Darren Holcomb

Our coaches feature article of the week this week is someone whom I’ve had the greatest pleasure of witnessing coach and play, Darren Holcomb. He is a product of the Alexandra High School top dog era back when Alex and Maritzburg college were the talk of the town and flooding the courts at the local Maritzburg YMCA. And if you play with or against him you’ll know he isn’t any pushover on the court. With a sweet mid range baby jump shot along with post moves that could oust almost anyone, Darren even in retirement gives active players a run for their money. With an ultra competitive nature and the respect of all who come across him, his passion for playing the game has definitely carried over into coaching and rubbed of on those fortunate enough to play under him.

I was able to get in touch with him this week a midst a busy schedule to have him answer a couple of questions about his coaching career thus far.

Who motivated you to get involved in coaching?

I've had a number of really good coaches in my time playing basketball, but I don't believe there was anybody specifically who motivated me to get involved in coaching. It really was the natural progression from playing to coaching. When I finished school in 1995, I got the opportunity to start coaching and this helped pay the bills as a student. I think most players have a point in their lives when the coaching becomes more important than the playing and that for me was two or three years ago when I retired from competitive basketball and decided that coaching would be the way I gave back to the game.

There are a few coaches that really had an impact on me. The first was Zuba Zupacic and he was the national team coach from approximately 2001 to 2005. He was the first coach to recognize that I was able to play the game a little and gave me the opportunity to play at the highest level for the South African side. Another coach who played a part was Terry Kita who, likewise, gave me the opportunity to play basketball for the student national team and I played under him both in China and Korea at the World Student Games (Universiade). More recently, Dennis Wucherer who was a German international player for many years coached me for the KZN side and we won the national title with him. He was a fantastic coach and many of the systems that we run at Saint Charles College, are systems that were put in place by him and adopted by Craig Gilchrist and me.

Have you modeled your coaching philosophies after anybody else?

It's pretty hard to determine exactly who I’ve modeled my coaching philosophies after as there are a number of people who played a part. As I mentioned previously, Zuba, Kita and Dennis played an influential role. More recently, working with Craig Gilchrist at St Charles College has helped develop me further as a coach. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to continue growing as a coach and give back to this great game.

Favorite coaching moment

I've had many moments that have really made me proud as a coach but if I'm choosing just one it was a game against Michaelhouse. I was coaching St Charles College first team and Michaelhouse and SCC were the two unbeaten teams in KZN. In the dying seconds, Michaelhouse were up by three points and we drew up a play to get a 3-point shot in the in the corner to hopefully force overtime. We ran the play to perfection with my star putting up the shot. Not only did he make the shot, but in addition he got fouled and then went to the line and completed the four-point play. Michaelhouse were not able to convert in the dying seconds and we ended up winning the game by one – that is my highlight as a coach.

The favorite team I've coached.

I've been lucky enough to coach at various levels, but without a doubt my favorite team that I've coached is my Saint Charles College 1st Team. Some years we are excellent, some years we are just competitive, but the passion, the intensity and the dedication that these young men play with is brilliant and I love every moment coaching them.

Highest level coached

The highest level I've coached is provincial basketball at both junior and senior levels. I coached the KZN men’s team as well as the Pietermaritzburg Tuskers who played in the Premier Basketball League.

Biggest accomplishment as a coach

My aim at St Charles College has always been to be the top ranked schoolboy basketball team in the country. We have had a few solid years, but we are yet to win the St John’s Johannesburg Basketball Tournament. For this reason – my biggest accomplishment as a coach is still to come.