Speaker 1: have been around that program and Tony and how you 746 00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:51,719 Speaker 1: guys built in him win the whole thing. It was 747 00:42:52,120 --> 00:42:56,920 Speaker 1: its phenomenal, you know, especially given what you alluded to earlier. 748 00:42:56,960 --> 00:43:00,600 Speaker 1: When when he was interviewed outside of locker room after 749 00:43:00,719 --> 00:43:03,320 Speaker 1: the first one seed that ever lost to a six team, 750 00:43:04,239 --> 00:43:06,760 Speaker 1: and he did the interview number one. Most people wouldn't 751 00:43:06,760 --> 00:43:09,799 Speaker 1: have done it, but the words that he said, I 752 00:43:09,880 --> 00:43:13,839 Speaker 1: just thought it was it was special. I thought that 753 00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:18,319 Speaker 1: meant more to most coaches and into a lot of 754 00:43:18,320 --> 00:43:22,920 Speaker 1: people than you winning a national championship and staying whatever 755 00:43:22,960 --> 00:43:25,880 Speaker 1: you said after that game. So I think it was 756 00:43:27,040 --> 00:43:29,839 Speaker 1: it was man. It was guy's way of saying, ay, 757 00:43:30,040 --> 00:43:33,560 Speaker 1: here's a gift to you for being obedient to what 758 00:43:33,680 --> 00:43:37,880 Speaker 1: you were called to. And I was couldn't have been happier, 759 00:43:38,080 --> 00:43:41,400 Speaker 1: couldn't have thought of someone that deserved it more. But 760 00:43:41,520 --> 00:43:48,200 Speaker 1: who have left and watched them win? Its tough. Yeah, 761 00:43:48,239 --> 00:43:51,799 Speaker 1: you know, I still don't have a national championship ring, 762 00:43:52,360 --> 00:43:55,759 Speaker 1: but now I was happy for those guys. Man, They 763 00:43:55,840 --> 00:43:59,200 Speaker 1: labored hard in order to do something like that, and 764 00:43:59,560 --> 00:44:02,799 Speaker 1: I had been gone a few years, so, uh, Jack 765 00:44:02,880 --> 00:44:06,600 Speaker 1: saw Tay, Jerome, Kyle guys, and those guys were still 766 00:44:06,760 --> 00:44:10,040 Speaker 1: guys that I recruited or helped a troupe. But uh, 767 00:44:10,320 --> 00:44:13,120 Speaker 1: it's hard to watch someone else win a national championship. 768 00:44:13,160 --> 00:44:15,600 Speaker 1: But you know, I felt like I was a little 769 00:44:15,640 --> 00:44:19,799 Speaker 1: little part of it. And uh, and in it it 770 00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:21,920 Speaker 1: gave me a dream that one day we were going 771 00:44:22,000 --> 00:44:25,560 Speaker 1: to cut the nets ourselves. Okay, so you get back 772 00:44:25,600 --> 00:44:28,399 Speaker 1: to Liberty. Now you've done a little bit of everything right. 773 00:44:28,960 --> 00:44:32,520 Speaker 1: You've been a head coach, starting a program. You've been 774 00:44:32,600 --> 00:44:35,120 Speaker 1: a head coach and a lot of states. You've been 775 00:44:35,719 --> 00:44:37,719 Speaker 1: back to organ state that didn't work out well. In 776 00:44:37,719 --> 00:44:41,000 Speaker 1: New Mexico. It's your dream job. You lose that job, 777 00:44:41,400 --> 00:44:44,040 Speaker 1: you go to Liberty, you go back to being an assistant. 