Wednesday, Oct 15, 2014
Alumnus and coach reflects on his dual roles
In his first season as director of Basketball Operations in 2014-15, Rider graduate and former member of the Bronc basketball team Kevin Noon came back to his alma mater after working at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and the University of Miami. Along with his duties with the Broncs, Noon is currently on the Board of Directors for Rising Coaches Elite Organization.
In your coaching role, what are the main values or habits that you try to instill in the young athletes you mentor?
Coaching is my passion. I have always had a dream to coach college basketball because I felt it was the way I could make the greatest impact on others’ lives. Although I am coaching basketball, I feel as though my job is to prepare my players for life after basketball and to instill in them strong values and morals that lead to them living a positive life. My main focus is on the mental side of the game. I believe in remaining calm in all situations and carrying yourself with poise. I teach my players that they cannot control what situations arise, but they can control how they react. I try to help my players develop a philosophy of “Attitude, Commitment and Class.” They need to have a positive attitude at all times and quiet confidence that is contagious. How a person approaches every situation is a reflection of their mindset and attitude. They need to be committed to every part of their lives, school and basketball. Committed to doing what they are supposed to do, when they are supposed to do it and doing it to the best of their ability. Lastly, they are expected to carry themselves in a first class manner at all times. They need to have good character and always hold themselves to a high standard, on and off the court. I feel as though when you train an athlete to think positively, it translates to growth on the basketball court.
What brought you back to Rider and what changes do you notice since you were last on campus?
When I left Rider, I had a terrific opportunity to go work in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), at the University of Miami (Fla.). During my time at Miami, I worked for one of the greatest coaching staffs in the country, led by National Coach of the Year Jim Larranaga. During the 2012-2013 season, I had the opportunity to coach All-American Shane Larkin, who was later drafted 18th overall in the NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Miami was able to win our first ever ACC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, reach a national ranking of No. 2 in the country, advance as a second seed in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, and defeat the no. 1 ranked school in the country, Duke University, by 27 points.
My experiences at Miami were some that many people do not typically get the chance to experience in a coaching career. When Coach Baggett offered me the job on his staff, I was elated to have the chance to return to Rider. Rider is a school I have an invested interest in and want to see succeed. I felt with all the knowledge I gained during my time at Miami, I would be able to bring that back to Rider and help Coach Baggett raise our program to a new level. Coach Baggett helped me get into the coaching profession, and I felt this was the time and place for me to give back to him and continue to grow as a coach and leader under his guidance. I love Rider, I love what Rider is about and I love coming to campus every day with the opportunity to make a positive impact on my player’s lives. I hope I can continue to elevate myself in this program for years to come. Rider is where I want to be, this is home to me!
Since coming back to Rider, I have been impressed with the additions to campus from North Hall to Daly’s Dining Hall. The campus continues to grow and move in a positive direction. There are many familiar faces that are employed on campus, as well as some new ones I have yet to meet. The transition has been smooth and enjoyable. On day one as a freshman in 2008 I said it was nice to attend a school where people are smiling, say hello and hold the door for each other. It is refreshing to see that observation still holds true today.
How does it feel to go from being an athlete here to being a coach (i.e. what are the biggest challenges/surprises — both good and bad)? Are there specific challenges to being such a young coach and possibly close in age to some of your players?
Going from being a player to a coach has been a learning experience. Now going into my third year of coaching, I find myself constantly learning not only the game of basketball, but a lot about managing people. Coaching is a very passionate profession, and one of the challenges I had to face early was controlling my emotions. Coach Larranaga (Miami (FL) Head Coach) taught me that how I carry myself will be reflected in how my players carry themselves. It was then that I adopted the method of remaining calm and poised. One of the biggest challenges as a coach is I am constantly forcing myself to step outside my comfort zone. At times I will have to put myself in vulnerable situations in order to show my players it is okay to do the same. On days when I am down, I need to force myself to smile, be energetic and positive, because there is a group of young men who are following my lead every single day.
One surprise that I found making the transition from being a player to a coach, and being pretty young in my position, is that I can relate very easily to both the players and coaches. When my players feel a certain way about a situation, I am able to understand their feelings because I am only three years removed from my playing days. I've also been coaching for three years and am able to understand the coaches’ emotions as well. This has been one of my greatest assets because understanding both the playing and coaching sides, gives me the opportunity to defuse and situations or issues that may arise. I feel as though being close in age to the players gives me an advantage because there is a connection and trust between us. My job as a young coach is to set a good example, bring energy day in and day out and be a mentor to my players.
How did your time playing at Rider shape you into the person you are today?
My time playing at Rider was unique. I was first a student manager and then a walk-on. I was the guy at the end of the bench who clapped the whole game, and if lucky, got to player the last two minutes of a lopsided game. However, being an athlete at Rider truly shaped the way I think. It gave me the opportunity to see first-hand that being part of a college athletics team is a brotherhood. We supported each other on and off the court and held each other accountable for our actions.
My experiences as a player helped me develop a new found respect for others, and showed me the impact people can have on each other. Each person’s life story is different. In basketball especially, I was able to see some of the challenges some of my teammates went through to make it to college. From inner city violence, growing up around drugs, the death of siblings or parents, being homeless at times, receiving a poor education, each of my teammates had faced challenges that fortunately I hadn’t. Developing friendships with each person on my team as a player really showed me that it takes time to get to know somebody, and you can never judge a book by its cover. Being part of the basketball team made me care a little deeper, understand a little better and helped me become patient with others.
Do you still play basketball in your free time and if so, can fans come watch you play?
I still love to play basketball in my free time. I am always itching to get pickup games going and sometimes go down to the SRC and play at night with the students. During my time in Miami I was able to practice with the team on a daily basis, and when I was in Maryland this past year I played in a Men’s League in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, with the amount of hours I work as a coach, it becomes difficult to play a lot, but I will never turn down an opportunity to get on the court. Any fans who want to play I am all ears!
As an alumnus of Rider, what are some of the things you wish other alumni knew about Rider today?
My hope is that Rider alumni realize the great opportunity they had to be part of such a fantastic tradition and receive a prestigious education. Rider is a small, private institution, but the values and lessons you learned while being a student here are the ones that have made thousands of graduates become successful in various aspects and professions.
This school gave me the courage and confidence to chase my dreams and continues to mold me to this day. The opportunity to attend Rider University is special. The chance to be a member of the men’s basketball team while at Rider is even more invaluable.
I hope that alumni continue to support the school as it trends in a positive direction, and alumni of the basketball program continue to support the growth we have showed in recent years. Our goal is to get to win the MAAC Conference and advance to the NCAA tournament. We are going to achieve this goal and we want everyone who shows their support, especially the alumni, to be a huge part of this amazing moment when it happens.