"Eye of the Tiger" - The Coaching Legacy of Jason Whitt (CH2k8)

[jasontoddwhitt]

Radford picks Jason Whitt to lead Highlanders
Relative unknown has won at every level.

Radford, VA – At a press conference today, the Radford Highlanders announced that Jason Whitt, who was the NAIA National Coach of the Year after leading Pikeville College to their first NAIA Championship, has signed a 3-year contract to become the head coach.

“This is an extreme honor to be able to secure a Division I head coaching job,” said Whitt. “I’m excited for this opportunity that has been given to me and I can’t wait to get started. I almost wish the season started tomorrow.”

“We wanted somebody young, energetic, and most of all, a winner,” said Radford Athletic Director Robert Lineburg. “Jason has won at every level he has been at. He won a state title when he was a high school basketball coach back in Kentucky. He is coming off a national title season at the NAIA level and also won the National Coach of the Year award for that level. We talked to other coaches who knew him, and they all gave glowing reviews. We feel we hired the best guy available.”

Also in attendance at the press conference was Memphis head coach John Calipari, who once had Whitt on his staff as a graduate assistant. Calipari gave a glowing recommendation.

“Passion and purpose is what Jason is all about,” said Calipari. “He knows how to coach and care for his players and he did a great job of putting passion back into Pikeville College Basketball and he’ll do the same thing here at Radford. I wished he had stayed on my staff at Memphis, but he had to go back home because of a family emergency. But I knew then he would end up at a Division I program someday.”

Whitt promised to bring an exciting brand of basketball to Radford.

“I can still remember my old high school coach Rick Mays telling us that we may not always be the most talented team on the floor, but we’ll be the best conditioned team out there. We’re going to run. It’s always been my philosophy. We’ll create as much havoc as possible out there on the floor. We won’t let the other team get comfortable. It’s always been a staple of my teams. We will leave everything out on that floor.”

But for people who are expecting the Dribble Drive Motion Offense to be installed at Radford, Whitt said not so fast.

“People automatically assume that I adopted the dribble-drive just because I was an assistant for one year at Memphis under Coach Cal. I have no problems with the offense, but that’s his thing. Growing up, my favorite coach was Phil Jackson; so naturally, I became a student of the Triangle offense. I would love to meet Coach Jackson one day to go over the finer details of the offense, but I feel my modified version of the triangle is almost as good as the original.”

Radford last made the NCAA Tournament back in 1998, something Whitt wants to change as soon as possible.

“Our goal is to win our conference and make the dance. At any small conference school, that is the measuring stick for a successful season. Then once you get in there…hey, anything is possible.”

[jasontoddwhitt]

2007-2008 Radford Highlanders

Starters
PG #11 Amir Johnson 5’9” 193 (Bethlehem, PA) 66OVR SO
SG #24 Kenny Thomas 6’3” 182 (Virginia Beach, VA) 61OVR JR
SF #23 Jamar Jenkins 6’6” 217 (Memphis, TN) 64OVR JR*
PF #3 Alex Gynes 6’6” 220 (New Zealand) 60OVR FR
PF #12 Nick McFarlin 6’7” 217 (Des Moines, IA) 57OVR FR

Bench
SG #4 Martell McDuffy 6’4” 187 (Baltimore, MD) 59OVR JR
SG #1 Chris McEachin 6’5” 181 (Virginia Beach, VA) 59OVR FR
SF #33 Eric Hall 6’8” 203 (Chapel Hill, NC) 55OVR JR
C #54 Colby Trent 6’8” 278 (Portsmouth, VA) 52OVR SR
C #31 Duane Ricks 6’9” 190 (Virginia Beach, VA) 50OVR SR
PF #22 Tyler Kleckner 6’8” 174 (Norfolk, VA) 50OVR SR
C #40 Joey Lynch-Flohr 6’8” 221 (Virginia Beach, VA) 50OVR SO