778 00:44:44,400 --> 00:44:48,320 Speaker 1: Now you're back at Liberty. How are you now different 779 00:44:48,360 --> 00:44:53,880 Speaker 1: than you ever used to be? Uh, very intentional about 780 00:44:54,400 --> 00:45:00,719 Speaker 1: the whole person and making sure that um um faithful 781 00:45:00,760 --> 00:45:06,800 Speaker 1: to the privilege of being a the privilege of shepherd 782 00:45:06,880 --> 00:45:11,120 Speaker 1: NG or steward NG someone else. Like I've heard it said, 783 00:45:11,200 --> 00:45:13,799 Speaker 1: we you know your parents, your parents. We don't own 784 00:45:13,840 --> 00:45:17,760 Speaker 1: our kids. Uh, we're just supposed to be great stewards 785 00:45:17,920 --> 00:45:21,000 Speaker 1: of them. And and man, I just think that's my 786 00:45:21,160 --> 00:45:24,120 Speaker 1: daily pursuit to make sure that our guys and their 787 00:45:24,160 --> 00:45:29,920 Speaker 1: experience is something that they will remember uh and be 788 00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:34,200 Speaker 1: able to recall in the in in a life shaping way. 789 00:45:34,760 --> 00:45:38,759 Speaker 1: That that is lasting, and that is significant. So I 790 00:45:38,800 --> 00:45:40,960 Speaker 1: think when you have that approach, you're not as indicted 791 00:45:41,000 --> 00:45:44,239 Speaker 1: about the outcome. You can really invest in the process 792 00:45:44,320 --> 00:45:47,600 Speaker 1: and you don't get so hung up with with a 793 00:45:47,640 --> 00:45:51,600 Speaker 1: result and whether it's win or lose. So I think 794 00:45:51,640 --> 00:45:54,839 Speaker 1: that's how I'm different, Just in that place of emotionally, 795 00:45:56,000 --> 00:46:01,040 Speaker 1: uh and spiritually healthy that I in referenced earlier. I 796 00:46:01,040 --> 00:46:04,799 Speaker 1: think I'm in a way better place. Obviously twenty years 797 00:46:04,920 --> 00:46:09,359 Speaker 1: later you are. You know, um, you've already had your 798 00:46:09,400 --> 00:46:13,960 Speaker 1: dream job, right, but now you got Mr Folwell, and 799 00:46:14,040 --> 00:46:17,880 Speaker 1: that's cool. I'm giving you too opportunities. What is it 800 00:46:18,040 --> 00:46:19,720 Speaker 1: like now to be kind of back in the German 801 00:46:20,360 --> 00:46:23,080 Speaker 1: you know, a guy who now has kind of re 802 00:46:23,280 --> 00:46:27,279 Speaker 1: established their value in terms of you know, could you 803 00:46:27,320 --> 00:46:31,960 Speaker 1: get a different job understanding that liberty place giving you opportunity? Like? 804 00:46:31,960 --> 00:46:35,279 Speaker 1: What's that balance? Plain? Uh? You know, I don't. I 805 00:46:35,320 --> 00:46:38,080 Speaker 1: don't think about it much, Doug, just because I've I've 806 00:46:38,120 --> 00:46:42,000 Speaker 1: moved so much. Now we're empty nesters and m you know, 807 00:46:42,160 --> 00:46:45,239 Speaker 1: I think it's different now. But man, I love where 808 00:46:45,239 --> 00:46:48,720 Speaker 1: I am and I think we've got a really healthy 809 00:46:48,719 --> 00:46:51,560 Speaker 1: culture and we've you know, we've we've gotten to a 810 00:46:51,600 --> 00:46:54,000 Speaker 1: place now where We've beaten some high majors, were kind 811 00:46:54,000 --> 00:46:56,160 Speaker 1: of on the mid major map. And you know how 812 00:46:56,160 --> 00:46:58,200 Speaker 1: hard it is a schedule when you when you arrive 813 00:46:58,280 --> 00:47:01,439 Speaker 1: at that place. So uh, you know, I just think, 814 00:47:02,400 --> 00:47:05,600 