[paradox]

Ed left Memphis and John Calipari of his own volition because he wanted to combine his faith in Christ with his love for basketball. He returned to Indianapolis last year and started his own basketball camp. Ed would jump at the opportunity to be the head coach at Liberty.

ED SCHILLING

University of Memphis basketball coach John Calipari rekindled a longtime association with Ed Schilling, naming the former Wright State coach an assistant on the U of M staff earlier this year.

Schilling was a member of Calipari’s coaching staff at Massachusetts during the Minutemen’s 1996 run to the NCAA Final Four and a 35-2 record. When Calipari was named the vice president of basketball operations and basketball coach with the New Jersey Nets, Schilling joined him as an assistant with the NBA team. Schilling’s meteoric rise in the coaching profession was chronicled in Sports Illustrated as he became the only coach ever to advance from the high school coaching ranks to the Final Four and finally to the bench of an NBA team in a period of 310 days.

After one season with the Nets, Schilling returned to collegiate coaching as he was named the head coach at Wright State in 1997. At the time, he was the second youngest Division I head coach in the nation.

Over a six-year career at Wright State, the Raiders were 75-93. One of the biggest wins in Wright State history came Dec. 30, 1999, when during Schilling’s third season the Raiders defeated then, sixth-ranked Michigan State 53-49 in front of a near-capacity crowd in WSU’s Nutter Center. Many basketball analysts referred to the win as the most significant upset of the decade. Michigan State would go on to capture the NCAA Championship that year.

The following year Wright State began the season with a 9-1 record, the best Division I start in school history. The Raiders posted an 18-11 record and an 8-6 mark in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference and advanced to the semifinals of the MCC Tournament. He was named the 2001 MCC Coach of the Year by collegeinsider.com.

In 2002, Wright State knocked off 20th-ranked Butler on the road in Hinkle Fieldhouse, 90-87 in double overtime. The Raiders finished the season with a 17-11 mark. WSU was 10-18 this past season.

As a collegian, Schilling was a four-year starting point guard at Miami (Ohio). He was a two-time team captain and along with Ron Harper helped lead the school to a pair of NCAA Tournaments. He was a three-time academic all-conference selection and is still the single-game assist record holder in the Mid-American Conference and holds single game, season and career assists records at Miami.

Soon after graduating from Miami in 1988, Schilling was named the head coach at Western Boone High School in Thorntown, Indiana. He led Western Boone to a school record for most wins in a season during the 1990-91 season and after three seasons was named the head coach at Logansport (Indiana) High School. In arguably the most competitive prep conference in the nation, Logansport’s basketball program improved each of Schilling’s four seasons. In his final two seasons, Schilling’s teams won back-to-back sectional championships while compiling the most wins at Logansport in more than 20 wins.

And in addition to the experience Schilling quickly gained as a young high school coach, he also spent his summers learning more about the game at the famed Five-Star Basketball Camp in Pennsylvania. Schilling’s relationship with Five-Star Basketball Camp began as a camper while in high school. He continued his association with the camp as a college counselor during his playing days at Miami University. And after graduating from Miami and beginning his coaching career, he was a station master and head resident coach at Five-Star. He was inducted into the Five-Star Basketball Camp Hall of Fame in 2002.

Schilling is also the co-author of two books, Guard Play which was co-authored with Steve Alford and Five Star Basketball was written with Howard Garfinkel. He has also created several teaching videotapes including Playing the Point and Combination Defenses.

It was at Five-Star where Schilling began his relationship with John Calipari.

Schilling is involved in ministry work around the world with Champions for Christ. He and his wife Shawn are the parents of three children: daughters, Christiana and Natalie, and a son, Eddie.

[paradox]

I was impressed with Rob Lanier when he was the top assistant at Texas under Barnes before he got the Siena gig. He was a quality guy and an outstanding recruiter (I believe he signed TJ Ford among others if my memory is correct).

I agree Sly. Lanier is top notch and he's as close to Rocco-esque as it gets.

[Ed Dantes]

Bobby Knight uses Gods name alot?

I had argued that we should have hired him before they offered the job to Dunton. We still should.

[hurricane fan]

I don't know Ed Schilling from Adam but hey, we already have a building named after him.....that's a good start.

[Purple Haize]

Is it still named after him? Did we ever give him the money we owed him???
At any rate..........
OX - Part of me wants to say since YOU recommended him, he can 't be all that great I am neither a big fan of Barnes or Calipari, but he does have the "pedigree" that JB is looking for.
On that list I would like to see either the Air Force guy, b/c of the "style" they play, or the guy from Butler, because I am from Indiana. (Not because JM coached there as well, but what a SWEET story line THAT would be)

And has anyone asked these guys if they are looking for a pool/aquatic center for their home?

[bigsmooth]

mark phelps has interest and that is confirmed. why do you say it would not happen. he fits what JB wants, and he has a christian background.

[jcmanson]

I like the sound of that Schilling guy. I'm not too familiar with other team's assistants or d2 head coaches. I did think of Stephon Leary after JB's interview. I'm sure he'll get a look.

[givemethemic]

I was told that he wasn't interested from a guy who called him up and has had a long relationship with him

[Hold My Own]

Stephon would love to be here let's not pretend he wouldnt...he just isnt ready yet...in 5 years he'll be perfect

[bigsmooth]

GMTM, has our source changed up on us in regards to phelps?