Reserve
SG #30 Phillip Martin 6’6” 190 (Norfolk, VA) 49OVR SO

Coaches
Jason Whitt: C overall (1st year)
Ricardo Leadbetter: C overall (1st year)
Torris Guinn: C- overall (1st year)

2007-2008 Big South Projected Standings
1. Winthrop
2. UNC Asheville
3. High Point
4. VMI
5. Liberty
6. Coastal Carolina
7. Charleston Southern
8. Radford

2007-08 Radford Schedule
11/9 @ Michigan
11/11 @ Eastern Michigan
11/17 vs Gardner-Webb
11/19 @ Air Force
11/24 @ Campbell
12/3 @ Gardner-Webb
12/8 vs Campbell
12/15 @ Georgetown
12/17 @ James Madison
12/19 vs West Virginia
1/2 @ South Carolina
1/12 @ Coastal Carolina
1/14 @ Charleston Southern
1/19 vs Winthrop
1/23 @ UNC Asheville
1/28 vs High Point
2/2 vs Liberty
2/5 @ VMI
2/9 vs Charleston Southern
2/11 vs Coastal Carolina
2/16 @ Winthrop
2/20 vs UNC Asheville
2/23 vs VMI
2/27 @ High Point
3/1 @ Liberty

[jasontoddwhitt]

These updates will come swiftly while I work to get caught up with where I'm at presently.

[jasontoddwhitt]

34 – 21 – 55
21 – 32 – 53

Radford Team Stats
Points: 55
FG Made – Att: 21/56 (.375)
3P Made – Att: 5/12 (.417)
FT Made – Att: 8/12 (.667)
Fouls: 9

Radford Individual Leaders
Points: K. Thomas – 16
Rebounds: K. Thomas – 6
Assists: N. McFarlin – 4
Steals: A. Gynes – 2
Blocks: A. Gynes – 2

Michigan Team Stats
Points: 53
FG Made – Att: 23/62 (.371)
3P Made – Att: 5/14 (.357)
FT Made – Att: 2/4 (.500)
Fouls: 10

Michigan Individual Leaders
Points: M. Harris – 21
Rebounds: D. Sims & E. Udoh – 11
Assists: D. Sims – 5
Steals: Z. Gibson – 2
Blocks: R. Colean & J. Shepherd – 1

"Extremely lucky to win this game. We were fortunate in that we hit some big shots in the first half while Michigan struggled to hit shots. It wasn't our defense, as we gave them several open looks. We did everything we could to hand the game to Michigan at the end, but Michigan looked tired after getting back into the game, and we hung on for the upset. Anytime you beat a Big Ten team on the road is cause for celebration." - Jason Whitt

[Deuce2223]

Nice way to open up Coach Whitt career with a W over Michigan.

[infamyice]

Game was a fluke lol j/k. Good game to close out though. Those freethrows look like they made the big difference.

[VandyRedskins21]

I use to have a Radford legacy though I did not get far at all in it. I love Jenkins and Thomas, they were great shooters. I also went down low to Colby Trent a lot. He always gave me a solid 12/8 whenever he played. Definitely following even though I hate UK

[jasontoddwhitt]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deuce2223

Nice way to open up Coach Whitt career with a W over Michigan.

I didn't invision Coach Whitt getting his first win like that. We came out on fire...and then hung on for our lives.

Quote: Originally Posted by infamyice

Game was a fluke lol j/k. Good game to close out though. Those freethrows look like they made the big difference.

I agree, it was a fluke. lol Michigan had three different chances to win the game and couldn't get it done. And yeah, a +6 in the free throw department in a close game is huge.

Quote: Originally Posted by VandyRedskins21

I use to have a Radford legacy though I did not get far at all in it. I love Jenkins and Thomas, they were great shooters. I also went down low to Colby Trent a lot. He always gave me a solid 12/8 whenever he played. Definitely following even though I hate UK

I picked Radford because one of my friends is a reserve on their team (Evan Faulkner).

And I'm glad you're reading...even though you like Vandy.