When you think of Rick Majerus, "quotable" comes to mind. But under the surface humor, a substantial man lived. His father, a labor leader, took him to Selma as a teen for a Civil Rights march that left a profound influence upon him.
While coaching at Utah, Majerus's teams won ten league titles and reached an NCAA championship game. He also enjoyed a prolific broadcasting career.
While attending Marquette, he got his first coaching job, coaching eighth graders...so he started at the bottom, although also serving as a student assistant at Marquette.
SI.com shared insights:
- You must want it as much as he does.
- Lock your eyes on the man when he speaks.
- If Coach calls your name? Run—never walk—and stand in front of him, eyes wide, like a puppy panting for a treat.
- You must know who you are as a player.
He was hard to play for. "Of the 80 recruits Majerus signed with the Utes, only 33 survived to play as seniors." He was lovable...and hated...funny and crude.
On a bus in Kenya, he asked a woman what people were saying. "They're saying there's a big rich American on this bus, and you're so fat that you're taking up a lot of space!"
Majerus was a menotr of Porter Moser of Loyola Chicago. "Moser said Majerus taught him how to pay closer attention to detail." He adds, "We’ve got to pride ourselves on development and the little things of the game. Coach Majerus had a great line: ‘It’s more important for me to teach you how to play than to teach you plays.’”
Coaching Notes (Highlights):
- Halfcourt Offense – try to create a 6 on 5 game with 2 3 on 3 games going on at the same time
- Switching picks – talk it, touch it, switch it; Use only two key words: 1. switch 2. stay
- The best way to defend the post is to keep it out of the post
- Receiving a screen
The closer the screener is to you, the deeper you must take your defender to set him up - Help side defense
1. Nobody cuts below you to the rim
2. Nobody crosses your face without a bump - Pass to corner for only two reasons
1. feed the post
2. shot
Majerus on Triangle and Two
He died young a 64 with heart failure and had a septuple bypass far younger. "I'm a big barbecue guy." He would have agreed with my Navy mentor, "I am your mentor and your tormentor."
Lagniappe. We model excellence.
Lagniappe 2. More Majerus ideas.
- Foul Shots – All great shooters know their exact FT%; all bad ones preface with “about”
- Show your team films of the pros – they do it a lot better than you can demonstrate it.
- To judge a player’s hands
a. Soft on catch
b. Strong after catch
c. Touch - Great shooters miss long off the back of the rim.
Lagniappe 3. I say, "show me an overnight success and I'll show you a long night."
