Mark Madsen still remembers when Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said a few simple yet impactful words in a room that included Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
“Every single man in this room has talents and abilities that can help this team win,” said Madsen, recalling the words of the famed NBA coach who won 11 NBA championships with the Lakers and Chicago Bulls.
Those words empowered Madsen, made him feel like he was just as important as the Hall of Fame players making millions of dollars and getting all the shots. And that’s exactly that kind of feeling he wants to impart on his players as the first-year coach of the Utah Valley Wolverines.
“Anything that we can do here to help our players grow their confidence [and] build their pack mentality is something that I want to do,” Madsen said.
So far, so good. The Wolverines won their season opener over Westminster College on Tuesday behind junior Isaiah White’s 25 points and 13 rebounds. White is one of just two returning starters for Utah Valley, which had many of its players from last year transfer after Mark Pope left for BYU in April.
IN SUMMARY
The Wolverines will succeed if: They embrace the newness. Utah Valley is playing with house money this season due to all the changes over the summer. If the team and its new coaches can take everything in stride and make this season about fun, they can win more games than expected.
The Wolverines won’t succeed if: They succumb to inevitable adversity. Since the day he took over, Madsen has been trying to build strong relationships with his players so the trust is there during difficult times. “We have to be ready to become tighter and not be torn apart when those moments of adversity hit,” Madsen said.
Bottom line: This will be a building year for the Wolverines, who have to get adjusted to a host of new players and a new coaching staff. There will be some wins and also some growing pains, but there won’t be very high expectations for the group in Year 1 of Mark Madsen.
Madsen said despite the attrition, he’s excited about the group of players he will coach for the 2019-20 season, especially White.
“Isaiah plays with a tenacity that you rarely see at any level — high school, college or the pros,” Madsen said. “Isaiah’s an ultimate gamer. When the lights are on at 7 o’clock, he’s ready to go. He’s almost like a thoroughbred in a stable — just ready to get out there on that racetrack and do something special.”
Madsen also thinks his two graduate transfers, Brandon Morley and Emmanuel Olojakpoke, will make big impacts this season. Both players had five blocks against Westminster.
“I think that those two transfers, in terms of the back line, have been a huge help,” Madsen said.
Madsen’s biggest adjustment to coaching life may be the amount of new responsibility that comes with leading a university program. When he was with the Lakers, he recalled, there was a staff member for everything, and some of them even had assistants.
But with UVU, he’s the one that has to put out all the fires and answer all the questions.
“My phone rings at any hour, from day or night, with all types of questions, problems, situations,” Madsen said. “And my job is to come up with solutions. My job is to find a way to figure out every unique scenario that comes.”
Madsen said he feels inspired by his players and their discipline to still dedicate themselves to playing basketball at a high level despite how much they have going on at school.
“Seeing the guys and the massive amount of responsibility that they have,” Madsen said, “it just increases the respect that I have for them.”
Madsen is looking forward to all the new responsibilities and challenges that come with his new role. His goal, he said, is to help every player reach their fullest potential as students, athletes and people.
“It’s an honor to be able to coach these young men, to spend time with them, and to be there for both the successes and the moments that are tough,” Madsen said.
UVU’S 2019-20 SCHEDULE
All times Mountain
Tuesday — UVU 72, Westminster 55
Saturday — at Denver, 1 p.m.
Nov. 12 — Ottawa (Az.), 7 p.m.
Nov. 15 — at UAB, BBN Showcase, 6 p.m.
Nov. 18 — at Kentucky, BBN Showcase, 5 p.m.
Nov. 21 — Lamar, 7 p.m.
Nov. 23 — at North Dakota State, 4 p.m.
Nov. 26 — at Mount St. Mary’s, BBN Showcase, 5 p.m.
Dec. 1 — at Colorado State, 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 4 — Weber State, 7 p.m.
Dec. 7 — at Southern Utah, 2 p.m.
Dec. 14 — Northern Arizona, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 — at Wyoming, 7 p.m.
Dec. 21 — at Long Beach State, 5 p.m.
Dec. 28 — Antelope Valley, 3 p.m.
Jan. 2 — at Chicago State, 6 p.m.
Jan. 4 — at Kansas City, 6 p.m.
Jan. 11 — at Seattle U, 8 p.m.
Jan. 16 — New Mexico State, 7 p.m.
Jan. 18 — UT Rio Grande Valley, 2 p.m.
Jan. 23 — at CSU Bakersfield, 8 p.m.
Jan. 25 — at Grand Canyon, 6 p.m.
Jan. 29 — California Baptist, 7 p.m.
Feb. 8 — Seattle U, 2 p.m.
Feb 13 — at UT Rio Grande Valley, 6 p.m.
Feb. 15 — at New Mexico State, 4 p.m.
Feb. 20 — CSU Bakersfield, 7 p.m.
Feb. 22 — Grand Canyon, 2 p.m.
Feb. 26 — at California Baptist, 8 p.m.
March 5 — Kansas City, 7 p.m.
March 7 — Chicago State, 2 p.m.
