Coach Dambrot's Luncheon Speech

[GoZips]

Coach Dambrot spoke this lunch time at the weekly meeting of Canton's

renouned Hall of Fame Club. The audience was large and receptive.

Key points of Coach D's speech include:

The foundation of his coaching concepts is built on three key phrases.

The first being TRUST. KD defined this trust as trust between players.

Trust between players and the coaches. Trust between the fans and

the team.

Second being HARD WORK. Coach stated that no team the Zips face

will be more prepared than his players will be. The players will as

individuals set and meet high standards. This then translates into

working together as a TEAM. Team being the goal of the HARD WORK.

Finally, LOYALITY. Loyality to each other, the school, the fans creating

a unity called a team. Loyality among the coaches, the players and

the fans.

The style of play will be what KD used at Tiffin, Ashland, CMU and St.V.

Play ninty-four feet. Press, trap, harass ala Coach Kevin Mackey at

Cleveland State. Quick offense with lots of shooting, rebounding and

overall agressive, hustling style of play. Or simply put ... let's go kick

some ass.

Coach D envisions his program at the level of Xavier, Dayton, Gonzaga.

When asked about his coaching staff Coach stated that no one has been

offered a position at this time. Coach seeks the best personel he can

assemble. KD also stressed that it is likely that coaches he offers to

will be men he trusts from his own experiences with them. That this is

an important job that transcends friendships.

The schedule probably will NOT include any big name team at home.

Brian Hipsher is still part of the team and welcomed to remain so.

Coach admitted during questioning that Allan Hanson had bolted the

program. (See my post in the recruiting section). The other two

players are expected to play at Akron.

Appearantly some of the audience were on to rumors that the 6'-4"

twin brothers of Ottawa-Gandalf may be coming to Akron. KD avoided

directly answering questions about them on grounds of NCAA rules.

The Q & A session was long and interesting inspite of numerous questions

about LeBron James. Or as Coach D called him "Coach James" eluding

to the fact that LeBron has close ties to the Zips. KD pointed out that we

can expect LeBron's coaching skills to have a direct impact on the current

Zips.

For all you Bob Huggins slugs ... Coach Huggins will speak at the May 10th

luncheon. The price for non-members is $13.

[Z-P]

Just a thanks, GZ.............we'll see how the Rep reports it tomorrow.

[Guest Guest_I_Miss_You_Trey_71603]

so Bryan is staying for sure?

[Captain Kangaroo]

so Bryan is staying for sure?

I believe it said something like "he's welcome to be on the team." I would expect my minutes-played for the Zips in 2004-5 will be within 10 minutes of Bryan's (and I'm not on the team).

If Nick Dials is transferring from OSU, maybe Bryan tries to walk-on for the Buckeyes?

[Guest Guest_I_Miss_You_Trey_71603]

ya and it also said he was still a part of the team and that he is also welcome to remain so. I was just curious on if GoZips is just assuming he is or he actually heard that he was.

[Z.I.P.]

Actually, I am amazed that Coach O'Brien has kept his job after the past season in Columbus. I was sure that he would be let go, and it would kill two birds with one stone when they hired DH as his replacement. In that case, Bryan would be on the pre-season all-Big Ten squad for 04-05. Whoops! -- has to sit a year before taking his place in Suckeye legend, doesn't he?

I honestly hope Bryan does decide to stay, as it will be a great sign of that TRUST factor being confirmed. And besides, we can't afford to lose "I Miss U Trey" to Columbus State. But if we did, does the board get one additional scholarship?

[I_Miss_You_Trey_71603]

I don't know if O'Brien will go soon. A lot of people here in Columbus like him a lot. I hope Bryan stays too.

[Zip Watcher]

Here's the link to the Repository story in today's paper. No stupid Elton comments .. how refreshing

Click Me - Registration is Free

[Zipster]

Can you copy and paste the article? I registered on their website, but have been waiting for their confirmation e-mail to no avail. Thanks.

[Guest Todd Porter]

Dambrot setting high goals for Akron hoops

Tuesday, March 30, 2004

By CHRIS BEAVEN Repository sports writer

CANTON TWP. — The thought probably seems far-fetched to some.

That’s fine with Keith Dambrot.

He always has been a guy who dreams a little bigger than most. And it has worked for him, so who knows, his vision of University of Akron men’s basketball could come true.

Dambrot, who earlier this month was named Akron’s head coach, spoke Monday to the Hall of Fame Luncheon Club. He took plenty of questions about his one former star player, LeBron James, and also talked about his plans for his new program.

“I kind of envision things (at Akron) bigger than they are,†he said to a audience of a couple hundred at the Four Winds Restaurant.

That’s why he can envision a day where Akron can be mentioned along with the likes of Xavier, Dayton and Gonzaga. Those three teams, like Akron, do not play in major conferences. But each of the three has shown the ability to be a major factor on the national stage.

“When Bobby Huggins was at Akron, I think that’s how he thought,†Dambrot said, referring to Akron’s former head coach.

