Plus, calling out Kevin Cunningham
Here’s a novel approach to coaching a Division 1 sports team.
You’ll insist on your players getting an education whether they are poor or wealthy, came from a broken home or Primrose Lane or they’re an All-American or the last guy or gal on the team.
You’ll insist your players practice hard, often at 5 a.m., and you’ll make sure they study hard, often late into the evening.
You’ll coach hard, and you’ll demand that your team play in the same fashion.
This was the coaching philosphy of John Chaney at Temple University.
Chaney has 741 wins as a college coach, including a 516-252 record at Temple, where he won seven Atlantic 10 conference titles. His school is in a rough part of town. Many of his players came from frightening backgrounds. Chaney couldn’t often recruit high school All-Americans for many reasons including the fact that many players knew how much would be damanded of them.
Yet, only Bob Knight, Eddie Sutton, Lute Olson, and Mike Krzyzewski are the active coaches with more career victories.
“The most important thing I did was help many poor kids get an education. This university allowed me to do this and I pray that it will continue to do so,” a teary eyed Chaney said during a Monday press conference.
Chaney didn’t mention the wins or the success. He spoke mostly of his former players and the opportunity the university had given them – and himself.
“They got a chance to reach out and educate themselves,” Chaney said.
Now, all was not rosey during Chaney’s years at Temple.
Who could forget the “I’ll kill you” tirade and rush for the podium where then UMASS coach John Calipari was conducting a post-game press conference in 1994.
Last year, Chaney admitted sending in “a goon” against Saint Joseph’s to throw some hard fouls at that teams roster. Chaney said he thought the Hawks were using illegal screens. St. Joe’s John Bryant, ended up with a broken arm after being knocked out of the air. Chaney later apologized and was suspended for five games.
While the actions were inexcusable, the fire that led Chaney to act the way he did was always based on his love for his team and his university.
If more coaches had this passion for players and their respective schools, the all-too frequent scandals that plague Division 1 athletics would draop dramatically.
Division 1 athletic directors should also remember that the next great coach is probably at a small school like Cheney State University where Chaney began his career. As Quin Snyder proved at Missouri, powerhouse schools don’t always produce powerhouse basketball minds or men with character. Chaney has both and he will be missed.
