NGU’s Redding passing on what he learned at the DI level
TIGERVILLE, S.C. (BVM) — Basketball was always a passion of Jacob Redding’s. His dad, Mark, was the girls basketball coach at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne, Ind. He grew up on basketball, and he was pretty good at it. His senior year of high school, he averaged 16.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists. He had options to continue his academic and athletic career.
His collegiate path began at the University of Louisville under head coach Rick Pitino. But not with a scholarship, and not with a whole lot of playing time. He did it for his future, which he hopes includes being the head coach of an NCAA men’s basketball team.
And in Redding’s opinion, there was no better way to learn how to do that than by watching hall of fame coach Rick Pitino day in and day out.
“That was a big motivation to me, to learn as much as I could under him,” Redding said. “If I played, I played, but I just wanted to soak up as much as I could and really learn what it takes to be that great a coach. It was more for learning and looking down the line for my career.”
The 6-foot guard went on to play two seasons at Louisville, making appearances in 13 games. In those opportunities, Redding played flawlessly on offense, making all four of his shot attempts his freshman year. On top of the experience playing in the ACC, Redding obtained all the knowledge he expected to receive and more.
“I thought coming into college, having a dad as a high school coach, I was taught a lot about IQ and how to play, but it was mind boggling once I got there how much I didn’t know,” Redding said. “… Offensive concepts and defensive schemes…I’m extremely grateful for that once in a lifetime opportunity.”
However, while all of these benefits were taking place for Redding, some not so good stuff was going on behind the scenes. The notorious FBI investigation of the Louisville men’s basketball program and its “sex-for-pay” scandal was underway, with Pitino eventually getting placed on administrative leave and later, fired. The school then brought in former Xavier head coach Chris Mack, and the team was hit hard by the NCAA with wins being vacated and a title being stripped.
The man that Redding came to the school for was no longer there and the program lost some of its integrity. That’s why he made the decision to leave the school following his sophomore season.
“Having multiple coaches, sometimes people get lost in the shuffle and coach Mack was bringing his players. The person I came there for wasn’t there anymore,” Redding said. “Being a walk-on, I wanted to go somewhere and have a scholarship; just finish my two years and enjoy playing and competing.”
When Redding placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal, North Greenville University was one of the first to come calling. Assistant coach Joshua Milner initiated the communication, and head coach Chad Lister sealed the deal. Within a matter of weeks, Redding was in Tigerville, S.C., touring the campus and becoming acquainted with the program.
“The thing that got me about this place was the environment and the coaches. They are great, Christian, caring guys who truly cared about me and whether we won or lost, they were going to love me the same,” Redding said. “That was something I needed at that point in my life after the whole situation with the FBI at Louisville.”
So the transfer to the Division II school became official, and Redding got a glimpse into what his life as a basketball coach could be like. Being a former Division I player at a school as prominent as Louisville, his new teammates always come to him for advice, and he is looked to as a coach on and off the floor.
The North Greenville Crusader has been passing his lessons learned down to his teammates, trying to help them become an elite DII school by using elite DI methods of preparation and practice.
Redding has focused on promoting talking on both ends of the court, as well as team ball. He also hammers home the idea of coming in before and after practice, getting in extra work outside of the scheduled time to get your game to the next level.
“Talking is important whether it’s offensively or defensively. If you are silent it’s showing your teammates it’s not important to you,” Redding said. “Playing as a team, I’m a big believer in team basketball, it’ll win you games…you win and lose as a team, there’s no individuals. Play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back.”
Now a senior, Redding has seen and done a lot in his basketball career, but there is more to be desired. The Crusaders haven’t won a Conference Carolinas championship since the 2014-15 season, which Redding said everybody on the roster wants to change.
While that will also be one of Redding’s main focuses, he also understands this is his senior season. He wants to make sure that no matter what happens, he just enjoys it. That’s why he came to North Greenville in the first place.
“Individually, I want to take every game and enjoy it knowing it is my senior year,” Redding said. “I want to be a guy on the floor people can depend on in tie game situations or in general, being the leader on the floor and having a competitive year.”
