You missed out hearing Coach Smart talking

V

vcudesign

Joined
May 2, 2009
Posts
142
Likes
84
I just got back from the GRCC Hype Event where Coach Smart gave an inspiring talk. I so pump about our coach and the team more then ever. Here are a few points that I stood out for me:

1: His interest goes much deeper then basketball, his college days shaped him dearly.

I could tell he is in the coaching profession for the right reasons. For him, it is not about casing after final 4's and what not. It is about "teaching" young adults to be better people. As an adjunct professor at VCU I loved hearing that!

2: He was a team caption during his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th seasons of his college career.

3: He found out that he got the VCU job through Fox News as he was making the trip to Richmond for the 2nd interview.

4: Recruiting is the easy part in his job (Developing relationships with players and their families)

5: Examining players skills can be hard.

6: Spoke about how some recruits expressed the concern of him leaving. He made it very clear he is staying for a long time.

7: He has a personal goal of breaking VCU's record for most career wins.

8: Spoke of the recruit from Ohio (not by name) and the kind of things he said to him to convince him VCU is the best school on his recruiting list. He is surprise that this kid ( forgot his name) is not going to a bigger school. Coach believes it has to do with the talent of his high school team. Nevertheless the kids really likes VCU and coaching staff is really excited about his skills.

9: Spoke about Larry Sandars, he can play at the highest level: UNC, Duke, etc. Two years he couldn't play at the highest level. Larry's and Eric development shows recruits that its better to go a school like VCU rather then to a high major.

10: Wants to get involve with other parts of the university. MCV is a big plus!

11: I could tell that Coach Smart is all about detail, detail, detail.

12: He has a 31 page recruiting philosophy!!!!!! I kid you not!
 
Thanks for the recap

I wonder if the recruit from OH is Rob Brandenberg
 
Thank you for putting this info together for us. Every thing I have read about Coach Smart has sounded so impressive that my biggest concern has been that he might only stick around 2 or 3 years if successful since that is the path his career has followed to this date. Assuming that he is sincere and it is not just coach speak #6 and #7 make me feel a lot better about this. VCU is a successful program, but with players only staying for 4 years and some coaches not even sticking around that long Coach Smart has the opportunity to benefit from the past success and become the permanent face of an already successful program. The VCU record for career wins by a coach is 136 held by Sonny Smith. Even if he had highly successful seasons averaging 25 wins a year this would mean that he is planning on sticking around for at least 6 seasons. What a great thing that would be for VCU basketball.
 
I wish he had said his goals were the record for most NCAA appearances, most NCAA tournament wins, and going deepest in the tourament.
 
Mistachill said:
I wish he had said his goals were the record for most NCAA appearances, most NCAA tournament wins, and going deepest in the tourament.
Click to expand...
Well I am sure he would like to do all of that as well. Wins get you in the tourney, a winning team is also more likely to win in the tourney, and winning in the tourney advances you in the tourney. I would say the first coach to get VCU into the sweet 16 would be a huge accomplishment. Coach Smart seems to have brushed up on his VCU history. I am sure he knows that has never been done here and what a big deal it would be.
 
VCU Finance 2008 said:
Thank you for putting this info together for us. Every thing I have read about Coach Smart has sounded so impressive that my biggest concern has been that he might only stick around 2 or 3 years if successful since that is the path his career has followed to this date. Assuming that he is sincere and it is not just coach speak #6 and #7 make me feel a lot better about this. VCU is a successful program, but with players only staying for 4 years and some coaches not even sticking around that long Coach Smart has the opportunity to benefit from the past success and become the permanent face of an already successful program. The VCU record for career wins by a coach is 136 held by Sonny Smith. Even if he had highly successful seasons averaging 25 wins a year this would mean that he is planning on sticking around for at least 6 seasons. What a great thing that would be for VCU basketball.
Click to expand...

He talked about he had to moved his wife to school to school in the last few years and wants to put some roots here in Richmond. He also mentioned about wanting the program to be at a level where it can go to a sweet 16.
 
Earlier this summer when I briefly met Coach Smart I couldn't believe the energy he exudes. When you shake his hand it's like a jolt of energy. I know many of you will feel the same way.

Of course I felt the same way about Mike Pollio. :?
 
Seriously who wouldn't want that guy as a coach/mentor. From everything I hear he is a really special kind of person who cares about making these kids successful on and off the court. When I look back on some of the most influential people in my life, my high school soccer coach stands out among the best. I wouldn't trade those years for anything in terms of my own development as a team member or as an individual. I'm sure that's true for a lot of athletes. I want to see good competative basketball as much as anybody but its all the better knowing that VCU is committed to the success of their student athletes.
 
stormstanley1.jpg


Stanley has a little Shia Lebouf thing going on(even stevens days)
 
ramathon74 said:
As long as he doesn't have a Jim Turns thing going on. :lol:
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking. At least he has more weight on him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top