Climbing in the Sunshine State

I spoke with Peter Gash, a first year assistant at Florida Atlantic after being promoted from Director of Operations.  Gash has worked his way up from starting as a manager at Lynn University and to the Graduate Assistant position at Indiana University.


AHT: First, congrats on the promotion to 3rd assistant.  Tell me about coming from Indiana and what steps you took getting this position.


Gash: I learned so much from my time at Indiana I felt like I was given the tools by the coaches there to jump into my next job with both feet. Before coming to Florida Atlantic I had a relationship with Tim Kaine and Mike Jarvis II from working the Duke Basketball camp. I stayed persistent with Coach Jarvis II and Coach Kaine when trying to land a spot on Coach Jarvis's Staff. They were the ones who really helped me come to Florida Atlantic. 

AHT: What would you say is your coaching style, are you a run-and-gun guy or do you have a lock down, defense first mentality?  What coach would you say you try to learn from the most?


Gash: I believe that I'm very much into the defensive aspect of basketball. Coach Jarvis's teams had always been known for their intense defense. The common theme between all the best teams that I have worked for is our ability to defend. I have learned the most form Coach Jarvis, he has done so much for me in terms of seeing the game and teaching the game, what separates him for, any other coach is his ability to teach the game.

AHT: How is it working for such a legendary coach, what have you learned most?


Gash: It has really been an honor to work for Coach Jarvis. When I was younger I used play basketball in the drive way at my house and pretend I played for Coach Jarvis at St. Johns, now I have the opportunity to work for him. Not every day you can go into the office feel like you're at a clinic, and working for Coach it's just like you are.  


More than anything, I have learned from Coach how to "slow down" and teach the game.  Coach Jarvis will make sure that every little detail in done right before we move to the next drill, there is nothing that gets by Coach so you have to on point with every detail. I have also learned how to listen - Coach makes sure that as an assistant you listen and you make listening a talent. 

AHT: What type of guys are you recruiting, more specifically, what are you looking for in a player?


Gash: We go by one philosophy at Florida Atlantic; We recruit "Character not Characters". No matter how talented of a player someone is we make sure they have tremendous character.  As far as basketball skills, we really look for guys with upside, guys who can thrive in our program and really develop each year.


Thanks so much to Pete for taking his time and I hope to see good things out of the Owls this season.

Opening Day

It's finally here.  The "start" of the college basketball season is tonight at midnight, even though it never really ended.  It has become a year-round sport, not just from October 15th to the first week of April.

A week after a team gets knocked out the NCAA Tournament, there's a good chance they're back in the gym having individuals.  It's amazing how the role of a player can change so drastically within only a couple of days - no longer being a freshman, becoming an upperclassman, or all of a sudden having a huge role as a senior leader.  Summer workouts, pick-up games, and shooting on the gun for countless hours keeps players busy at all times, not just between October and March.

Practice or party?  Coaches have to weigh the pros and cons of focusing on having practice versus having a party with 18,000 of your closest friends.  Activities include dunk lines, laughing, and rap music (maybe a celebrity or two - ask Coach Cal).  Practice obviously is best for the team, but a Midnight Madness builds support and momentum with the fans heading into the season.  Furthermore, the players have already been going at it hard for weeks with workouts that maybe they need a break mentally, even if it is only for an hour and a half.

All I know is that it's starting to cool and that means that tipoff is only a couple weeks away.  Good luck to all the teams and I hope these young men stay free from injury as much as possible.

My preseason pick - The Tar Heels of North Carolina