5-ON-5 WITH GEORGE MASON'S JIM LARRANAGA                                                                                                      >>> CollegeInsider.com

DAVE MAGARITY: You have played for and coached with a lot of tremendous coaches. Who has had the greatest effect on your style of coaching?

JIM LARRANAGA: I had the great honor of playing for Jack Curran at Archbishop Molloy High School. I learned more about the fundamentals of the game and teaching from him than anyone else I’ve ever been around. Mr. Curran was my inspiration and role model. He is the reason I got into coaching. He was always there for his players. He has had a tremendous influence on me and I hope in some way I reflect his coaching philosophy.

I also had the great privilege of playing for Joe Mullaney and Dave Gavitt at Providence, two great coaches. Each of them has had an impact on my coaching career. Coach Gavitt, in particular, has helped me in all aspects of the business. He was the founder of the Big East Conference because he thought like an entrepreneur. He was never satisfied with status quo. He always pushed the envelope. He was highly skilled in all areas of the business. Observing him was like watching a master craftsman.

I also learned a lot about the business from Terry Holland. I was an assistant under Coach Holland for ten years both at Davidson and Virginia. Our family approach at George Mason University is a direct result of observing Coach Holland open up his home to his players and coaches throughout his career. For this I will be forever grateful.

I have had many great assistants. All of them make me proud. I follow their careers very closely. They have all made major contributions to my coaching style. These guys include:

Marc Iavaroni – Assistant Coach, Phoenix Suns

Jim Powell – Assistant Coach Indiana Pacers

Brian Ellerbe – Former Head Coach, University of Michigan

Ricky Stokes – Former Head Coach, Virginia Tech now at South Carolina

eff Schneider – Former Head Coach, Cal Poly, now a Talent Scout

Steve Merfeld – Head Coach, University of Evansville

Anthony Solomon – Head Coach, St. Bonaventure

Stan Heath – Head Coach, Arkansas

Jerry Francis – Head Coach, Prairie View

Mike Gillian – Head Coach, Longwood University

Reggie Rankin – Assistant Coach, University of Nebraska

Jamie Kachmarik – Assistant Coach, Coastal Carolina

Keith Noftz – Assistant Coach, University of Evansville

Jamie Angeli – Former Assistant Coach, UCLA

Bill Courtney – Assistant Coach, George Mason University

Scott Cherry – Assistant Coach, George Mason University

Eric Konkol – Assistant Coach, George Mason University

Chris Caputo – Assistant Coach, George Mason University

Derek Kellogg – Assistant Coach, Memphis University

Most of these coaches got their start with me at Bowling Green. They helped me develop my style and philosophy. Many of them have enjoyed success at other schools. I follow their careers closely. I feel in some way a part of their success. I hope they feel the same way. Each of these men has had a tremendous impact on my coaching career, but Coach Curran is the one with the greatest influence.

MAGARITY: You spent one year as a player/coach in Belgium. What was that experience like?

LARRANAGA: It was Heaven and Hell all rolled into one. When you think of pro-ball you think of the NBA and Europe. Big Time Pro ball! Over twenty-five years ago when I was there it was anything but a glamorous experience. I coached seven different teams and played for a very mediocre pro team. I made very little money and struggled with the life style. We lived in a small apartment that the year before was a paint store. My car needed more oil than gas. I was married with a child and the best part about it was spending a lot of time with my wife and my son, Jay, who was 2 years old. It was difficult coaching players older than me. They didn’t want to listen. All they wanted to do was drink and party. (Kind of like college kids). But when I look back on it, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

MAGARITY: You are regarded as a player’s coach. How often do you keep in contact with your former players?

LARRANAGA: I try to stay in touch regularly with as many of my former players as possible. I love hearing from them and I try to speak with them or e-mail them on a regular basis. Last year I visited my son, Jay, who is playing in Spain. On that trip I went to dinner with two of my former players, Anthony Stacey and Javier Crespo, who were playing in Spain, too. It was great fun talking about old times. I just finished speaking to another one of my former players, Floyd Miller, who played for me ten years ago at Bowling Green. He is now playing pro-ball in France and has been for the last eight years. It’s great to hear from former players and know that they now are married with children and that their kids are driving them nuts just like they did me!!! I also have a growing number of former players who are now coaching.

MAGARITY: In six years at George Mason you have made GMU a perennial power in the CAA. What have been the keys to your continued success?

LARRANAGA: I have had the luxury of having some terrific players and assistant coaches to help me build our program. We have great facilities and a beautiful campus. Our geographical location is ideal for recruiting up and down the east coast, as well as overseas. We’ve also had great support from our administration. Nothing can be accomplished without the support of your superiors. At George Mason, our administration is first class. Tom O’Connor, our AD, is a former Division 1 head coach and has a great feel for everything going on in college basketball. He is always one step ahead of the curve. Whenever I go to him he is always willing to help. We are also blessed with a great President. Dr. Alan Merten is truly an inspirational leader and is very supportive of all of our athletic teams.

MAGARITY: Bruiser Flint seems to think that he is in a class of the CAA when it comes to style. Who are the most fashionable guys in your league?

LARRANAGA: I thought Sherman Dillard, JMU, was in a league all by himself until Bruiser took the job at Drexel. Now it seems those two are fighting it out at the top. However, I must admit the other coaches in our league are pretty fashionable, too. They must be making big bucks to be wearing the designer threads they do.

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