Jim Harrick Jr.

By Allyson Turner

Jim Harrick Jr. played for his father at Pepperdine University from 1983-87 and last summer joined the staff at Rhode Island as an assistant to Harrick Sr.

As an assistant coach for Homer Drew at Valparaiso, Harrick Jr. was part of the magical team that shocked the nation in last year's tournament when it made it to the "Sweet 16." Valparaiso would eventually lose to Rhode Island in a game where Harrick Sr. and Jr. faced each other for the first time on opposite benches. During Harrick Jr.'s tenure at Valparaiso, the Crusaders won two Mid-Continent Conference regular season and tournament championships and made two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Although it was a disappointing season for Rhode Island (20-10 overall, 10-6 in the Atlantic 10), a victory in the conference tournament gave the Rams an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament. Led by Lamar Odom, the Rams are seeded No. 12 in the Midwest and face No. 5 UNC Charlotte Friday in the first round.

 

Like father, like son maybe, but Jim Harrick Sr. and Jr, have a tough task in the first round against UNC Charlotte. (Allsport)

Which coach do you most admire, past or present?
John Wooden. Everything in today's world is so complex and what he accomplished in his time is unbelievable. I try to model everything based on what his program was about. There are several coaches that I admire that I've watched and they include Mike Brey from Delaware, Tom Penders from GW, Tom Asbury from Kansas State, Lon Kruger from Illinois and James Dickey from Texas Tech.

What did you learn from Homer Drew?
Homer had great rapport about his coaching philosophy. He was very well drilled on what he wanted out of his players, out of his staff, his program. He was the most positive guy through the most adverse situations I've ever been around in my life. He did a tremendous job of always getting his guys to play well and he gets a lot out of his team. He's just a great human being to be around.

What did you learn from Jim Harrick?
It's been different. He's got a different philosophy in the fact that he's done it his way for so long. He's got it in his mind of what he wants to do, when he wants to do it. So as assistant under him, it's a little bit different when you suggest things. Plus, I feel a lot more pressure here being his son. They've jumped through hoops to get me here. You're looked at under the microscope and if we didn't win, it's the first year that I've been with him, and how does that reflect? To me, he is one of the best game coaches I've ever been around.

What was the best piece of advice you were given?
You have to have patience with young kids and that was from Jim Sr. and Homer Drew.

What do you try to pass along to your student-athletes?
Try to have great character and a full college experience while you're here. Get out and mingle with other students and don't just be a basketball player.

Is Lamar Odom the best player you've coached?
Without a doubt. He is unbelievable.

What are your expectations against this UNC Charlotte team?
We are playing a very good team. They've got a great guard in Diego Guevara, a great talented wing player in GalenYoung, an unbelievable quick forward in Kelvin Price. We're just gonna do the best we can and try to come out and be in a position to win in the last five minutes of the game.

Who was the toughest player you faced?
John Stockton when he was at Gonzaga and I was at Pepperdine and Rod Strickland.

When you played against them did you think they would have the careers they've had?
I had no idea that they were as good as they were gonna be. Sometimes you get blinded by what's in front of you because you can never see what's ahead.

What is your pet-peeve?
Players who don't come to the gym everyday to work hard.

Before a game, what do you always do?
I like to have a 30-minute workout.

What is the best part about being a coach?
The highs and lows of being around young people.

What is the worst?
The pressure that builds when losing.

If you could change one aspect of college basketball, what would you change?
The NCAA Rule Book. I would make the book not as detailed.

If you weren't a coach, which profession would you have chosen?
I would be in the television, movie industry in Hollywood. My major in college was television, film production.

If you could have anyone over to your house for dinner, whom would you invite?
John Wooden.

What is a perfect day?
Waking up with a cup of coffee and the sports page. Having a three-hour workout. Seeing basketball in the afternoon and evening. A nice Italian dinner with a beautiful woman.