Former Detroit Pistons legend and NBA champion Rasheed Wallace could be coaching soon. According to reports from Marc Stein he’s a top candidate for a college coaching position. He’s looking to make a big splash at the collegiate level with the Memphis Tigers.
From the college ranks: Sources say Rasheed Wallace has emerged as a prime candidate to join Penny Hardaway's Memphis staff as an assistant coach.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 31, 2021
Penny has already hired Larry Brown, the only coach to win NCAA and NBA titles, as an assistant.
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Head Coach Anfernee Hardaway knows all about his soon to be assistant, battling it out with him during their respective careers. These former All Stars together would be considered the most star studded coaching staff in the college game.
Rasheed as a player was known for being outspoken and having a fiery personality. He was also known for having a bag of tricks and offensively being one of the most skilled bigs of his time. The former power forward’s high basketball IQ and understanding of the game makes him a viable candidate to the staff.
Detroit Pistons: Rasheed Wallace has the background to be a great coach
Rasheed was blessed with being around some of the biggest names in coaching history during his basketball days, learning multiple schemes and styles of play in his years. Guys like Larry Brown are in the hall of fame for his contribution to the game, becoming the only head coach to win championships in the NCAA and NBA.
He also had the luxury of Dean Smith’s brilliant basketball mind during his Carolina days. These two molded him into a well rounded player and a student of the game. With coaches and mentors like these two it explains why coach Hardaway is looking to add his experience and overall knowledge to his staff. Brown was recently added to the staff earlier this month so it could be a Detroit Pistons reunion in the making. The chemistry the two share from winning the 2004 NBA championship should help him fit right in.
Wallace has been building his coaching resume for awhile now being a assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons in 2013 under head coach Maurice Cheeks. It didn’t last, as Cheeks was released at season’s end and a new regime took over the front office and coaching assignments. He also coached Jordan High School in North Carolina. He was considered by many as a top candidate to replace former North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, but was edged out by by another former Tarheel’s player Hubert Davis.
Look for him to add a no nonsense approach and help with the development of recruits especially with the bigs. He has a vast amount of knowledge and should be a valuable asset when recruiting. It’s hard to find a college staff that has this kind of coaching power already with Coach Brown and Coach Hardaway. If the Tigers decide he’s the right guy for the job it will give them a three-headed monster of basketball excellence for the coaching department for the American Athletic Conference powerhouse.