Pat Skerry 2014 NABC Final Four Coaching Clinic Notes by Wes Kosel

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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Basketball Coaching | Basketball Coaching Clinic Notes

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May 21, 2014

Pat Skerry 2014 NABC Final Four Coaching Clinic Notes by Wes Kosel

Attached are notes on Pat Skerry’s practice philosophy as well as a sample practice plan. I took these Pat Skerry 2014 NABC Final Four Coaching Clinic Notes in Dallas at the Final Four Convention. Pat Skerry is the head coach for the Towson Tigers of the Colonial Athletic Association. In Skerry’s first year at Towson, the Tigers posted a 1-31 record. Coach Skerry turned the program around leading the Tigers to 18 wins in 2012-2013 and 25 wins in 2013-2014. Skerry came to Towson after serving as an assistant at several programs including Pittsburgh, Providence, and Rhode Island. In all, he has been at 8 programs as an assistant coach, including his alma mater Tufts University. A 4-year player at Tufts, Skerry set the school record for career assists and single-season assists.

In the Pat Skerry 2014 NABC Final Four Coaching Clinic Notes, he describes his practice philosophy including:
• Initial Thoughts
• Basic Practice Philosophy

Same practice every day

• What do you Control?

Lifting, film, shooting, tone, language, etc.

• Coaching Language

How does your team/coaches communicate?

• Sample Practice Plan

Pre-Practice
Stretch/Huddle
Ball handling/passing
Open Court Work
Offensive Skill Work
Defensive Skill Work
Skeleton Defense
Rebounding + Drills
Transition Defense + Drills
Free-Throws
Shell Defense

“Kills”

Free-Throws
Man Offense Execution
Zone Offense Execution
Film

• Practice Ideas
• Shell Defense Guidelines
• Offensive Thoughts

Sets vs. Motion
Terminology

Also included is a rebounding drill used by Coach Skerry. The drill has four defenders circling in the lane and four offensive players on the perimeter. As the coach shoots the ball, the defenders have to box out and secure the rebound. Skerry uses a “Red Zone” to highlight the area of the floor that he wants to keep the offense out of. In his shell drill, Skerry challenges his defense to keep the ball out of the kill zone for the duration of the shot clock.

Wes Kosel is an assistant coach for men’s basketball under Head Coach Doug Novak at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Kosel joined the staff at Bethel after serving two seasons at Texas Lutheran University and one season at Haskell Indian Nations University. Kosel has an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from the University of Kansas, and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Houston. The Bartlesville, OK native is also a NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and taught weight training and aerobic fitness courses while coaching at Texas Lutheran. He has coached AAU programs, volunteered with elementary and middle school basketball teams, and has worked basketball camps for various programs including the Houston Rockets, University of Houston, Texas State, and Texas A&M Corpus Christi.