Speaker 1: I think for me, Uh, this is I heard this 815 00:47:05,640 --> 00:47:07,839 Speaker 1: in a book. Read this in a book by Mark 816 00:47:07,880 --> 00:47:10,480 Speaker 1: Patterson called Win the Day. He said, we have to 817 00:47:10,480 --> 00:47:14,160 Speaker 1: have this ability to bury bu r y dead yesterday's 818 00:47:14,719 --> 00:47:18,040 Speaker 1: and not worry about unborn tomorrows. And I think when 819 00:47:18,080 --> 00:47:20,439 Speaker 1: we do that, we can we can make the most 820 00:47:20,520 --> 00:47:23,880 Speaker 1: of our twenty four and uh. And that's that's what 821 00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:27,520 Speaker 1: I'm trying to do. And be present not only in 822 00:47:27,760 --> 00:47:31,600 Speaker 1: their lives but where I am and in my own uh, 823 00:47:31,640 --> 00:47:35,160 Speaker 1: in my own old age and uh, and enjoy this process, man, 824 00:47:35,200 --> 00:47:37,960 Speaker 1: because it's it's fun. What would it mean to be 825 00:47:38,040 --> 00:47:41,799 Speaker 1: Toplooma State? You know, you know, Mike should a great dude. 826 00:47:41,840 --> 00:47:44,239 Speaker 1: He's done an amazing job there. They probably have the 827 00:47:44,320 --> 00:47:47,600 Speaker 1: number one draft pick in the upcoming draft. What would 828 00:47:47,600 --> 00:47:53,520 Speaker 1: that mean for you personally for your program with the university? Uh? Well, 829 00:47:53,520 --> 00:47:55,600 Speaker 1: we beat Mississippi State a couple of years ago and 830 00:47:55,600 --> 00:47:58,120 Speaker 1: it was the first tournament win in our school's history. 831 00:47:58,160 --> 00:48:01,040 Speaker 1: That was great. We then lost the next Sunday to 832 00:48:01,320 --> 00:48:05,239 Speaker 1: Buzz Williams Virginia Tech team. So and then last year 833 00:48:05,280 --> 00:48:08,200 Speaker 1: we qualified but didn't have the tournament. So I don't 834 00:48:08,239 --> 00:48:11,560 Speaker 1: think our guys will be overwhelmed by the moment. I 835 00:48:11,600 --> 00:48:14,080 Speaker 1: know you'll be rooting hard for your Cowboys. I appreciate that. 836 00:48:14,120 --> 00:48:18,400 Speaker 1: And I really really like Mike. He's tremendous dude. Um 837 00:48:18,480 --> 00:48:21,759 Speaker 1: and and um. I'm waiting for you to ask the 838 00:48:21,840 --> 00:48:23,960 Speaker 1: questions about the game plan so you can text it 839 00:48:23,960 --> 00:48:29,279 Speaker 1: to him. But obviously, when you have a player like 840 00:48:29,320 --> 00:48:31,640 Speaker 1: cutting him like that, dude, is he special? Well, if 841 00:48:31,640 --> 00:48:34,080 Speaker 1: he's not one, he'll be two and he'll play for 842 00:48:34,280 --> 00:48:37,480 Speaker 1: fifteen years if if, if he stays healthy. But they 843 00:48:37,520 --> 00:48:39,800 Speaker 1: also have some other really good players, and they're the 844 00:48:39,840 --> 00:48:42,680 Speaker 1: eleventh ranked team in the country. They shouldn't have been 845 00:48:42,680 --> 00:48:46,080 Speaker 1: a four seed. Uh, it would mean a lot. Yet, 846 00:48:46,680 --> 00:48:48,880 Speaker 1: you know, I do think our guys, having won a 847 00:48:48,920 --> 00:48:51,319 Speaker 1: few high major games over the years, like I don't, 848 00:48:51,600 --> 00:48:54,440 Speaker 1: I don't think they'll be afraid of the moment, But 849 00:48:54,520 --> 00:48:56,520 