Meet Coach Dean P.! One of our great basketball coaches from outside Austin, TX. who can help young athletes take their game to another level. He’s been playing basketball his whole life and enjoys working with kids. Dean has high expectations of himself as a coach and wants his clients to have high expectations too. Learn a little about him and see if he is the right coach for you.
Let’s hear about your background in basketball.
I have been playing basketball since I was 4 years old in different youth associations. I later became a 3-time District MVP as well as an All-State player in my 3 years of high school varsity. I went on to play basketball in college and had a double-double in a Division II game. I also picked up a few conference awards at Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Why did you decide to become a private coach?
I wanted to help kids learn the game I love, and I wanted them to learn the right way. So many people believe that basketball is a game of shooting and scoring. I want to teach kids that there is so much more to it. I want to train the kids to think while they play, and learn that every situation has an answer. I hope to help them reach goals that they might not have expected to be able to accomplish, which was my experience with basketball.
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
Seeing the kids put what we’ve worked on into action. I have a lot of pride in my work. That’s why I love coaching so much. I love seeing a kid succeed by doing something he might not ever have done in the past. I like to see kids get excited over seeing and making a pass because they remember working on that exact situation in practice.
What can a client expect from private lessons with you?
A can expect that I will give him or her my undivided attention in and outside of the lesson. I always try to engage with my players as much as possible. I try to see as many of their games as I can, so that I can see first hand what they need to work on. Players can expect college level drills, and college level expectations. A player needs to expect that I am going to put in 100 percent, because they will need to do the same.
Who is your favorite coach and why?
My favorite coach would be Rick Pitino because of his intensity. I can remember watching film of him at Kentucky. He was relentless, and I’ve coached by his saying: “If you aren’t working hard, you might as well not be working.” That resonated with me because I think that if you are only going to go 75% during practice, then you’ll only get 75% in games. You will never get what you want out of it. You have to go 100% all the time, or you won’t be ready for the game speed.
