Q&A with new Tech assistant hoops coach Tony Skinn

Any casual college basketball fan remembers George Mason's magical Final Four run in 2006 when the Patriots upended UConn in the Elite 8 to advance all the way to the biggest stage in the country.

Once the memory bank is engaged, the names of players start to resurface like forward Jai Lewis, point guard Tony Skinn, forward Will Thomas or guard Lamar Butler.

However, the last thing associated with the George Mason players is anyone in the coaching profession. That is until Tuesday when Louisiana Tech coach Eric Konkol hired Skinn as one of his three new assistant coaches.

Skinn played overseas for six years and spent the last three seasons with Nike Team Takeover, one of the more highly regarded AAU programs in the country.

On Thursday, I had a chance to fire rounds of questions at Skinn during his layover in Atlanta. The topics involved how he fits in at Tech, his experiences as a recruiter and what his youth will bring to the Bulldogs' program.

The News-Star: What was the immediate reaction when you and Eric Konkol talked about coming to Louisiana Tech?

Tony Skinn: I have been working toward the coaching thing for the past three years with Team Takeover. I knew something was coming up close. I interviewed a few places. I interviewed at George Mason and I had a few opportunities that were brewing, but it just ended up working out that somebody I considered a mentor and a coach that helped me throughout my career in college and also professionally. When the opportunity was presented toward me, it was a no-brainer.

TNS: So you were getting ready to make the leap to college coaching anyway?

TS: I played professionally for six years. Obviously I got hurt abruptly, so the closest thing for me with the fact that I've always been in the game, I quickly realized coaching was the next thing for me. I immediately jumped into it right after and that's what I've been working toward over the last three years.

TNS: From a resume standpoint, some may look and see you don't have college coaching experience and maybe wonder about that, but how does your past experiences in the AAU circuit help being able to jump in?

TS: It is what it is as far as experience is concerned. There's different qualities and different intangibles you can have as a coach. I don't see how a coach can start being a coach and gain experience if he doesn't get his first job. For me, I think coach Konkol sees the vision of just letting the guys believe in him and achieve what he has planned. At the end of the day, I was a player for coach Konkol and 13, 14 years later still have a great relationship. That's what it's about. Basketball is one thing, but in general when we're dealing with student-athletes you gotta see longer than that.

I think coach Konkol is one of those coaches that you can always pick up the phone and talk to him. Guys want to see that. Going back to the D.C. area with Team Takeover, over the past couple years, not being biased, but it's probably one of the top three programs in the country. We pretty much took all our guys to Division I from high-major to mid-major. The connections I've built there with Keith Stevens, who runs the operations, and some of the guys I met during my six years overseas who are now coaches on the East coast and all over the country, just many, many, many connections that brings me back to that portion of it. It's like second nature for me.

TNS: Do you think those relationships can go even further? At a place like Louisiana Tech, like I'm sure at George Mason, it's a mid-major so some of the recruits might not listen to Louisiana Tech if they have other big offers, but do you think you can command that with the connections you've made at the AAU level?

TS: In recruiting when we're dealing with kids, I think when you have so many people involved and so many schools coming at you, there's a trust factor. I know the way to do stuff and I know the way coach Konkol has done stuff with guys he's recruited. It goes a long way. I'm the father of two. When the time comes when my son has to go somewhere, I'm going to take where I think I can trust the people who he's going to be around for pretty much the next for or five years of his life regardless where that is. Most of the parents I have relationships with, I just think that's something I have and hopefully that goes a long way and we're able to get some of those from that side to come back down. Louisiana Tech is not a household name on the East coast until you realize the history behind Louisiana Tech. it's huge and I think that's something we have. We have to keep luring people to come down to see.

TNS: What's the best way to describe coach Konkol and how can you translate your feelings of him toward the returning players to get them more comfortable with him and his system?

TS: Coach Konkol, and I've played for a lot of people, coach Konkol is probably the smartest, most organized I've played for or just had a relationship with. That goes a long way when it comes to the every day coaching. Not to throw anyone under the bus, but sometimes coaches just coach. When you actually know what you're talking about, it's no secret why he's been a top assistant and had the chance to interview for a head coaching gig. He's a players coach. When I came down last week I was just joking with the guys and I was asking them who do you think the best shooter in the room is right now, including myself and I consider myself a great shooter, and nobody said my name. They said coach Konkol. Coach Konkol is a heckuva a shooter. It's one of those things I think he's a good teacher and I think the guys will come to realize that real quick.

TNS: How was the experience last week interacting with the players and bonding with them?

TS: It's easy for me. I'm not too far removed from it. 32 is pretty decently young. I'm around guys that age all the time and I think the guys know that. The credibility is there. Obviously I played at a very high level, went to the Final Four in 2006 and some of those guys remember that with the Internet. They had a few chances to see clips of me playing. it was just comfortable. At the end of the day, those guys have done well. It's no secret the success they've had over the last three years. My hope is they understand we're here to help them and we're there to be more successful and try to get into the NCAA Tournament. That's our goal. It was a easy transition in talking to those guys.

TNS: Did any of the current players bring up the video of you crossing up James Harden?

TS: (Laughs) A couple of them did. They asked if that was me. That's been viral for the past two years and people obviously know who James Harden is, but they don't know who the little guy who's making the move is. When you put a face to it, it rings a bell. Obviously I think I've done more in my career, but if that's going to help you respect me then I'll take it, you know?

TNS: In the past couple of days since they left (for finals), what are some of the things you've been talking to them about to get them ready for when they come back in July?

TS: I haven't gotten a chance to talk to all those guys. I texted them as soon as I got the job. I texted the majority of the guys. All of them have texted me back. My biggest thing is just letting them know I appreciate the opportunity to be with you guys. I know it's a change in faces but we're all here to accomplish the same thing and it starts today. Just because you have three or four weeks off, the best time to get better is when you're by yourself. I just kind of texted with those guys to let them know we're here to have fun but we gotta work. I think back to when I was in the Final Four and all the things we did before the season started, preseason and all those things that just come together so detailed, and you really don't pay attention to it until you accomplish something. That's something I reminded the guys that it starts today and you have to put that work in, and let's try to get this thing done and rolling from what the previous staff, coach White, what they did. Let's try to keep that going and extend it a little further.

TNS: In your limited interactions, how receptive would you say they are to the new staff?

TS: It helps if you can have a guy to say this is not all talk. Some of the things you're thinking, some of the things you've done, some of the things you will do, I did it and I probably did it better. So that to me is just the most important thing that you can come to me and talk about anything. The coaching staff is here for you. We're here to work together and it's just a trust factor that hopefully we can build. That's going to help on and off the court. I think the guys were pretty receptive.

TNS: Coach is excited about brining in Matt McMahon from Murray State and thinks he'll be a head coach very soon. What type of things can you learn from him?

TS: I'm a learner. I'm a student of the game. I was actually on the phone with coach McMahon for about a half an hour when he was driving in to Ruston and we hit it off immediately. He's a high energy guy and I can see why coach Konkol is bringing him on his staff. I told him get ready for me to be annoying because I'm going to pick your brain. I have a lot to learn. Coaching, I've learned over the last two or three years, is a lot different than playing. for me, just as good as I was as a player I want to be as good as a coach. I have a lot to learn, and I'm willing to just be open minded and listen to what guys have done and try to get as much from them being around them all the time.