Fresno State Athletics
Terry's Energy Changes Culture
2/14/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2012
By Eric Herzog
Special to GoBulldogs.com
Originally published in the Madera Tribune
FRESNO, Calif. --- When head coach Rodney Terry joined Fresno State last April he wanted to establish a culture consisting of a hard work ethic, on and off the court, to define the identity of the men's basketball program.
Terry said the team has embraced that culture.
"I think the group has done a good job of laying a foundation in terms of what we're about and how we want to do things," Terry said. "The team has adapted to how hard we want them to work and how hard we want them to play."
The team has also become more comfortable with the coach's strategic concepts, both offensively and defensively, as the season has progressed, Terry said.
Terry spent the past nine years as an assistant coach at the University of Texas and had many opportunities to leave for other head coaching jobs, he said. This is Terry's first head coaching job.
"I was lucky," Terry said. "I was in a position where I could be very selective in where I wanted to go. While recruiting on the West Coast I got a chance to be in this community and felt this would be an unbelievable opportunity.
"I really like the area and this is a really great place to recruit to because of the school's location," Terry said. "Fresno is a college town where a lot is centered on the university. People take pride in the university and its athletics."
Terry said the biggest difference as a head coach comes down to making decisions.
"As an assistant you make a lot of suggestions and many times you act as a buffer with the players," Terry said. "As a head coach you are the decision-maker. You take the suggestions and decide the best direction for the team depending on the situation.
"I have assembled a great staff," Terry said. "One that is experienced and they have really helped in my transition."
Above all Terry has learned to be flexible in his first season as a head coach.
"You are always making adjustments depending on the situation you are in and the way you want to play," Terry said. "Learning to make adjustments, whether it's basketball-related or off the court, adapting to your environment and what your environment entails."
Terry said his experience at Texas coaching two of the NBA's young phenoms, Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge, not only helps when recruiting; it also helps with the current players.
Durant, in his fifth season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2008 and has won the last two NBA scoring titles. Aldridge, in his sixth season with the Portland Trail Blazers, was on the NBA all-rookie first team in 2007, all-NBA third team in 2011 and runner-up for the Most Improved Player in 2011. Both men will play for Team USA in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
"Durant and Aldridge are two guys that our players hope to be one day, guys they look up to and see on TV all the time," Terry said. "I am able to use those two guys daily as a prime example of how to carry yourself on and off the court.
"Not only were Durant and Aldridge talented, they were two of the hardest workers we ever had," Terry said. "They were always the first guys in the gym and the last ones to leave. Putting that hard work with their natural talent is what makes them off-the-charts."
Terry hopes through hard work his players at Fresno State will find similar success.
"We are playing this year with limited depth, but our guys are in unbelievable shape," Terry said. "They paid the price in the off-season and when we came back after Christmas break. They have given themselves the chance to be successful based on having that type of endurance."
Terry said the team has worked hard as a unit to improve defensively.
"You win games with defensive stops," Terry said. "We will figure out a way to score, but getting stops on defense is something the team has embraced and tried to improve on."
Although the improvements may not be directly reflected in the team's 11-16 record, Terry has laid a foundation for success. And the WAC Tournament at the end of the season will be an opportunity to show how solid that foundation is.
We Are Your Team!" --- Fresno State will visit Cal State Northridge for the 2012 Sears Bracketbusters on Feb. 18 in the Matadome, with tip off slated for 7 p.m. PT. This will be 30th meeting (and first since 2005) between the CSU programs, with Fresno State owning a 24-5 all-time series lead. The 'Dogs have won six of the past seven and 10 of the last 12 games against the Matadors. Fresno State then returns to the Save Mart Center for its final four regular season contests. Tickets are available at www.gobulldogs.com.
