| I’ve coached basketball now for quite a few years (14), seeing graduating classes come and go. Looking back at these players as 3rd through 8th graders, I noticed that many coaches including myself, assigned them a position because of their height and size. In the past few years I have come to the realization that this is a injustice to these young players. Many players may be big for their age group and get stuck in the center position for many of their early developmental years, never getting the opportunity to develop their ball handling skills such as, learning how to bring the ball up the floor or shooting from the outside. With their back to the basket most of the time. They can’t develop into a complete player as they get ready to enter the high school level. These players may not always be the tallest or biggest player as they enter high school. This injustice is not as devastating to a player that has played the guard position most of his early years then had a tremendous growing spurt before or during his high school career. A good example is Kasey, my son, Who grew 3”+ each summer and now is 6’ 5” as a senior in high school playing the point guard position and can move to any position on the floor if needed. After reviewing all the different offenses, sets & trick plays I was using, I realized I needed to totally change my whole way of thinking (philosophy). Sure we were pretty successful as a team. Always a winning season, (mostly because of being a defensive minded coach) but I had to ask myself the questions, was I developing the total package? Did they enter high school ready to play at that level? Was I developing good (great) high school players? Were any of these players going to have the opportunity to move on to the next level and play College basketball. My answer was NO! I needed to become a better coach! I called my high school coach, who happens to be my father. A coach that taught players for 20 years in the great basketball state of Indiana. I asked him how he became so successful as a coach, developing many great college players. He told me he learned from his coaches and listening to other coaches throughout the years. Arad McCuthin University of Evansville, a legend in southern Indiana, listening to John Wooden at camps and coaching seminars, just to name a few of the all time greatest. He told me the bottom line was to teach the fundamentals of the game and develop your own philosophies based off other coaching ideas and successful programs. This was a great start in developing my program and led to many other questions. My job was to find out what the answers where. I’ve always viewed myself as having an open mind to what other coaches were doing. I think I read everything the internet could offer. I talked with every coach I came in contact with. I was getting the answers. I was implementing them in practices. But there was still one thing missing. What offense would best be suited for my new philosophy - program? It wasn’t until the summer Kasey, Andy Gardineer (now a college player) & myself attended the Kansas University Summer Camp and I got the opportunity to talk with Roy Williams (1 1/2 recorded on my video camera). I discussed with him how I was striving to become a better coach. I told him everything I was doing different. I told him I needed an offense to teach these young players. He said the biggest thing lacking in high school players is fundamentals. It’s a lost art. Many players coming into college have very weak fundamentals. Coach Williams directed me to watch what his coaches were teaching the campers. It was a basic motion offense. Screening, moving without the ball, setting back picks, making strong passes. Fundamentals! Keep it basic. Execute! He said this is what’s lacking in today’s game. Teach the fundamentals and hard work. In return you’ll reach your coaching goals. I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about coaching. I couldn’t wait to get back to the gym. This experience was the greatest experience in my coaching career. I’ll always admire Coach Williams for the time he spent with me, a youth basketball coach. As we attend various games & tournaments throughout or community we are always complemented on our players fundamentals. We are winning more games. We’re winning the big games against the much bigger schools. The following pages are the breakdown of the Kansas Offense. Over the years I’ve added basic fundamental movements to the offense. It is taught at all levels, 3rd grade through high school. |
| The History and Development |