• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Thursday, September 28, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Cheers to all Black coaches, no matter sport or gender

by Charles Hallman
January 4, 2019
9
SHARES
184
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
Dwane Casey.    Photo by Charles Hallman

Dwane Casey and J.B. Bickerstaff are members of the NBA’s “second chance” coaching fraternity. They, along with Nate McMillian, Alvin Gentry and David Fizdale, are in their current positions after getting second or third head coaching opportunities — a rarity for Black coaches. Both Casey and Bickerstaff got their second chances after leaving Minnesota.

Now in his first season as Memphis head coach, Bickerstaff went from associate head coach to interim head coach after former coach Fizdale, now in his first season with the New York Knicks, was fired in late November 2017.

Fizdale was also Houston interim head coach early in the 2015-16 season after that coach was fired. There, he guided the Rockets to a 37-34 finish and a postseason berth.

Bickerstaff was an assistant coach in Minnesota from 2007-11 and before that, the same in Charlotte (2004-07), where he worked with his father and then-head coach Bernie Bickerstaff. Before going to the NBA, the younger Bickerstaff also served as director of operations for the University of Minnesota’s men’s basketball program in the early 2000s.

“It means a lot,” Bickerstaff said earlier this season when his team played Minnesota. “It was tough to go through what we went through last year. You basically put your career on the line. Not a lot of places are going to give you a chance with all those losses,” said the first-year Grizzlies head coach.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Casey, after leading Toronto to its best season last year and earning two NBA Coach of the Year awards, was fired almost as soon as his name was announced last spring. Beginning in 1994, he has served as a head coach, associate head coach and assistant coach in the NBA for 23 seasons.

J.B. Bickerstaff     Photo by Charles Hallman

His first head coaching job came in Minnesota (2005-07). He was fired and later hired at Toronto, where he won four division titles and five consecutive playoff appearances. Detroit hired him last summer.

“I was going to land on my feet,” Casey said, cool and confident before his team played Minnesota last month. “I was going to bounce back and get another job. This league has been good [to me].”

Both Casey and Bickerstaff certainly paid their dues coaching while Black.

Opportunities for Blacks to coach can be elusive, and it comes with a hefty price on one’s career record. Often they are handed keys to a losing franchise with “Magic Negro” unrealistic expectations to turn things around. If they’re unsuccessful, their efforts in setting things up for the next coach to reap the benefits go largely unnoticed.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

A great example is Mark Jackson, now an NBA analyst who coached Golden State for three seasons (2011-14) with young players such as Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, among others. He later was fired and Steve Kerr took over, becoming like Joshua in leading the Warriors to the NBA Promised Land and winning three NBA titles in four tries. Only Kerr has publicly given credit to Jackson’s Moses-like efforts as his predecessor.

Bickerstaff told the MSR that his comfort level as a permanent head coach is getting there.  “Obviously having a couple of stints in the past has helped. Until you actually do the job, you are not necessarily prepared for the job. The slide over one seat is a huge difference.”

We unabashedly root for Casey, Bickerstaff and all other Black coaches, no matter the sport or gender. We cheer for them in their first chances, and when necessary in their second or third chances as well.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

When a wrestler’s haircut is really about a race

Next Post

Immortal Technique raises the roof for a worthy cause

Charles Hallman

Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

You Might Also Like

Sistahood offers support in a competitive business
Sports

Sistahood offers support in a competitive business

The week in review: ​Minneapolis coach inducted into Hall of Fame and more
Featured

The week in review: ​Minneapolis coach inducted into Hall of Fame and more

Black-on-Black coach matchups ‘definitely special’
Gophers/College

Black-on-Black coach matchups ‘definitely special’

Black coaches happy to be where they are
Sports

Black coaches happy to be where they are

Accolades attest to retiring Coach Stringer’s impact
Gophers/College

Accolades attest to retiring Coach Stringer’s impact

What’s the ‘big deal’ when Black coaches face off?
Gophers/College

What’s the ‘big deal’ when Black coaches face off?

Next Post
Immortal Technique raises the roof for a worthy cause

Immortal Technique raises the roof for a worthy cause

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 28
7:30 pm-9:30 pm Recurring

Ayodele Casel Rooted

Sep 30
9:00 am-1:00 pm Recurring

Cars and Caves

Sep 30
10:00 am-12:00 pm

dem Blessings for Parents: A Morning of Creative Nourishment with Sharon Bridgforth

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: