He enjoys working under the mythological coach at Iona University • Also learned from the man who turned LeBron James into a meteor • And would love to coach in Israel: "I have a passion for the country" • Adam Kaplan wants to go far - and start with a historic performance tonight at March Madness
Kaplan with his players
Photo:
Docaine, the official site
Maccabi Haifa (when it played in the national league), LeBron James' high school coach and Rick Pitino.
No, this is not the beginning of a riddle nor a joke, but what Adam Kaplan has been through for the past three years.
The 28-year-old Jewish-American basketball coach, from Florida, dreamed of playing basketball, but bothersome injuries early in his career caused him to change direction and move to the other side of the lines.
First, in 2018, he worked as an intern in Maccabi Haifa's offices in Miami, and for the 2018/2019 season he came to Israel and worked alongside Barak Peleg, and then with Daniel Savannah in a journey that ended dramatically back in the Premier League.
Last season, Kaplan returned to the U.S. and joined Keith Dembrot's professional team at Dockin University in Pittsburgh. Dembroot is best known for his work with LeBron James in high school. The two have won two state championships together. Arrived at the NBA.
LeBron even once testified that Dembrot is the best coach he has worked with.
This season Kaplan was supposed to continue at Doquin, but then he received an offer that could not be refused.
Rick Pitino, who left Panathinaikos and was appointed head coach of the University of Iona, was looking for an assistant coach to complete his new professional hive.
Kaplan received the blessing of the road from Dembrot, who told him not to miss the opportunity to work alongside one of the best basketball coaches in college basketball history.
Tonight (22:00, Israel time) Iona will meet No. 2 Alabama and try for the first time in its history to advance to the first round of the NCAA Finals Tournament.
"Before I came to Iona I thought I knew basketball," Kaplan told Israel Today in a call from Indiana, where the games will be played, "but today I know no one understands basketball like Coach Pitino. He's the biggest teacher of the game, in his own league. "And the discipline he has in the group is something that others do not have. In 50 years I can say that I worked for him and learned from him."
"Feeling lucky"
Following the Corona virus, the NCAA administration decided that for the first time in history, the 82nd edition of the tournament would be held in one country.
For this purpose, several large hotels in the country have been closed for the benefit of the 68 teams that will participate in the games, and players are only allowed to go out for training and games.
According to authorities' guidelines, the stands will have an attendance of only 25 percent, with strict adherence to social distance and masks.
"Four times our team was shut down this year due to Corona's cases, and in fact 51 days we were inactive, but much thanks to Pitino and his order and discipline each time the team came back stronger. To qualify for the tournament we won four games in five days, and when the game clock showed zero we had a feeling Of euphoria.Since I was a kid until today I have been waiting for the moment when I will be part of the March of Madness.Apart from the Super Bowl it is the biggest event in American sports and so many great players and coaches have not been partners in this madness.I feel lucky and enjoy every minute. "I was never good enough to come here as a player, so here I have a chance as a coach."
Will we see you as a coach in Israel in the future?
"I'm happy. You never know what the future holds. I love Israel and I have a deep passion for Israeli basketball and the country. I have a dream one day to run a club or coach it. With the connections I have gained over the years in the NCAA and with what I learned from Coach Pitino "I feel I can help clubs in the country."
