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FORMER GORDON COACH COMES BACK HOME TO CHICAGO |
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Written by John Montgomery
Thursday, 06 November 2008 11:04 |
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Derrick Rose isn’t the only person on the Bulls who is glad to be back at home. Joining Rose on his hometown team is former Gordon basketball coach Bob Ociepka.
Ociepka was hired by the Bulls during the summer as an assistant for new head coach Vinny Del Negro. “It’s a not a dream come true because I never dreamed it would happen,” admitted Ociepka who spent six years guiding Gordon to 128 wins, three Catholic League titles and a trip to the state basketball finals in 1980.
. “I always wanted to be the head coach at Gordon. I honestly thought Minnesota would be my last stop. I had one year left on my contract.To comeback and be associated with the team I cheered for is obviuosly an honor.”
“He’s well respected in the game,” said Del Negro on his new sidekick. “He is going to be a tremendous asset to the staff.” Ociepka was with the Timberwolves last season who won only 22 games after they traded Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics. The result of that trade saw the Wolves fall into the NBA draft lottery while Garnett would lead the Celtics to the NBA title.
“We knew it was going to be tough without Garnett,” said Ociepka who began his NBA coaching career with the Pacers in 1989. “He is the most intense player I’ve ever been around. He wanted to win every drill in practice. I’m very happy for him that he won an NBA title. I sent him a note of congratulations.”
Ociepka’s long journey to the NBA coaching ranks that has included nine teams began at St. Mel high school and Quincy College. Ociepka received his degree in Physical Education with a minor in English before becoming a guidance counselor at Gordon.
Garnett, Reggie Miller, and Allen Iverson have benefitted from the basketball mind of the 59-year old.
“He’s a true professional,” said Miller on playing for Ociepka.
Ociepka would leave Gordon in 1985 become the head varsity basketball coach at York. He received an interesting call in 1988 from his friend Dick Versace who had coached at Gordon and Bradley University. The call was an offer to coach with the Pacers.
Ociepka is now in his 20th season on an NBA bench and his new job is to help direct the Bulls back into the playoffs after a 33-49 campaign.
Ociepka is impressed with Rose who led Simeon to back-to-back state basketball titles before helping Memphis make the NCAA Championship where they were beaten by Kansas in overtime this past spring.
“With the basketball, I don’t now if I have ever seen anybody quicker,” said Ociepka on Rose who was the first pick the 2008 NBA draft. “This young man has a passing mentality. Guys on the team love to play with him. He’s the kind of player you might have to make him shoot the basketball. He’s a tremendous kid.”
Ociepka hasn’t forgotten his days at Gordon by keeping in touch with coaches and former players.
“I had tears in my eyes when I had to leave Gordon,” said Ociepka. “If the salary would have been higher I would have been like Gene Pingatore of St Joseph and stayed at one school for many years. I loved it at Gordon. We won a lot of games not because I was a genius. We had talented hard-nosed kids and a good coaching staff.”
Ociepka led Gordon to the state basketball finals in 1980 during his first season as head coach. The Rams went 24-6 before losing to Dan Duff and Lincoln in the state quarterfinals at Assembly Hall in Champaign.
Ociepka like Del Negro is known for basketball knowledge and people skills. In fact, he just finished writing his third book which is filled with stories and life lessons called MINESTRONE FOR THE MOBSTERS SOUL. Ociepka penned two books on the NBA.
Now, Ociepka is trying to help a rookie coach in Del Negro. Ociepka will be joined by former NBA head coaches Del Harris and Bernie Bickerstaff on the bench.
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