Jim Baron Canisius Transition Drills

Written by Wes Kosel

Wes Kosel will enter his first season as an Assistant Coach at Augustana University under Tom Billeter in 2016-2017. Kosel came to Sioux Falls after two season at Colorado College as the lead assistant. Kosel, a native of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, served as an assistant coach at Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Texas Lutheran University from 2012-2014. Kosel graduated from the University of Kansas in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. He also has a master’s degree in physical education from the University of Houston. While attending Kansas, Kosel served as an assistant coach at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. A life-long student of the game, Kosel honed his coaching skills by working summer camps for various programs in Texas, Colorado, Missouri, and New Mexico. Kosel also is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a Certified Personal Trainer, both of which are certifications earned through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Kosel and his wife, Molly, live in Colorado Springs.

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Basketball Drills

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September 12, 2016

Jim Baron Canisius Transition Drills by Wes Kosel

Here are two drills from former Canisius Head Coach Jim Baron. The drills were shown at the NABC Convention in Houston, TX this past spring. Coach Baron, who was awarded the NABC International Lifetime Achivement Award while at the convention, retired from his position at Canisius later in the spring. Baron was a head coach for 29 years and won 462 games in his career. He spent time coaching at Saint Francis (PA), St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island, and Canisius. He played at St. Bonaventure in the 1970’s and began his coaching career as an assistant at Rochester. He also spent time as an assistant at Loyola (MD), St. Bonaventure, and Notre Dame before being a head coach. Baron was an assistant at Notre Dame under Coach Digger Phelps and helped the Fighting Irish make the NCAA Tournament in three straight seasons.

Jim Baron Transition Drills

These drills were presented at the convention and display how Coach Baron liked his teams to play. He encouraged fast-paced action and tough defense.

4 on 3 T&A

This is a transition drill common with a lot of high school and college basketball coaches. The offensive players (x1-x4) line up on the baseline and the defensive players (1-4) line up across the free throw line. The coach will pass to one of the offensive players and the drill starts with the offense running up the floor with the defense getting back. The defender guarding the player who catches the ball has to run and touch the baseline before getting back. This causes a disadvantage for the defense.

3 on 2/2 on 1

Coach Baron wants his players to score quickly in this drill and not to take too much time allowing the defense to get back. It starts with a 3 on 2 and transition into a 2 on 1.