[givemethemic]

Yes, I was told that he had no interest...

[BJWilliams]

Well maybe if there's enough money involved his "interest" will change...Just ask Nick Saban...

[paradox]

What about my man, Ed Schilling?



"What they are saying about Ed Schilling and the Champions Academy Staff..."
06/13/2006

"The best basketball skills trainer I have ever seen! Ed Schilling is incredible." -Eric Gordon, father of EJ Gordon, North Central High School basketball player

"Ed's approach is both friendly and demanding. My son's skills improved almost imeditately. Where else are you going to find collegiate and professional level coaching for the young player? Ed Schilling and his staff are the best basketball teachers I have ever seen." -Duane Sobecki, fahter of a 6th Grader at Hamilton Southeastern

"I've had the opportunity to work with Coach Schilling and let me tell you, his teaching is incredibly innovative and will help anybody take their game to another level." -Mike Miller, 5th pick in 1st round of 2000 NBA draft, NBA Rookie of the Year 2000-01, leading candidate for 2005-06 6th man of the year.

"One of the main reasons that I signed a two year guaranteed contract with the Grizzlies was because Coach Schilling got me ready for my NBA pre-draft workouts and camps. I was prepared and in shape because of his work with me." -Antonio Burks, guard, Memphis Grizzlies, CUSA Player of the Year 2004

"Ed Schilling is one of the best teachers in the game of basketball. I've hired him to be my assitant coach in charge of player development (among other duties) at UMASS, the NJ Nets and the University of Memphis. His ability to make players improve is the best that I have seen and his integrity is above reproach. Further, the staff he has put together at the Champions Academy is truly outstanding. Any individual that has opportunity to work with Ed and/or his staff would certainly go a long way toward maximizing their potential." -John Calipari, Head Coach, University of Memphis

[TDDance234]

I'm slowly beginning to get in the Phelps corner.. hopefully, his attitude towards coming here will change. He's from my neck of the woods and graduated from my old high school.

He would def. fit the bill but if these sources are saying he isn't coming, I trust them.

[paradox]

Can Barber afford to not take a serious look at Rob Lanier, when he is only 60 miles up the road in Charlottesville?

[jcmanson]

I hate having to be patient and wait to see who will coach. The anticipation kills me.

[bigsmooth]

here is lanier's bio. i guess it is a possibility. that is why this thread is here.

Rob Lanier is in his second year as an assistant coach in the University of Virginia men's basketball program. Lanier was the head coach at Siena College for four years before coming to Virginia.

During Lanier's four years as Siena's head coach, the Saints participated in one NCAA Tournament and one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). His four Siena teams compiled an overall record of 58-70.

Siena won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament Championship in 2002 to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Saints defeated Alcorn State in the NCAA Tournament opening round game before losing to eventual national champion Maryland.

During the 2002-03 season, Lanier led Siena to a 21-11 record and a third-place finish in the MAAC with a 12-6 record. The Saints earned a berth in the NIT where they defeated Big East Conference member Villanova in the opening round and Western Michigan in the first round before losing to Alabama-Birmingham in the second round. During the regular season, Siena beat Providence, another member of the Big East. It marked the first time in school history the Saints beat two Big East teams in the same season.

Prior to becoming the head coach at Siena, Lanier was an assistant coach at the University of Texas for two years (1999-2001). He was also an assistant coach at Rutgers University for two years (1997-99) and at St. Bonaventure University for five years (1992-97). He began his coaching career at Niagara University where he was a graduate assistant coach for one year and a restricted earnings assistant coach for one year.

"Having known and watched Rob for many years, I knew he would be a tremendous asset to our program," said Virginia head coach Dave Leitao. "As an assistant coach, he has recruited successfully on a national level and his contacts are valuable to us. He has head coaching experience that benefits us as we move the program forward. He also provides the type of relationships with our players that will help them grow and reach their goals both athletically and academically."

Lanier has coached and recruited many prominent players, including Maurice Evans (University of Texas/Los Angeles Lakers), T.J. Ford (University of Texas/Toronto Raptors), Royal Ivey (University of Texas/Atlanta Hawks), Dahntay Jones (Rutgers University/Memphis Grizzlies) and Chris Mihm (University of Texas/Los Angeles Lakers).

Lanier also has international coaching experience. He was head coach of teams comprised of collegiate players from the United States that competed in Greece in 1999 and 2000, Germany in 1998, Italy in 1996 and the Netherlands in 1995.

A native of Buffalo, N.Y., he earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from St. Bonaventure in 1990 and his master's degree in educational counseling from Niagara in 1993.

Lanier earned four letters in basketball at St. Bonaventure. He was a three-year starter for the Bonnies and was the team's captain as a senior.

Lanier and his wife, Dr. Dayo Lanier, have two children - a son and a daughter.

[jcmanson]

I also saw where Lanier was rumored to be in the running for a head coaching position last year this time, but turned it down. The article I read did not mention a name of the possible school.

[Cider Jim]

Smooth, you beat me to copying & pasting from the UVa website, but does anyone know his FAITH background?

[paradox]

He coaches basketball and goes to church.

[LUconn]

Church of Latter Day Saints?
Church of Satan?

[paradox]

easy, now.

[TDDance234]

He coaches basketball and goes to church.

Works for me.

[LUconn]

it was a joke. Church is very vauge. Or is it vague.

[jcmanson]

I think that statement was just a play on what Barber said in his interview.