Grace Christian hires Brandon Clifford as new boys basketball coach
Brandon Clifford was left with a choice: continue climbing the NBA ladder or get back to a place where he could do all the things he loved, even if it was on a lower level.
After weighing all his options, the choice became clear, and on Tuesday he was named the new boys basketball coach at Grace Christian Academy.
Clifford had spent the 2016-17 NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks, where he was responsible for individual player development.
"For me, it was kind of a double-edged sword," Clifford said. "When I took the position with the Mavericks in player development, which was behind the scenes working with the guys and something that I loved to do because I love to teach the game, but I really underestimated how much I love high school coaching. The relationships with the players, the sideline element of the game and preparing and seeing that plan come together, I really missed those things.
"When you put that on top of the family element because it's such a demanding job when you're on the bottom rung and trying to make your way up and I have three young kids, so it got to the point where I could grind it out and try to stay in the NBA, which could have been really hard on my family, or find a place that I could (do) all the things I wanted to do."
The lower rung of the NBA coaching ladder did not prevent him from gathering a wealth of knowledge from some of the league's best.
"When you work for a guy like Rick Carlisle, who's a future NBA Hall of Fame coach, you see the attention to detail, especially on the offensive side of the ball," Clifford said. "Then, to watch guys (like) Dirk Nowitzki, Harrison Barnes and Wesley Matthews, those guys are pros' pros. They work hard, but they also work smart, and as a coach I was able to observe that.
"I think all of that will help me as a player developer, and at the same time, it reinforced my belief in the commitment it takes to be successful."
Clifford previously coached at High Point (N.C.) Academy for seven years, compiling a 153-67 record. During his tenure, 21 playerscontinued their basketball careers in college, including 15 at Division I schools. The most notable of those was 2016 McDonald's All-American and former Kentucky forward Edrice "Bam" Adebayo, who is a likely selection in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft.
"I was very blessed to have a lot of talented players, but as a coach, I just want my players to get better – spiritually, as a young man, in the classroom or physically," Clifford said. "If that ends with them reaching the college level, that's great. But if not, I just hope they were able to grow from playing for me. I take a lot of pride in that."
Clifford replaces Mike Doig, who resigned March 20 to fill the director of football operations vacancy at Indiana University. The Rams made it to the TSSAA state tournament last season, upsetting Class A No. 1 Humboldt in the first round before falling to Clay County in the semifinals.
"I am confident that Brandon will be a great fit with our team as he aligns with our desire to equip well-rounded student-athletes who uphold a strong academic standing and are continually growing in their relationships with Christ," Grace Christian Head of School Rob Hammonds said in a release.
Brandon Clifford was left with a choice: continue climbing the NBA ladder or get back to a place where he could do all the things he loved, even if it was on a lower level.
After weighing all his options, the choice became clear, and on Tuesday he was named the new boys basketball coach at Grace Christian Academy.
Clifford had spent the 2016-17 NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks, where he was responsible for individual player development.
"For me, it was kind of a double-edged sword," Clifford said. "When I took the position with the Mavericks in player development, which was behind the scenes working with the guys and something that I loved to do because I love to teach the game, but I really underestimated how much I love high school coaching. The relationships with the players, the sideline element of the game and preparing and seeing that plan come together, I really missed those things.
"When you put that on top of the family element because it's such a demanding job when you're on the bottom rung and trying to make your way up and I have three young kids, so it got to the point where I could grind it out and try to stay in the NBA, which could have been really hard on my family, or find a place that I could (do) all the things I wanted to do."
The lower rung of the NBA coaching ladder did not prevent him from gathering a wealth of knowledge from some of the league's best.
"When you work for a guy like Rick Carlisle, who's a future NBA Hall of Fame coach, you see the attention to detail, especially on the offensive side of the ball," Clifford said. "Then, to watch guys (like) Dirk Nowitzki, Harrison Barnes and Wesley Matthews, those guys are pros' pros. They work hard, but they also work smart, and as a coach I was able to observe that.
"I think all of that will help me as a player developer, and at the same time, it reinforced my belief in the commitment it takes to be successful."
Clifford previously coached at High Point (N.C.) Academy for seven years, compiling a 153-67 record. During his tenure, 21 playerscontinued their basketball careers in college, including 15 at Division I schools. The most notable of those was 2016 McDonald's All-American and former Kentucky forward Edrice "Bam" Adebayo, who is a likely selection in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft.
"I was very blessed to have a lot of talented players, but as a coach, I just want my players to get better – spiritually, as a young man, in the classroom or physically," Clifford said. "If that ends with them reaching the college level, that's great. But if not, I just hope they were able to grow from playing for me. I take a lot of pride in that."
Clifford replaces Mike Doig, who resigned March 20 to fill the director of football operations vacancy at Indiana University. The Rams made it to the TSSAA state tournament last season, upsetting Class A No. 1 Humboldt in the first round before falling to Clay County in the semifinals.
"I am confident that Brandon will be a great fit with our team as he aligns with our desire to equip well-rounded student-athletes who uphold a strong academic standing and are continually growing in their relationships with Christ," Grace Christian Head of School Rob Hammonds said in a release.
