How Much Is Too Much

For a long period of time, I have always wondered why NCAA college basketball teams need so many darn assistant coaches.

I watch some teams and it almost seems at times there is more men in suits on the bench than there are substitutes.

By NCAA rules teams are allowed, one head coach, three assistants and a director of basketball operations, whose scope in limited as to the duties.

Without question the hardest job in college basketball is an assistant coaching position. There just in my mind is too many assistant coaches on each team.

Assistant coaches are woefully UNDERPAID, they work long hours, they are constantly studying videotape, running practices in many cases, making sure all the redshirts are doing what they need to do to get better, recruiting and making sure that 18-22 year old young men are staying out of trouble, going to class and conducting their lives in a manner that their parents, the school and community can be proud. Not even close to being a cake walk job in these times.

Some assistant coaches might read this column and be irritated with myself about saying there are too many assistant coaches. I can understand that as they need to stick up for their profession and they should do just that.

I actually am writing this out of respect for every assistant coach and I actually want to get you the money your more than deserve. One way to do that, without raising the budget, is to eliminate one assistant coaching position and take that money and give it to the two remaining assistants. I will never be convinced that a team needs three assistants and a director of basketball operations. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Two of the greatest coaches in the history of the NBA won championships with only one assistant coach. The 1977 champion Portland team won the title with Jack Ramsay and Jack McKinney as its only two coaches. Going a little further north, in 1979 Lenny Wilkens won the championship with only one man at his side, Les Habegger.

I am not saying we have to go back to 1979, but basketball is basketball, good coaches win and bad coaches get fired.

I want assistant coaches to make more money, I have so much respect for the job they do and seldom get any credit for their work, I just want to see less, so you all can make more.

emails to crawscorner@gmail.com