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The Charlotte Hornets should hire J.J. Redick as their new head coach.
Redick was a two-time All-American and national player of the year at Duke, despite being one of the most harassed members of the Blue Devils during a college career where he admits to almost bottoming out due to depression.
Redick played in one Final Four for a team ranked in the top ten for four years, and his missed shot at the end of the 2004 national semifinals loss to UConn still haunts him while at the same time he is glad he missed it.
He says that was the lowest moment of his life and considered leaving Duke after that season. He claims if he had made that shot and played Georgia Tech on Monday night (a game Duke would have certainly won), his life would have continued down the wrong path. With the help of his family, teammates and coaches, Redick went through intense therapy and returned to Duke happier.
That allowed him to deal with future disappointments, like losing his Senior Game to Carolina in 2006 after a record-breaking season when he made the most consecutive free throws and scored the most points in ACC history.
The 11th pick in the NBA Draft, Redick was a solid pro for 15 years playing for six teams. After retirement, he turned to podcasting, where he was so good he quickly moved to ESPN as an analyst and eventually broadcasting games. He did not combat the talking heads and earned the respect of Stephen A. Smith, who wanted a table-mate who he said was as smart as he was. Smarter, I think.
But the fact that he did not win an NCAA championship or an NBA title is pulling Redick back into the game as a coach. And he is a finalist for the head job with the Charlotte Hornets, who should hire him for these reasons.
Redick really knows the game and is a terrific communicator, which means he can handle the sometimes agent-driven stars of the NBA. With a net worth of $50 million, he would not have to worry about job security.
He has been away from North Carolina long enough that his reputation in the Tar Heel State has changed, and his familiarity and new-found popularity will be a draw in Charlotte and with most Hornets fans.
And, clearly, he is still uber-competitive and will be allowed to help rebuild a roster now that UNC alums Mitch Kupchak and Michael Jordan are no longer running the franchise and the majority owner.
Just as Redick is great on radio and TV, he would be just as good putting a staff together, teaching the game in practice and coaching from the bench. The Hornets have had a history of making bad moves. This is the right one staring them right in the face.
Featured image via Associated Press/Phelan M. Ebenhack
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
