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Detroit Pistons tab Donnie Tyndall as Grand Rapids Drive head coach

By Aaron Ferguson

March 13, 2015: Tennessee Volunteers head coach Donny Tyndall during the Tennessee Volunteers versus the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2015 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images)
March 13, 2015: Tennessee Volunteers head coach Donny Tyndall during the Tennessee Volunteers versus the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2015 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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March 4, 2015 – Tennessee Volunteers head coach Donnie Tyndall talking with Tennessee Volunteers guard Kevin Punter (0) during the game between the LSU Tigers and Tennessee Volunteers at Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA. Tennessee Volunteers defeat the LSU Tigers 78-63. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images)
March 4, 2015 – Tennessee Volunteers head coach Donnie Tyndall talking with Tennessee Volunteers guard Kevin Punter (0) during the game between the LSU Tigers and Tennessee Volunteers at Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA. Tennessee Volunteers defeat the LSU Tigers 78-63. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /

Tyndall’s coaching style

Tyndall is one step closer to a new dream – becoming a head coach in the NBA.

"“Bottom line is I’m learning the NBA game, which is vastly different than colleges,” he told MLive. “… Most of the things in my college coaching career I have been able to accomplish and now I want to be an NBA head coach. I do. “I’m not delusional as to how hard that is going to be. But when you look at someone like Dwane Casey who did it, it’s not impossible. I know I have a lot to learn.”"

Admittedly there are differences between the college and professional game, but Tyndall’s teams liked to run in transition every opportunity they got. That leads to open layups and 3-point opportunities, which is what the professional game looks for. His teams were athletic and fast, trying to push the pace and control the tempo. His Morehead State teams included Kenneth Faried, who was on two NCAA Tournament teams.

Tyndall would run a matchup zone, which is likely to vanish as he transitions to the professional game. It required fullcourt pressure before falling into the zone, but defenders didn’t relax. Ball pressure leads to deflections and steals to set up a fast-paced offense.

"“To be quite honest, when you hear zone in high school, you think, ‘Oh, yes. Time to get a break,’ ” junior forward Armani Moore told knoxnews.com. “In this zone, you work just as hard as the offense works when it tries to get a bucket.”"

The Drive will likely play man-to-man in halfcourt settings. They may press, which is something that David Arsenault Jr., the now Grinnell head coach, tried to do with the Reno Bighorns.

Miami Heat wing Josh Richardson was one of four scholarship players that stayed at Tennessee when Tyndall was hired and got a glimpse into his teaching style, which Casey likes.

"“He’s not going to sugarcoat anything,” then-senior guard Josh Richardson said. “He’s not going to hold back anything. He’s going to tell you straight-up how it is, and you just take heed to it.”"

It will be interesting to see how Tyndall’s offense develops without using his matchup zone, which he developed for the 2009-10 season to keep Faried out of foul trouble. Tyndall will also have a full compliment of athletes to get up and down the floor, playing the up-tempo style he likes.

dark. Next. Setting realistic expectations for Sekou Doumbouya

His adjustments in his first professional head coaching position will be key to his own success and the success of players that can potentially help the Pistons, such as two-way players Jordan Bone and Louis King. Donta Hall and Todd Withers may also be optioned to the Drive after signing Exhibit 10 contracts, which will get them into camp with Detroit.