with Dan D'Antoni,
Marshall University Head Coach;
2018 Conference USA Tournament champions;
2019 CIT Champions;
led Marshall to the school's first NCAA Tournament (2018) since 1987;
former Assistant Coach (for brother Mike D'Antoni) with the Phoenix Suns, NY Knicks, and the Los Angeles Lakers;
played for the Thundering Herd (point guard);
was inducted into the Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990
Marshall University's Dan D'Antoni takes a deep dive into the philosophy behind player development.
Player Development Philosophies
Among the tenets Coach D'Antoni preaches are a dedication to recruiting character kids and a zealous belief in the capabilities of his players. He goes over how to set a standard of excellence by working on a wide variety of basketball skills and holding players accountable for not settling for wanting to be average.
Among the important factors Coach D'Antoni believes contribute to player development are:
- Being a positive coach
- Refusing to pigeonhole players into predetermined roles
- Teaching beyond fundamentals
- A rigorous dedication to strength and conditioning
Development Drills
After an extensive discussion about the philosophy behind player development, D'Antoni illustrates a variety of drills to help players expand their talents. Starting with warm-ups, players are challenged to step outside their comfort zone with a variety of challenging finishes at the rim.
The pick & roll serves as the basis for the brand of positionless basketball that comprises the trademark D'Antoni offensive style. His breakdown of how to teach the pick & roll starts with a two-man demonstration and quickly moves to include movement by players off the ball.
Throughout the discussion, Coach D'Antoni pays meticulous attention to attack angles, proper roll technique and how to continue the offense after the initial pick & roll attack.
Drills utilizing the pick & roll attack start with a half-court set. However, after going through a complete progression, Coach D'Antoni shows how to incorporate the pick & roll into the transition game.
This video highlights how a great offensive mind thinks about holistically improving player performance while demanding a high level of character and effort. For coaches looking to add some new wrinkles to the development of their own players, this video is both challenging and informative.
74 minutes. 2019.