Former Villanova coach Rollie Massimino – who led the Wildcats to the 1985 national title – talks about coaching at NAIA school Northwood University (FL) and why he is still in coaching at age 75 (run time is 3:36; transcript below the jump).
[podcast]http://www.lostlettermen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Rollie-1.mp3[/podcast]……
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Lost Lettermen: This is Jim Weber from LostLettermen.com and I’m joined by the coach of the 1985 Villanova Wildcats and now the coach at NAIA school Northwood University (FL), Rollie Massimino. Coach thanks for joining us.
A lot of people don’t realize you’re still coaching down there in West Palm. People always ask us, when are you going to finally retire for good? Do you have any timetable set?
Rollie Massimino: No not really Jim. I’ve been called a lifer. As long as I enjoy the kids I have a wonderful situation here in West Palm Beach and a great group of kids and an outstanding academic institution and I’m very proud of it.
LL: I know that Villanova Wildcat Dwayne McClain is now on your staff. How much of what you do is based on the … what you get out of coaching the Dwayne McClains, Dennis Hopsons, guys that are trying to break into the industry now?
RM: With a lot of the things we’ve done over the years we do at the present time and having Dwayne on the staff gives us more of an impact as to exactly how to teach and do things that we did over the years.
I think kids are kids and they do the same things now that they did years ago. They’re obviously a little bit different in terms of personalities but the point remains is that everyone wants to try to win and that’s what it’s all about. Of course winning isn’t the only thing. It’s part of growing up and understanding life skills.
LL: Now I know you’ve built Northwood into a very solid program and you guys lost to Spring Arbor in the NAIA Tournament. What’s it like to be on the other side of March Madness after the ’85 Villanova run?
RM: Well, that’s an honor in itself. You don’t win the national championship … we just started the program four years ago and we’ve been to the national tournament four straight years. And having the opportunity just to be one of the top 32 teams in the country is very special.
LL: As you said, you’ve been described as a lifer. What is it about you? Is it working with kids, is it the competition that brings you back? I know in that first year you were ordering uniforms and scheduling road games. It seems like something a coach of your stature wouldn’t want to do.
RM: That’s what it’s all about. It’s part of giving back, know what I mean? Not only to the community, but to these young people and hopefully instilling philosophies that are very important in growing up. And that’s why I decided to do that and I really enjoyed it because of many, many different things.
LL: I know that during retirement you played a lot of golf with your best friends Billy Cunningham, Bill Raftery, John Havlicek and the late Chuck Daly. That sounds like a pretty good retirement to most people. How much time do you still get to play golf with them?
RM: Not at all. I haven’t played golf in about five months only because of all the things that we’ve tried to accomplish here. But that’s OK. The people you love the most you’re with the least, and that’s my family. And I try to spend as much time with my wife and my children as possible.
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