NBA D-league names Canadian bench boss 'Coach of the Year'
Former Lakehead University coach Scott Morrison leads Maine Red Claws to franchise record
The former coach of the Lakehead University men's basketball team in Thunder Bay, Ont. has been voted Coach of the Year in the NBA development league.
In his first season with the Maine Red Claws, Scott Morrison lead the squad to a franchise best record of 35 wins and 15 losses — a tie for first place in the league. The award, which is voted on by fellow coaches, was announced on April 15.
Morrison said his 10 years of experience in Thunder Bay contributed to his success with the Boston Celtics D-league franchise.
"At Lakehead, it's a tough place to recruit and because of that we placed a high priority on player development — how can we get these guys to maximize their potential, maybe even exceed their expectations," Morrison said. "Because of that, I think it was easy for me to come in here and understand the purpose of the league, which is to get guys better."
Morrison said he coached several NBA players this year on the Maine Red Claws and is thrilled to see two players who started with the Claws this year now taking part in the NBA playoffs.
P.E.I. not known for basketball
When he thinks about a future in the big leagues, Morrison also has an eye on his past and the unlikely road he travelled to where he is now.
"You know where I grew up in Morell, P.E.I., probably the majority of people there have never seen an NBA game in person, let alone on TV," he said. "I was just able to keep going and have a lot of people help me out along the way and give me a break or two, to climb the ladder a bit."
In his decade as the Thunderwolves' bench boss, Morrison recorded 185 wins and 174 losses, winning the Ontario University Athletics men's basketball championship in 2011 and finishing second in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's basketball championship in 2013.
He's also an assistant coach for Canada's U18/U19 men's team and notes the difference between coaching at that level compared to professional players.
"I can't be as much of a dictator or father figure as you might be in the college level and with the younger guys," Morrison said. "But at the same time they still need guidance and help with their game."
That sense of being a guide leads the bench boss to view the Coach of the Year award as a team award, recognizing the success and improvement of the players throughout the year.
"I definitely played a part in it, but at the end of the day it was a small part," he said. "We have a lot of great people on the court and behind the scenes...I was blessed with a great group."