We are keeping our fingers crossed in the hope that we can return to a “normal” version of college basketball this fall: fans in the stands, announcers without masks, etc. Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen but we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. We continue our coverage with new Austin Peay coach Nate James. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach James about winning titles as a coach/player and his expectations for this season.
In 1996 you were named a McDonald’s All-American: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Mike Bibby/Kobe Bryant/Richard Hamilton/other)? I think it was arguably 1 of the best McDonald’s classes you could throw out there. We had so many guys who went onto the NBA: the late/great Kobe Bryant who won 5 NBA titles, Stephen Jackson who won a title with San Antonio in 2003, Rip Hamilton who won a title with the Pistons in 2004. Regretfully, Rip and his UConn teammates beat me in the 1999 NCAA title game when I was at Duke! Mike Bibby had a heck of a college career and a long NBA career as well. Our class also had Loren Woods/Ed Cota/so many other big-time basketball players. I was just humbled to be on the floor as those guys, but hands-down we all marveled at Kobe. From the moment I saw him at the NBA Top-100 Camp I knew that he was different.
You played (and later worked) for Coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke: what makes him such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? There is not just 1 thing that makes him great. He does everything to the maximum level every day and has the discipline to prepare each and every day no matter who we were facing. Regardless of his success, his preparation is 2nd to none and he was unbelievable at adapting to get the most out of his players. A team must have togetherness to be successful and all of the little details matter. At my new school I have tried to teach my guys about playing as a fist: as 1. He taught us how to use our instincts and empowered us to mix them in with total team play along with your brothers on the court. There were so many wonderful lessons that I have applied to my life. There are a lot of outstanding coaches out there but he is just a cut above. I know that this is his last season and he will give the current team the best that he has.
You were a 2-time co-captain: what is the key to being a good leader? You have to want the responsibility to lead: it is not easy to be the “mother hen” and be held accountable for accomplishing the mission. Leaders will step up but must be willing to listen/follow at times to show that they are being extremely observant. It is not always easy to step up to the challenge but your communication must be at an all-time high so that everyone knows what is expected. Leadership is sometimes a lonely job but is also an amazing honor. I was fortunate to be co-captain of the 2001 NCAA championship team along with Shane Battier. Coach K taught us how to do it in a way that people would be excited to follow us. We would run through a brick wall for him and I hope that my team wants to do the same for me.
Due to taking a medical redshirt year you became the 1st player in ACC history to be a member of 5 regular-season conference championships: how was your team able to remain so dominant for such a long period of time? We had an amazing coach/terrific staff who recruited a collection of guys who wanted to pay the price to be a winner. We were all very competitive warriors: our practices were harder than our games. We had several players who were all-conference and played in the NBA because they gave 110%. I know it is a cliche but that is what we tried to do. We pretty much ran through the ACC: we did not have many 1-and-dones back then like Elton Brand/Corey Maggette. We were an old veteran team with guys like Battier/Trajan Langdon.
In the 2001 NCAA tourney title game you scored 6 PTS in a 10-PT win over Arizona: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus? It was a dream come true to have that 1 shining moment! To be crowned king was not easy: we had to beat some big-time teams in the Final 4 like Maryland/Arizona. The Terps had us down by 20 PTS and we had to overcome a huge deficit, but they won the title the following year. Arizona had a big-time coach in Lute Olson and high-level players like Gilbert Arenas/Richard Jefferson/Luke Walton. I will treasure it for all of my days: when I take my boys back to Duke I can show them the banner from our 2001 team. The city of Durham was electric: the Cameron Crazies are the best fans in the world and had waited 9 years for another title so they partied! There was a stretch where it seemed like either us or UNC won it all.
You won a pair of NCAA titles in 2010/2015 as an assistant at your alma mater, becoming the 1st person to win championships at Duke as both a player and a coach: how did winning as a coach compare to winning as a player? Nothing compares to being a player who can impact the game himself. As a coach the amount of preparation that goes into those games to put your team in a position to win takes countless hours and you feel it. It is more about using your mind/words to inspire your players: it is a totally different feeling but is still great. To be a part of this amazing brotherhood and learn from the GOAT (Coach K): I just pinch myself. I am the son of a Marine and have been able to accomplish a lot.
Last April you were hired as head coach at Austin Peay: why did you take the job, and how is it going so far? I look forward to taking Coach K’s teachings and giving them to my group. Wherever you go the people are what make the place special: I had a relationship with AD Gerald Harrison, who I knew from Duke and who had a vision. Austin Peay is a totally different animal but I felt that I could learn/grow/be successful in the OVC (until we move to the Atlantic Sun next year). We have a brand-new arena and the athletic department is buzzing. The players have worked hard every day and I am excited to see what kind of culture/program I can establish. Wherever I went at Duke I met people who took ownership of the university and there is a similar sense of pride here.
Your non-conference schedule includes games at Dayton/TCU/Vanderbilt: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? All of them will be a test: we have a tough schedule with a lot of road games. We have to teach our guys how to be winners and every game will be a challenge so we will take it 1 practice at a time to see who we can become.
Your wife Bobbi is an actress on the Tyler Perry TV series Ruthless: how difficult is it to have a normal family life when you 2 have such busy professional lives? Coach K always said that you have to read and react in a motion offense! My wife has a terrific career and it is really cool to see her utilize her talent to go after her dreams. We have to keep our kids grounded because they see us on TV so much. It will be somewhat of a challenge because all of my wife’s family was in North Carolina so now we have to figure out how to do this thing here in Tennessee. I am a God-fearing man so I will just follow my instincts and use some common sense. We are blessed to lead the life we live so we support each other.
What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? The goal is to get better every day, show up, and have no bad days in practice. Building those habits and establishing that mindset is the hardest thing to do. I do not know how many games we will win but I will prepare them to win every day. If you believe in playing as a fist it will improve your chances, but you have to be worthy of winning. Talent helps…but you still have to pay the price and roll up your sleeves every day.