• Eric Konkol enters his first season at the University
of Miami and eighth as a member of head coach Jim Larranaga's
staff.
• He assists in all aspects of the program including
recruiting, practices, individual player workouts and game
preparation.
• Konkol previously worked with Larranaga at George Mason from
2002-05 and 2007-08 through last season.
Diary Series: Eric Konkol, Asst. Coach - Miami ('Instilling a new philosophy')
As new coaches hired to lead the University of Miami men’s
basketball program, it was important to introduce a philosophy and
vision for the future to our players and support staff. For
many years, Coach Larranaga’s philosophy has been based on
three words.
The first is ATTITUDE. We love being around people with a
positive attitude and enthusiasm for life. Life is 10% of
what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. No practice,
game, or season is without adversity and we encourage all members
of the program to bring positive energy to every situation. A
question we ask each player, “Are you an energy giver or
energy taker?” We love energy givers!
The second word is COMMITMENT. We ask our team to make a
total and unconditional commitment to the program. Be
passionate about what we do. Unconditional means in good
times and in bad and no matter what the role. Whether
it’s the leading scorer, the player that rarely plays, or one
of our student-managers, we ask that everyone be passionate and
committed to being the best they can be.
The last word is CLASS. We encourage our team to show pride
and respect in themselves, our program, and the University of
Miami. Be the best they can be in thought, word, and
deed. We each represent much more than just ourselves and we
want to always act in a first class manner. Coach Larranaga
will start each year by teaching the team how to introduce
themselves and the importance of a strong first
impression.
Around this Thanksgiving and holiday time, I have much to be
thankful for. I’m thankful for my family, my friends,
and the opportunity to coach. We have a tremendous
responsibility to our players to help them become their very best
not only during their time with us but long after they have
graduated. At the University of Miami, we strive to coach
every day with a positive attitude, total and unconditional
commitment, and do it in a first class manner.
Best of luck to all this year.
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