Sept. 21, 2007
The Nova Notebook, by Villanova director of media relations Mike Sheridan, appears weekly beginning in September through February with monthly updates in the off-season. This week we focus on the legacy of Ed Pinckney on the Villanova coaching staff.
In the world of college basketball, few bits of information travel faster than news of an opening on a Division I coaching staff. So it was in the spring of 2003 that when Villanova assistant coach Joe Jones became head coach at Columbia University that Jay Wright's email and phone messages were overflowing with resumes.
There was no shortage of quality candidates, most with well-established coaching portfolios. Wright could have tapped any one of them and nary would an eyebrow have been raised. Yet as he began to delve into the process, he kept coming back to a recognizable name outside the coaching fraternity.
"I never coached Eddie," recalled Wright as he reminisced a few days ago after word came that Pinckney would be leaving his position at Villanova to become an assistant with the National Basketball Association's Minnesota Timberwolves. "He had already graduated by the time I came to work for coach Mass (Rollie Massimino). I didn't really know him.
"But it always impressed me that he stayed in touch with me wherever I went - Villanova, UNLV, Hofstra and then when I came back to Villanova. He was always so loyal and supportive. It's something that stuck with me."
At the time, Pinckney was enjoying a full life in the Miami area. After spending 12 seasons in the NBA, he had moved into the front office with the Heat, performing a variety of roles, including radio and television analyst and serving as head of the franchise's mentoring program. It was a comfortable existence but there was something missing.
"I got the feeling Eddie really wanted to coach," Wright says, "and for whatever reason, it hadn't happened for him."
The desire to coach had actually brought Pinckney to New York that spring to lend a hand to former NBA player John Starks with his team in the United States Basketball League. When the opening came at Villanova, suddenly the notion of Pinckney on the sidelines for the school he helped lead to the 1985 NCAA championship began to make a lot of sense to Wright.
"I chose Eddie primarily because of his loyalty to me and Villanova," says Wright. "I knew how much he cared about this university and the basketball program. And I also thought he would be a great role model for our players. From the day he was hired we saw that he was that all that and more."
From the outset, it was apparent that Pinckney was determined to succeed. Few outside the industry have a true appreciation for the 24-hour, seven day a week nature of the position. That can be especially true for those accustomed to an NBA lifestyle where assistant coaches can concentrate solely on basketball. In college, there are academics, recruiting and a wide range of smaller issues that have a way of devouring hours at a time.
It was not uncommon to find Pinckney in his office by 7 a.m. During the basketball season he could be found in an area adjacent to the Pavilion Press Room in the early morning hours, watching game tape while riding the stationary bicycle. At day's end, he relished lingering in the Press Room with the players as they ate dinner together in the early evening.
"For people who aren't familiar with it," Wright states, "the work ethic required at this level can be a shock. It's something you think about when you bring in someone who hasn't served in that role. But Eddie embraced it. Right away, he was the first one in our office every day and was a great example for entire coaching staff."
Part of that time commitment is spent on recruiting. It is a process that requires constant communication with a variety of sources - including prospects when the NCAA permits, high school and AAU coaches and members of the coaching staff.
"It is amazing to me that a player of Eddie's stature would enjoy watching high school kids play basketball as much as he does," states Wright. "The other thing about Eddie is that he loved meeting all the people who are part of the recruiting process. He always had time for everyone and you don't know how much that can mean to people."
There was another bonus in having Pinckney on board. His prominence both nationally and in Philadelphia helped ease Wright's burden with the media and at other public functions. If Wright was unable to attend, an approachable and polished speaker like Pinckney was received warmly when he appeared in his stead.
"I am embarrassed to say how much I have leaned on Eddie to help in those areas," states Wright. "But he is a prominent Villanova representative who carries himself with great class. The media liked speaking to him and so did the people who came out to see us at public events."
Now he is headed back to the NBA, to work alongside another favorite son of Villanova, Randy Foye.
"We're all thrilled for Eddie," Wright says, "and proud. Eddie wanted to be a coach and now he gets that opportunity with Randy in Minnesota. There were other NBA offers he turned down and I know this was a difficult decision for him.
"In the short term, this hurts. Our entire team is so close to Eddie. We're losing a friend who is a part of our family. But in the long term this is a terrific message for our program. This is someone who did a great job here and now gets an opportunity to advance his career. Eddie will always be a part of Villanova and be identified with it wherever he goes."
On Sept. 20, Wright and other members of the VU family were in New York City for a farewell of sorts. Pinckney was inducted into the New York Sports Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the New York Athletic Club.
Now, though, the focus turns to the next step as Wright begins anew the process to find Pinckney's replacement.
"A number of former Villanova players are interested in this and Eddie is directly responsible for that," Wright states. "And I certainly appreciate the value of having a former Villanova player as part of our staff. I will consult with our coaching staff and Eddie, because he knows the ins and outs of this as well as anyone. I know that we will end up with a great person no matter whom we choose to hire."