Speaker 1: we'll have to do a great job in order to 850 00:48:56,640 --> 00:48:58,719 Speaker 1: in order just to compete with them. They're really good, 851 00:49:00,280 --> 00:49:03,840 Speaker 1: which I'm so happy you found peace happiness and success, 852 00:49:04,000 --> 00:49:08,560 Speaker 1: right and those things. Uh. Success doesn't always mean winning games, 853 00:49:08,560 --> 00:49:11,399 Speaker 1: but it doesn't hurt when you do win games and 854 00:49:12,080 --> 00:49:15,080 Speaker 1: I can't. I'm just fortuned it, you know. Yeah, and 855 00:49:15,360 --> 00:49:17,640 Speaker 1: appreciative up your time. I wish you the bestive mine 856 00:49:17,880 --> 00:49:21,759 Speaker 1: against my own. Yeah, thank you, man, I'd feel the 857 00:49:21,840 --> 00:49:26,040 Speaker 1: same about you. You've you've got a great platform and 858 00:49:26,120 --> 00:49:28,359 Speaker 1: you use it wisely. Man. Thanks for all you do 859 00:49:28,440 --> 00:49:31,920 Speaker 1: to better people's lives. And if we do or if 860 00:49:31,920 --> 00:49:35,280 Speaker 1: we're fortunate enough to upset the cowboys. Man, I'm gonna 861 00:49:35,320 --> 00:49:38,520 Speaker 1: send you some some liberty gears so you can if 862 00:49:38,520 --> 00:49:41,280 Speaker 1: you can fly the colors, hey, I'll take some liberty gear. Anyway, 863 00:49:41,280 --> 00:49:42,880 Speaker 1: I got a little dude, I got a living or 864 00:49:42,920 --> 00:49:46,320 Speaker 1: all lefty. You may not be high major maybe maybe 865 00:49:46,320 --> 00:49:48,839 Speaker 1: telling you about recruiting down the road. All right, I'm 866 00:49:48,880 --> 00:49:50,960 Speaker 1: taking all the lefties. Man. They can shoot that thing. 867 00:49:51,760 --> 00:49:53,680 Speaker 1: You can shoot that thing. I'll talk to you and thanks, Ritchie. 868 00:49:56,200 --> 00:49:58,680 Speaker 1: I hope you enjoyed that. It was good. It's interesting. 869 00:49:58,800 --> 00:50:01,799 Speaker 1: He's a very nice man and very interesting perspective and 870 00:50:02,120 --> 00:50:05,400 Speaker 1: some really thoughtful commentary on how he's grown as a 871 00:50:05,440 --> 00:50:09,120 Speaker 1: person and how he helps young men mature as as people. 872 00:50:09,560 --> 00:50:12,640 Speaker 1: And then the consistency of Tony Bennett. That one really 873 00:50:12,719 --> 00:50:14,879 Speaker 1: jumped out of me. Right, He's just consistent, everyday guy. 874 00:50:15,520 --> 00:50:17,399 Speaker 1: You can listen to The Doug gotlib Show daily three 875 00:50:17,520 --> 00:50:20,440 Speaker 1: six Eastern, twelve three Pacific. There's consistency for you on 876 00:50:20,480 --> 00:50:23,040 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Trader, the I Heart Radio app. We got 877 00:50:23,040 --> 00:50:25,360 Speaker 1: more pods coming. You go back and you listen to 878 00:50:25,360 --> 00:50:27,320 Speaker 1: some of the old ones. Justin Bean at Utah State, 879 00:50:27,680 --> 00:50:30,600 Speaker 1: Ryan Odum of course, UNBC we have tons of him. 880 00:50:30,600 --> 00:50:33,160 Speaker 1: You go back. Steve prom join me. I know he 881 00:50:33,239 --> 00:50:36,120 Speaker 1: just lost his job. There's some really really good ones. Anyway, 882 00:50:36,160 --> 00:50:38,920 Speaker 1: I'm Doug Gottlieb. Thanks so much for listening. This is 883 00:50:38,960 --> 00:50:39,319 Speaker 1: all ball