Nine times of not getting it done and to finally get it done in this way, is awesome.
Some college coach is going to grab this kid and turn him into a beast.
He is one of the best coaches in the state of Iowa. If I am going to pattern my success after someone, I want it to be him.
I'd drive up Madison (Avenue) and I'd see this kid out there shooting baskets every day, so I knew he had the desire to be good, and it's paying off.
I don't remember the game but I do remember how sad everyone was.
He just loves to compete. He goes as hard as anybody in practice. He just brings it every night. He's a dream reserve. Everyone wants a kid like Joe Muldoon on their team.
He has an administrative degree, never used it. He had an opportunity to go to Waukee and utilize his degree and be the head coach.
I'm a graduate of Hoover, I've been an assistant or head coach the last nine years and I have never seen a Hoover team hold an opponent to two single-digit quarters ? nine points or less ? and still be down at halftime. That just is unheard of.
We drilled him on Freeman. We got confused a few times with where the (second defender) was supposed to be, but when we made adjustments they had a hard time scoring.
Bottom line, it was just flat-out effort. They wanted to send a message and they did that.
I just love them. We have such a kinship that goes beyond a coach-player relationship.
If you're used to scoring 70 points a game and suddenly you're in games in the 30s and 40s, that's a heck of an adjustment.
In this league you can't factor in a home-court advantage. It's probably pretty equal on both ends.
I don't know how to explain it. He is just an unbelievable freaky athlete. He's capable of doing that every night; he really is.
He's an outstanding coach and person. Class sums it up in one word.
It's a matter of time before they are competing for conference and state rights.
The bottom line is that I encouraged him to stay. He told me 'You're ready, it's your time.' I've been appreciative ever since.
I asked my trainer, 'What are we doing?' and he said that if we didn't need him, don't put him back in.