A conversation with Coach Keenan McMiller

People enter the ranks of various professions for a variety of reasons, be it money, status, a desire to help, the fulfillment derived from the tasks involved, financial security -- you name it.

Not surprisingly, it's the same with coaching. Deciding on that occupation is usually a multiple factor determination. The duties generally involve instructing, educating and sometimes mentoring. Collegiately, whether at the two or four-year level, it's a multi-faceted litany of duties that sometimes emulates playing the role of priest, cop, parent as well as teacher and yes, recruiter.

Keenan McMiller is in his initial season as the head coach of the Merritt College Thunderbirds, this after his tenure as an assistant.

How does he view the position?

"As a coach, I have put myself in a position to serve. It requires studying the guys and putting them on a path. My most important role is developing teenagers into young men by putting in structures for being accountable. That's the overall and constant message of our program. I tell them 'yes, you're a basketball player but a person first.' Basketball is just like life. There are real life consequences and it's a matter of learning how to grow.

We hold them accountable to the things we have agreed upon, not necessarily basketball related but certainly also skill development, weight training and conditioning.

It's a building of relationships and thankfully, unlike football, it's only 12 individuals.

But there are many other people with which I need to build an alliance. I'm constantly contacted by four-year coaches looking for players. It's important for me to develop relationships with the President and Vice President of my college and the counselors. I'm trying to get to know everyone in the organization so it can better help my players."

So what about recruiting, the lifeblood to being a program that wins more games than it loses?

"The first thing I do is look at the various lists that go out just to see a barometer [on players.] I then attend quality tournaments and go see quality games where there is the pressure to play.

I talk to high school, AAU and four-year coaches at all levels. I also talk with west coast, northern and southern California recruiters and scouts -- all opinions are important.

We have to look at under-the-radar guys who will be happy to be at a JC. It's important to learn the behind the scenes stuff like what they and their family are looking to do and can I get in the top two or three? Then I jump on it.

All coaches should love the process of going out and looking at prospects and visiting schools and homes but some just want to coach.

It's critical to evaluate the person and not just the ability level. You have to weigh all of it -- how they will help and hurt the team -- or you won't be constantly successful.   

I feel to win at this level you need a couple or three DI players each year and the rest of your team will need to be high level DII or NAIA.

Also, academics are key for all student-athletes in all of my final evaluations and decisions."

So what about watching a kid you have heard good things about and he has a bad game as all players experience?

"You take into account a lot of factors. What were the shots he took? Did he have an effect on the defensive end or in other ways? What was his decisionmaking like? I may ask other coaches how someone did when they played him."

There you have it from Thunderbird Land.