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Ed O’Bannon watches UNLV take on San Diego State in February at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.
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A passing comment from former Durango High coach Al LaRoque in the Findlay Toyota sales lot three weeks ago mushroomed into Ed O’Bannon’s next basketball chapter.
The man who led UCLA to an NCAA national championship in 1995 officially takes over today as the coach of the Henderson International School boys’ team.
“I’ll get a chance to go in and learn from them, and they’ll get to learn from me,” O’Bannon said. “I’m pretty excited about it. I don’t have a whole lot of experience, but I’m fired up.
“Hopefully, I’ll make a difference in some of these kids’ lives, teach them the game of basketball and really be involved in the game again.”
Henderson International athletic director Mike Ostrowski sensed enthusiasm from O’Bannon when they first talked.
“I couldn’t believe how excited he was to get back into it,” Ostrowski said. “He was genuinely stoked.”
Actually, there was some initial hesitation.
LaRoque was buying a Prius from O’Bannon, a Findlay assistant promotions manager, for his daughter Lindy, who just finished her freshman year at Stanford, when LaRoque first asked him about coaching.
Would you be interested? O’Bannon didn’t think much about it. A few days later, LaRoque rang O’Bannon to confirm the vacancy, created by Greg Stephens’s increased workload at the school.
“I was a bit nervous,” O’Bannon said. His three kids had rekindled his desire for the game, and he has always enjoyed working with children. But coaching? “Are you kidding me?”
He had worked with San Diego State forward Billy White at Green Valley High, but that was on an individual and volunteer basis. He talked with his wife, Rosa, a counselor at Chaparral High, about the post.
He slept on it. He woke up rejuvenated.
“Why not?” O’Bannon said. “I won’t be any good if I don’t try. So that’s where I am. Let me just go ahead and give it a shot and see what happens. Again, I love working with kids. I think it’ll be great.”
Danny Haney, an executive athletic director for the Meritas Schools, whose family includes Henderson International, first surveyed LaRoque about candidates for the post.
“Ed’s playing experience speaks for itself,” LaRoque said. “If kids need a good role model, that’s him. He’s a family man. It’s really a good fit, and I think Ed will take it, run with it and do some good things with it.”
Findlay general manager Rich Abajian has always talked with O’Bannon about stepping outside of himself, of his comfort zone, to try new things and test himself.
“I’m looking to do as many things as I can,” said O’Bannon, 36. “I want to accomplish the world. This is definitely a step for me. I never really dreamed of being a coach, but Rich is behind me 100 percent.”
The former UNLV commitment had 30 points and 17 rebounds for UCLA in the title-clinching victory over Arkansas in Seattle in 1995.
Drafted by New Jersey, the 6-foot-8 lefty languished in two NBA seasons with the Nets and Dallas Mavericks. He played in Italy, Spain, Greece, Argentina and Poland.
He brought his family to Henderson five years ago. They live in Anthem, a mile from Henderson International, the private institution formerly known as the Warren-Walker School.
O’Bannon will share the gym with Findlay College Prep, the program affiliated with Henderson International that capped its third season with an ESPN national championship two months ago.
“It’s a great, great hire for the school and the community,” Ostrowski said. “It’s great to get a guy with his experience and knowledge. We’ll provide an atmosphere here where he can grow and develop as a coach.”
Last season, the Wolverines were 15-14, which included a 9-1 record in the 1A South League and the program’s first playoff victory.
The majority of O’Bannon’s 2009-10 squad will be freshmen and sophomores, so they’ll grow with their new coach. However, the new coach will expect plenty from himself and his players.
“I’m looking to go in and do pretty well,” O’Bannon said. “If I go in and be lackadaisical and take it as a small-time thing, then I’m cheating the kids.”
That isn’t how O’Bannon learned to play the game from Wayne Merino at Lakewood (Calif.) Artesia High or Jim Harrick at UCLA.
“They taught me how to play hard all the time,” O’Bannon said. “That’s the only way I’ll be successful. I have to do the same thing, teach these kids the same way I was taught.”
Monday, O’Bannon spoke with Harrick, who lives in Southern California, and Harrick invited his former ace over for a round of golf and some coaching tips.
O’Bannon will make that four-hour drive to Orange County within the next week.
“He wants me to stay with him for a day or two,” O’Bannon said, “and he said he’ll clear out his closet and give me all of his coach (John) Wooden things, game plans … everything.
“I have no idea what to expect, but I at least know the basketball and the hoop are round. And I know the game. In that sense, I’m comfortable with it. But I better have my speeches ready.”
Hold up. I thought Findlay Prep were the Henderson International School's team. No wonder people were complaining saying the Pilots relationship to the school was bogus.
Findlay is a separate entity. Its players attend the Henderson Int'l School and are held to the same strict guidelines as any other student at that school. Victor Rudd, for example, was suspended one game last season when he failed to turn in a paper in one class. With about 90 9-12 kids a year, it's easy to track all of the students' progress on an exam-by-exam basis. There is nothing "bogus" about that relationship, or Cliff Findlay wouldn't put his name on it. Everything about that program is legit, with the NCAA's stamp on it.
But this isn't about Findlay. This is about Henderson International's team, as the article states.
Regarding the O'Bannon situation - I had no idea he was a local. I'm glad he's decided to do this. He seems like a nice guy and it will be interesting to see how well he does.
Regarding the Findlay/Henderson International relationship - I don't understand the whole situation at all. What is a Prep school anyway? Is it a High School? Is it a remedial school? Is it a place where you collect athletic talent so you can win State and National championships? Can anyone explain in detail?
S711
Its really not that hard sinatra.
Basically a prep school is a privet school that is governed differently than your local public school. That means stricter guidelines, harder courses, dress codes, ability to generate revenue, maybe even dormitories etc. The goal is to prepare ALL students for college hence the name prep as in preparatory as in prepare as in 100% graduation rate...To get in you have to have the money or get a scholarship based on academic or athletic abilities. Many prep-schools have sports teams to help generate revenue for the school and program which is all legal because again the entity is private!
Simple, no?
Spot on, SMB. It isn't simple at all, but in Findlay's case all i's were dotted and t's were crossed with the NCAA and with the NIAA, the state's prep governing body. Findlay does not poach local talent or compete in state playoffs, therefore is allowed to play against a certain number of local schools every season. This helps its travel budget and gives the locals a premier program to gauge itself against. Many coaches last season told me that it's priceless playing Findlay, that their players thought they were pretty hot stuff, then got a big does of humility when going up against the Pilots.
But let's back up. I've written plenty about Findlay.
This story is about Henderson International and a former collegiate star's first coaching gig to continue building THAT program. Ed is a class act and that will be a team to keep your eye on.
I went to henderson international back in the day.
Its a confusing situation, but henderson international used to be known as warren walker. Two or three years ago, the owner of the land they were on tried to develop it into a neighborhood. A national private school company "bailed them out" and they took the name henderson international.
Findlay prep was started a couple years ago. The players are scouted from out of state, even international, and they attend and board at henderson international but play on findlay. They still attend the school, and therefore are subject to discipline from the school.
Its a terrible school, henderson international. Too much change over the last 5 years
Good luck Mr. O'Bannon! I look forward to seeing your efforts and hard work, and appreciate your enthusiasm. Great story Mr. Meich!
Great choice. Ed's a fine man and a great warrior. I'm sure he'll have a very positive impact on those lives.
Wonderful!
Lets get them out of 1A immediately, then give Lake Mead Cristian the boot from 1A.
Let them play 3A where they can get a challenging game.