Huggins led Akron to its only NCAA tournament appearance in 1986. The Zips were a few breaks away from upsetting Michigan in the first round that year. He also led them to the National Invitation Tournament twice and four straight seasons of at least 21 wins before he moved on to Cincinnati.

Akron has not won more than 18 games in a season since, making no trips to a national postseason tournament and struggling in the Mid-American Conference in recent years.

“I’d like to see it like when Bobby was here and really take it to new heights,†Dambrot said. “If you just want to be a contender in the MAC, and you fall short, you’ll be mediocre. If you want to be bigger than the MAC and you fall a little bit short, you still have a chance to have success.â€

Dambrot knows plenty about setting high goals and reaching them. He led two small Ohio colleges — Tiffin and Ashland — to new heights as a head coach. And he was an assistant coach in 1988 when Eastern Michigan won a MAC title and made the NCAA tournament.

His most recent success as a head coach, though, came back home in Akron with James. As head coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, he guided the Fighting Irish to state titles in 2000 and 2001, James’ first two years of high school.

“He was one of the easiest guys I’ve coached because he was willing to pass the ball,†Dambrot said of James.

James now is leading the Cleveland Cavaliers in their drive to make the NBA playoffs.

“Nothing LeBron does surprises me,†Dambrot said. “What does surprise me is how much better he is than the rest of the guys in that league. That amazes me.â€

Dambrot said the reason for James’ success is that his knowledge of the game “is superior to 99 percent of the guys in the league.â€

Dambrot remains close with James, and he knows their relationship could help him in the recruiting process.

“Having coached LeBron opens avenues to players who we might not have normally gotten,†Dambrot said. “He’s around our gym a lot. He’s from Akron. I don’t see how that can hurt us.â€

Dambrot left SV-SM to become an assistant coach on Dan Hipsher’s staff at Akron in 2001. When Hipsher was reassigned earlier this month after a 13-15 season, it did not take long for Akron to choose Dambrot as its new head coach.

And though he felt badly about Hipsher losing the job, it did not take long for Dambrot to accept the offer.

“I’d have taken the job for 25 cents, that’s how bad I wanted to be the coach at Akron,†Dambrot said.

If anyone ever was born to coach at Akron and take one of its athletic programs to new heights, it’s Dambrot.

“It’s the perfect fit for me,†he said.

He’s been going to Akron basketball games since he was 6. His mom was a longtime, highly regarded professor at the school. And he eventually became a Zip athlete himself.

After starring in basketball and baseball at Firestone High School on Akron’s west side, he played baseball at Akron. His name still can be found in the school’s recordbook for most sacrifice bunts (nine) and times hit by pitch (16) during a season (1980).

“Two of those hit me in the head and that’s how I ended up in coaching,†he joked Monday.

Dambrot entered coaching as a graduate assistant at Akron on head coach Bob Rupert’s staff. Rupert, one of McKinley High School’s winningest coaches, also coached Dambrot during his senior season as a point guard at Firestone.

“He’s one of the best fast-break coaches I’ve been around,†Dambrot said of Rupert.

And the fast break is something Dambrot likes to coach. “If you come to our games, you’ll be entertained,†he said.

Dambrot emphasizes full-court defensive pressure, an aggressive offense and a team concept. He bases his program on trust, hard work and loyalty. His 23 years of coaching also have taught him that, “it’s not always the five best players or the 12 best athletes that win.â€

Dambrot thinks Akron has enough talent coming back to be a good team in 2004-05. The Zips return several former Akron high school stars he recruited — Matt Futch, Dru Joyce III, Romeo Travis and Jeremiah Wood — as well guard-forward Rick McFadden.

Akron’s incoming recruiting class features an outstanding shooter in Bubba Walther of Cincinnati Moeller and an tremendous athlete in 6-foot-7 Quade Milum of Dayton Colonel White. A third player who committed last fall, Allan Hanson from Milwaukee, has since changed his mind, leaving Akron with another available scholarship.

Dambrot will look to fill that scholarship and finish putting together his coaching staff over the next few weeks. He also will watch the Final Four, though, he was disappointed to see Xavier and St. Joseph’s each fall short of getting that far.

“I’m kind of a basketball purist, and I wanted to see some of the underdogs,†he said. “One of these years, one of these mid-level schools are going to win.â€

A far-fetched thought that does not seem so unusual because of coaches such as Keith Dambrot.

Next week’s speaker is Cleveland Cavaliers radio announcer Joe Tait.

You can reach Repository sports writer Chris Beaven at (330) 580-8345 or e-mail:

[Guest Guest_Z.I.P.]

So Keith Dambrot played for Bob Rupert at Firestone! One of the few facts about my former classmate I didn't realize. God -- I hope he's a better coach than his mentor!

He also played on one of the best baseball teams in school history, though that sure ain't sayin' much. Even with Orville's Birkbeck on the mound, they weren't able to win the OVC.

Ah -- now we're talkin' 'bout the good ol' days. To show how far things have come, I once attended a hoops game at Memorial Hall (in the Rupert era) where the attendance amounted to a grand total of 75 people. When they announced in the hall that radio voice of the Zips Bob Wiley was hangin' up the mike, it produced the biggest cheer of the night.

Which reminds me: