Episode 159: Jerry Stackhouse, Defense, Grading, NBA Influence and Connecting Ideas for Players

Guest: Jerry Stackhouse, Vanderbilt University Head Coach

In this week's coaching conversation, Vanderbilt University head coach Jerry Stackhouse joins the podcast to defense, grading, his NBA influence, and connecting ideas for players.

Entering his third season with the Commodores, Jerry Stackhouse has made a noticeable impact in turning around the Vanderbilt program. In his first season, two Commodores were selected in the NBA Draft, including lottery pick Aaron Nesmith who was chosen 14th overall by the Boston Celtics, and junior guard Saben Lee who was picked 37th overall by the Detroit Pistons. Stackhouse’s creative offensive sets enabled Nesmith to lead the nation in 3-point field goals made and 3-point field goal percentage (before a foot injury sidelined him after 14 games) and propelled Lee to three 30-point games and a second-team All-SEC selection in 2019-20.

Most recently, Scotty Pippen Jr. earned All-SEC first-team honors and set the school scoring record for a sophomore in 2020-21. He finished second in the SEC in scoring (20.8 points per game) and assists (4.9), while sophomore forward Dylan Disu led the SEC in rebounding (9.2) and was named the conference’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Prior to Vanderbilt, Stackhouse served as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies which was preceded by two seasons as head coach of the NBA G League’s Raptors 905. As head coach of Raptors 905, Stackhouse earned NBA G League Coach of the Year honors after he steered the team to a 39-11 regular-season record and 6-1 playoff record in 2016-17, en route to the team’s first NBA G League championship. The following season, Stackhouse led the Raptors 905 to a 31-19 regular-season record and a second straight appearance in the NBA G League Finals.

Prior to taking the head coaching job in the G League, Stackhouse was an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors during the 2015-16 season.

In his 18-year NBA career, Jerry Stackhouse appeared in 970 games (564 starts) for eight teams and averaged 16.9 points, 3.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 31.2 minutes. A two-time All-Star with the Detroit Pistons (2000, 2001), Stackhouse posted career highs of 29.8 points (second in the NBA) during the 2000-01 season, leading the league in total points and free throws made. He reached the 2006 NBA Finals as a member of the Dallas Mavericks.

After playing for legendary head coach Dean Smith and earning Sports Illustrated Player of the Year, All-America first team, and All-ACC honors at North Carolina, Stackhouse was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the third overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. He was named to the 1995-96 NBA All-Rookie first team after leading all first-year players in scoring (19.8 points).

In 2011, Stackhouse launched Stackhouse Elite, an AAU program based in Atlanta, Georgia. The program captured numerous titles in the 15U, 16U, and 17U divisions.

Breakdown

1:00 - Shaping His Philosophy

4:00 - Emphasis on Defense

6:00 - Balance of Offense and Defense

8:00 - Defensive Mechanism

12:00 - Scouting Report Specifics

18:00 - Close-Outs

24:00 - Competitive Cauldron

28:00 - Freeing Players

33:00 - Coaching Style

36:00 - Grading On and Off

38:00 - Corner Threes