In this high-pressure game of basketball, the head coach’s choice of assistant coaches is important. A good coaching staff produces good results. A sold and committed coaching staff can turn a less talented team into a champion. As a head coach, it is crucial that you have available criteria when selecting assistant coaches.
The following is a list of attributes that your assistant coaches should possess:
1. Loyal and honest.
2. Willingness to listen, observe and admit mistakes.
3. Open-minded and eager to learn from others.
4. Know the basketball program from A to Z.
5. Is preventive and anticipates problems before they occur.
6. Understand that no job is too small. He is a jack of all trades, from training to driving the bus.
7. Praise the head coach’s personality and strengths.
8. Relentless work ethic and desire to help the success of the program.
9. Goal-driven and works to constantly learn and improve.
10. You love to train for the right reasons; help each player grow and develop.
Good assistant coaches are an asset to the head coach and to the program as a whole. In programs that can hire only one assistant, choosing the right assistant is very important. Some assistant coaches want to be head coaches. Encourage your attendees to prepare for that big step while being the best attendees they can be.
To develop good assistants, the head coach must be willing to delegate and allow others to be responsible. During practice, a staff of 2-3 can cover practice much more effectively than just one. Position work, offense, defense, shooting, rebounding and transition are specialty areas that assistants can handle. If they’re not ready, use practice opportunities to help them build skills and confidence.
Use this list to evaluate your attendees on an ongoing basis. Give them responsibility and they will grow and develop as coaches. Remember, the better your assistants are, the more you can focus on important areas of the program that need your attention.