Author: David Shama

Bill Fitch wasn’t trying to list candidates for the Wolves’ head coaching job but during an interview with Sports Headliners he mentioned Sam Mitchell, the former Toronto coach who also was a player here.   Fitch’s admiration for Mitchell was obvious.

Fitch, who coached the Gophers from 1968-1970, is now retired but he coached in the NBA for almost three decades and won an NBA title with Boston in 1981.  He still follows the league with interest from homes in Texas and New Mexico.

“I like Sam Mitchell a lot,” Fitch said.  “I am not pushing names but the first name that came to mind was Sam.”

Mitchell, 45, coached the Raptors for four-plus seasons, with a 156-189 record.  He was NBA Coach of the Year in 2007 after his team won the Atlantic Division.

What’s appealing to Fitch about Mitchell?  “I like his demeanor,” Fitch answered.  “He’s a patient coach.  I think he’s been grounded in the fundamentals of coaching by a lot of people.  He brings a lot of class.  He’s one I think that would bring a strong team element.

“I really thought he did a heck of a job at Toronto.  I hated to see him put out to pasture because the good Lord could come down and coach that ball club the last year there and not be happy with it.”

With minimal talent and the more promising players lacking experience, the Wolves are no sure bet to improve on last season’s 24-58 record (only four teams had worse records). The Wolves’ roster includes 24-year-old center Al Jefferson, a pair of 20-year-olds in Kevin Love and Jonny Flynn, and 18-year-old Ricky Rubio if he can escape his Spanish team contract and wants to play here.

It’s no wonder that “patience” is among the words Fitch used to describe what he thinks the Wolves need in a coach.  He believes the next Wolves boss should have previous head coaching experience and be able to assemble an outstanding group of assistants.  The top attribute needed, according to Fitch, is teaching.

Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said being an NBA coach involves a lot of expertise but the situation here puts a focus on player development.

“I don’t have a must list criteria (for a coach),” he said.  “You would love to find somebody who can cover as many bases as possible because these are huge jobs and they keep getting bigger.  And in our case clearly one component will have to be player development and teaching because we have such a young team.

“I have talked in the past about a (coach who can promote) positive environment, healthy environment, game management, X’s and O’s. …I also recognize that finding a person who can do all that in one human being may be hard.  So there is no must have.  Absolutely none, but I do believe given our youth that if I had to highlight one area it’s player development.”

Kahn was expected to review his coaching candidates over the weekend and said he anticipated interviewing this week.  He believes it’s likely a hire will be made during July.

It’s not known if Mitchell is a candidate.  TV analyst Mark Jackson’s name has been prominently mentioned for the job even though he doesn’t have previous head coaching experience.  That inexperience, including with player development, could be at least somewhat compensated for by hiring experienced assistants to complement Jackson.

Ricky Rubiocould bring a show time element here with his playmaking. “He’s one heck of a passer,” Fitch said.  “He’s worth a ticket.  He’ll put some people in the seats if you get him here.

“My biggest fear was this kid living in the snow.  You got a warm weather youngster (from Spain).  That Minneapolis weather will be the toughest thing that he’ll have to battle for awhile. …The guy can play.”

Only two Big Ten Conference players were among the 60 players taken in last week’s two rounds of drafting by NBA teams.  Center B.J. Mullens from Ohio State was a first round pick at No. 22 by Dallas.   Center Goran Sutan was the No. 20 pick by Utah on the second round.

ESPN’s Dick Vitale said Rubio and Jonny Flynn, both point guards, can’t play together and will get a “coach fired.”  He also predicted Stephen Curry, who was drafted at No. 7 by Golden State after the Wolves selected Rubio and Flynn at 5 and 6, will be the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Lindy’s Big Ten Preview magazine includes a college football all-decade team that lists Minnesota’s Greg Eslinger as the first team center.  The magazine also has a top 50 ranking of college seniors for next year’s NFL draft with Gophers’ wide receiver Eric Decker at No. 44.

Decker is first team on the publication’s all-Big Ten offense.  Gophers’ cornerback Traye Simmons is first team defense.  Quarterback Adam Weber is the publication’s choice for “most accurate passer” and “strongest arm” in the conference.  Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State is the first team quarterback, Juice Williams of Illinois the second.

On Friday when Nick Leddy was picked at No. 16 by the Wild and Jordan Schroeder at No. 22 by Vancouver it was the fourth time in six years the Gophers had two players selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. The Gophers have had 10 first-round picks since 2004 and eight players selected in the first round in the past four years. They also had two players selected in the first round in 2007 and 2004, and four first-round picks in 2006.  Leddy and Schroeder were among the first three American-born players chosen in the draft.

Fifty-one Americans were selected during last weekend’s NHL draft including 14 in the first two rounds.  Leddy, who played for Eden Prairie High School last season, was the first American drafted.

Minnesota Hockey, the governing body of youth hockey in the state, has a redesigned website to improve communications, www.minnesotahockey.org.   Beginning with the 2009-10 season, members will be able to post photos, stories, game summaries and more.  With over 60,000 registered players and coaches, Minnesota is the largest state governing body for hockey in the United States.

Five MIAC baseball players have been named to the nine-man American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings NCAA Division III Midwest Region Gold Glove team.  Carleton pitcher Ethan Guevin, St. Thomas shortstop Roy Larson, St. Thomas third baseman Dan Leslie, Bethel outfielder Tim Oesterlin and St. Thomas second baseman Louie Salmen were selected. The award honors the best defensive player at his position in the Midwest Region. Guevin and Leslie were also named to the national ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove team in May.