Hi Kevin so what have you been up to this summer since we last caught up with you?

This summer I went back to my hometown of Atlanta, GA. I worked at several different basketball camps, had a few athletes that I trained, played in some Pro-Am summer leagues myself, and more importantly was able to spend time with my family and friends.

Can you tell us about your new coaching role for the coming season?

I will be the Director of Basketball Operations for the Utah Flash of the NBA Developmental League. The Flash are one of four new expansion teams in the NBA D-League. Their NBA affiliate teams are the Utah Jazz and the Boston Celtics. My responsibilities will be video scouting, player development, and on floor coaching in practice and games.

How did you come to get this role?

Its funny how I got involved with the Flash. The summer before I came to Ireland, my older sister got married. As it turns out, my brother-in-laws best friend, who I met at the wedding, is the President of the Utah Flash. We stayed in touch during my time in Ireland. When I got home him put me in contact with some other people in the organization. Then, this summer during the Rocky Mountain Revue, one of the NBA Summer Leagues, I flew out to Utah to meet with the General Manager and the Head Coach of the Flash. After meeting with them and talking with them some more they offered me the job a few weeks ago.

Where do you aim to go in your coaching career?

That’s a good question. There are so many different areas of basketball. After last season of being the Head Coach and General Manager and having a taste of what that was like, I’d like to be a Head Coach again at the highest level I can. Coaching at a high level of the NCAA has always been a goal of mine. Now that I am going to have the opportunity to see what the NBA level is like, my goals may change. To be honest coaching is a funny business. You kind of have to take what you get, work as hard as you can and make the best of it and everything else will take care of its self. So for now I am going to just take things as they come and see where things may take me.

Will you be keeping an eye on the hoops this coming season?

There is no doubt that I will keep an eye on Hoops. J. Reed and I worked together this summer to put together a team that we feel can win the Superleague. I love the guys that I coached there at Hoops. There were like my family out there. I will be watching like a hawk this season!

How do you think J Reed will be get on this season?

When I got word that I may get the job out in Ireland this time last year, J. Reed was the first person I called. The thing that makes J. Reed special is what kind of guy he is. Obviously he has proven what kind of player he is, but the other things that he brings to the table are what sets him apart. I brought him over there with me to be my point guard and to be my player assistant coach. He did a great job with that. I have full confidence in him taking over the reigns and I plan on talking to him regularly throughout the season.

Since you returned home what do you miss most about Ireland?

I miss the guys at Hoops the most. We had a great group of guys last year. I really enjoyed working with them, even though it may not have looked like it sometimes! I have been around a lot of different teams in my playing and coaching career, and our team last year was one of the most fun groups of guys I’ve been around. We really had good team chemistry on and off the court and that is something that I am going to miss. I miss lucozade too!!

Since you returned home what do you miss least about Ireland?

The weather!! And the small roads!!

What were you favorite memories from your time coaching here?

My best memory from coaching there was definitely our last regular season game against St. Vincent’s. Everything about that game was fun for me. I mean it was winner take all. As a player, and a coach, that’s all you can ask for. You win, you make the playoffs, you lose, and your season is over. The fact that it came down to the last regular season was great. The atmosphere at the Arena was the best I saw all year of anywhere we played. Your boys at Saints were in full force, and the community of Tallaght really came out to support us. Our guys feed off of that energy and the game was really intense. I loved it. I wish every game had been like that one. The fact that we won the game didn’t hurt either!

In your opinion what steps are needed to develop the Irish game and the standard of the superleague?

The biggest thing that needs to happen is teaching the younger players the right way to play, and the right way to develop their skill set. It seems that the underage system is in place and I think that’s great. The teaching aspect needs to be developed more so that the things that are being taught will help the players improve there skills at a younger age. The Superleague needs more depth of good Irish players. Good Irish players is what makes a good team in the Superleague. And by good Irish players I don’t mean just 2-3 good players. Depth is important. If you take a look at the Demons, who I think I have the most depth in the league, its no wonder why they have had the success that they’ve had over the past several seasons. Their ability to grow their young players have paid off for them and I think they have set a standard for the rest of the league in that regard.

On the same note of developing young players, there needs to be easier access to gyms for kids all over the country. Getting gym time in Ireland is like trying to find gold half the time. Kids need a place to go play against other kids, a place to go practice on their own, for free! Even with teaching young kids in their respective clubs and training at what not, they still need to get out and practice and play own their own everyday. Training 2-3 days a week and playing a match a week is just not enough.

What opponents did you enjoy playing against the most when you were here?

Is seems that one of our rivals was Ballina. With Scott having played for Hoops prior and Ben Bridges having been in the Ballina camp at the start of the year, it was a natural rivalry. I enjoyed playing against everybody really. I love to compete, so anytime we could suite it up and compete I was ready for the challenge and enjoyed it.

Is there anybody you would like to say hello to?

First off if anybody hasn’t read Rus Bradburn’s book: Paddy On The Hardwood, I would say go get a copy and read it! It’s a great book.

I want to say hello to Ian O’Boyle, Joey Haastrup, Lenny Macmillan, Ger Jago, Craig Jago, Luke O’Hea, David O’Mahony, the Saunders Family, and everyone that came out and supported us. I would especially like to thank Bride Saunders for giving me the opportunity to coach Hoops. She went out on a limb hiring a young coach like myself, and I am very grateful for that. She lives, eats, and breathes Hoops basketball and my hat goes off to her. Amy Saunders and Eamon Saunders also do a lot behind the scenes that no one sees. I would like to thank them as well. I’d also like to say hello to Pat Price, Mark Keenan, and all the other coaches in the Superleague, Carl Donnelly, Mary Pat, all the lads I coached at Tallaght IT, Tim O’Connor at Tallaght IT, the Polish girls that worked at West Park Fitness, Sharon Jago, and all your Saints boys. Also want to say hello to Ben Bridges and wish him luck this coming season. Lastly, a big thank you to you Bowie for everything. You were a big help when I was over there. I always keep an eye of the site!

Kevin thanks for taking time out to talk to us and best of luck in your new role!