The NBL Weekend Takeover for 16/17 December will see Liverpool Basketball Club (17-0) take the reins of the NBL Instagram story.
We caught up with LBC's Coach Delme Herriman ahead of their takeover weekend, in our latest Coach Spotlight feature.
COACH SPOTLIGHT
Name: Delme Herriman
Team: Liverpool - NBL Division Two
What brought you into coaching?
Working on Barrow Euro camp with Laszlo Nemeth and running my own basketball day camps whilst I was still a professional player.
What were your original thoughts when you moved into coaching?
That I'm going to do things differently than certain other coaches I'd played for in the past.
What did you find most interesting to learn as a coach?
That some young players can inspire you and breathe the love back into basketball again.
What was the most rewarding part of your coaching journey so far?
Winning three consecutive National Prem Schools championships with Bridgewater High at year 9, 10 and 11 (2013, 2014 & 2015). Being named D2 coach of the year in 2018, and currently winning the Division 2 Championship 2019 with a chance of going undefeated.
Which parts of coaching do you like the most?
Away Gamedays! When a play works that you have practiced over and over. Seeing players improve and also buying into your system.
How did coaching qualifications slot in with your current life?
I got my level 2 in 2004 and I only started coaching full time in 2017, but I coached a lot in schools and was a player coach for a few years also.
Where are you now? How are you using your coaching skills?
I'm the Director of Archbishop Beck Sports College Basketball Academy (ABL), and also Liverpool Basketball Club Head Coach D2. Both teams are based at the same venue, so it allows a natural pathway for our more talented academy players to feed through and train with our better more experienced D2 players.
What is your coaching niche and why did you choose it?
I would say getting guys to play unselfish team basketball and play aggressive up-tempo defence. Also to vastly improve individually and as a team over the season. A great team will usually always beat five great individuals. The ‘secret’ is chemistry!
What is your coaching vision for the next 2 years?
To get LBC promoted to D1 by winning the D2 league title, and to have our academy at Archbishop Beck Sports College win the ABL championship. Previously we finished in third place in both leagues in 2018. Update; we have won Division 2, and the ABL team has won the Northern Conference and is now in the play-offs.
What is your favourite coaching question from athletes?
How can I get better coach? What do you want me to do to help the team win? (Never happens)
What do you enjoy most about being a coach?
Being a positive mentor/role model. Helping guys achieve their goals and giving them opportunities within basketball they have never had before. Seeing guys improve after working on their game. Also sharing my experiences as a 14 year Pro and D1 NCAA College player, and giving them an insight into what it takes and how they can achieve it too.
What advice would you give to people who are looking to move into coaching?
Start teaching the very young children good fundamentals.
What advice do you have for those coaches currently in training?
Take opportunities to be around more experienced coaches and players and rack their brains for advice etc.
What legacy would you like to leave behind you?
I want to open the door for as many new basketball players as possible, help them reach their goals and dreams. To teach players to be versatile. Also coach/teach teams and coaches who play smart unselfish basketball and very tough hard-nosed defence. Play the game the right way and be a true professional. Finding the right chemistry…..That’s the ‘secret!’
You can follow Coach Herriman's progress this weekend when Liverpool Basketball Club takeover the NBL Instagram story!
