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Players and fans alike will miss 'Coachie' Carril
The former Kings assistant wants to head back to East Coast
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, May 14, 2006
Pete Carril is leaving Sacramento.
And he does so with his trusty collection of game-day bow ties, his John Wayne and spaghetti Western flicks, a stack of coaching manuals and scouting reports, maybe even one last satisfying stogie that he's not supposed to have anymore.
And the man who goes by "Coachie" departs from his Kings coaching tenure with dignity - and with plenty of shuffle left in his shuffle. He'll also polish a résumé that already glistens like few others. Carril said he seeks an assistant-coaching gig for an Eastern Conference team in an effort to be grounded to his two loves: coaching and his New Jersey/Princeton roots.
The Hall of Fame coach, who became famous for his work at Princeton and was adored by Kings players and fans as the Yoda-like mentor, tendered his resignation last week. He said longtime confidant Geoff Petrie, the Kings' president of basketball operations, asked him to reconsider.
Carril, 75, said thanks but no thanks. This chapter is closed.
"I resigned right after the season," Carril said. "I knew it was over for me. I didn't want to be the only one back from the staff. It was time. I knew it."
Carril said family and friends called when they learned Rick Adelman would not return for his ninth season as Kings coach. They expressed concern and outrage. But the old coach was quick to say he's not bitter, that he moves on under his terms, that this is a business of change.
And this: "I plan on not jumping off a bridge. At 75, getting fired was the last thing I was worried about. I tell my friends and family they shouldn't feel remorse. I feel great about what we did here."
Carril said he has had feelers from two Western Conference teams, but he yearns to return to the East Coast, where his son, Peter, works on Wall Street, and his daughter, Lisa, teaches middle-school French in New Jersey.
"I'm building good roots here but losing the roots where I will finish," Carril said. "I'll coach again. I don't want to be the Hall of Fame guy who just looks good and pretty. I've always been a working coach. I have a lot to offer, a lot of energy. I'm not ready to quit."
Carril said he nearly left the Kings twice before. The first time was in 1998 when Eddie Jordan was let go as coach, thus ushering in the Adelman era. Carril stuck around because of his loyalty to Petrie. Now he admits of any chance of joining Jordan's staff with the Washington Wizards: "I wouldn't mind that at all."
Carril said he anticipated coaching two or three seasons with the Kings, not nine. He always was hands on, content with some cones, two willing players and a straight rim.
"Or one willing person, one cone and maybe not even the hoop," said Jerry Reynolds, the Kings' director of player personnel who became close to Carril. "I'm going to miss him. He's been great for this franchise, and he's been great to me, personally. He's been a real treasure, a remarkable coach."
Kevin Martin also will miss Carril. Martin credits Carril for his improvement.
"When I wasn't playing last year, he was trying to get my on-the-court game ready, but he was trying to keep me wanting to do it, too," Martin said. "Coming from a man like that, he just knows how to do it. He survived in this business all these years, you'd better listen to a man like that."
Petrie was unavailable for comment. He said earlier this season he does not look forward to the day Carril moves on, like losing a member of the family. Carril said he already has found the breakup process to be an emotional one.
"I don't know if it's because I was a part of the Kings, but it was amazing the depth of kindness people showed me," Carril said. "I go to Raley's, and I haven't seen a scowl in 10 years. The gardeners who speak Spanish, the security guards, the guy who makes the chicken soups, the doctors who became my friends, everyone has been wonderful."
Carril will meet with one of those doctors Wednesday.
"If he says I'm all right," Carril said, "I'm scootin' on."
Link
The former Kings assistant wants to head back to East Coast
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, May 14, 2006
Pete Carril is leaving Sacramento.
And he does so with his trusty collection of game-day bow ties, his John Wayne and spaghetti Western flicks, a stack of coaching manuals and scouting reports, maybe even one last satisfying stogie that he's not supposed to have anymore.
And the man who goes by "Coachie" departs from his Kings coaching tenure with dignity - and with plenty of shuffle left in his shuffle. He'll also polish a résumé that already glistens like few others. Carril said he seeks an assistant-coaching gig for an Eastern Conference team in an effort to be grounded to his two loves: coaching and his New Jersey/Princeton roots.
The Hall of Fame coach, who became famous for his work at Princeton and was adored by Kings players and fans as the Yoda-like mentor, tendered his resignation last week. He said longtime confidant Geoff Petrie, the Kings' president of basketball operations, asked him to reconsider.
Carril, 75, said thanks but no thanks. This chapter is closed.
"I resigned right after the season," Carril said. "I knew it was over for me. I didn't want to be the only one back from the staff. It was time. I knew it."
Carril said family and friends called when they learned Rick Adelman would not return for his ninth season as Kings coach. They expressed concern and outrage. But the old coach was quick to say he's not bitter, that he moves on under his terms, that this is a business of change.
And this: "I plan on not jumping off a bridge. At 75, getting fired was the last thing I was worried about. I tell my friends and family they shouldn't feel remorse. I feel great about what we did here."
Carril said he has had feelers from two Western Conference teams, but he yearns to return to the East Coast, where his son, Peter, works on Wall Street, and his daughter, Lisa, teaches middle-school French in New Jersey.
"I'm building good roots here but losing the roots where I will finish," Carril said. "I'll coach again. I don't want to be the Hall of Fame guy who just looks good and pretty. I've always been a working coach. I have a lot to offer, a lot of energy. I'm not ready to quit."
Carril said he nearly left the Kings twice before. The first time was in 1998 when Eddie Jordan was let go as coach, thus ushering in the Adelman era. Carril stuck around because of his loyalty to Petrie. Now he admits of any chance of joining Jordan's staff with the Washington Wizards: "I wouldn't mind that at all."
Carril said he anticipated coaching two or three seasons with the Kings, not nine. He always was hands on, content with some cones, two willing players and a straight rim.
"Or one willing person, one cone and maybe not even the hoop," said Jerry Reynolds, the Kings' director of player personnel who became close to Carril. "I'm going to miss him. He's been great for this franchise, and he's been great to me, personally. He's been a real treasure, a remarkable coach."
Kevin Martin also will miss Carril. Martin credits Carril for his improvement.
"When I wasn't playing last year, he was trying to get my on-the-court game ready, but he was trying to keep me wanting to do it, too," Martin said. "Coming from a man like that, he just knows how to do it. He survived in this business all these years, you'd better listen to a man like that."
Petrie was unavailable for comment. He said earlier this season he does not look forward to the day Carril moves on, like losing a member of the family. Carril said he already has found the breakup process to be an emotional one.
"I don't know if it's because I was a part of the Kings, but it was amazing the depth of kindness people showed me," Carril said. "I go to Raley's, and I haven't seen a scowl in 10 years. The gardeners who speak Spanish, the security guards, the guy who makes the chicken soups, the doctors who became my friends, everyone has been wonderful."
Carril will meet with one of those doctors Wednesday.
"If he says I'm all right," Carril said, "I'm scootin' on."
Link
Man, what a guy. I'll miss him more than Rick.
