Here’s what I love about Ronald Nored’s coaching journey:
He doesn’t feel like he was owed anything.
He made sure to work for, and learn from, multiple coaches. And he is incredibly humble and respectful of his first Division I head coaching gig at his alma mater — Butler.
Nored didn’t hesitate about his chosen path as soon as his playing career ended at Butler with back-to-back national title game appearances. The former starting lead guard went right to the ground level.
He could have tried to stay in Division I as a highly sought after grad assistant, but instead looked local to be a high school head coach in Brownsburg, Ind.
A year later, Brad Stevens, his former coach and mentor was the head coach of the Boston Celtics and plucked Nored to be an assistant coach in the organization, helping lead the Maine Red Claws in the G League.
He then began a stint with the Celtics as a player development coach, followed by one year at the mid-major level in college hoops at Northern Kentucky before bouncing back to the G League with the Long Island Nets and then three more stops in Charlotte, Indiana and Atlanta as an assistant coach.
Nored, now 36, has put in the work.
“It all starts with Brad Stevens,’’ said Nored. “He set the foundation for me as a player.’’
Nored said Stevens’ emotional consistency has always rung true for him. Stevens never showed too much emotion, whether it was a game-winning shot that went in or one that did not.
Nored said he learned how to be a stronger tactician from Hawks’ coach Quin Snyder. Indiana’s Rick Carlisle taught him how to empower his staff. All of them showed him how to adapt and evolve as a coach.
The NBA is a masterclass in that aspect, and Nored made sure he sponged up information.
His knowledge, patience and understanding of different systems and situations will benefit him as he forages a new path at Butler.
“I’m really grateful for my journey,’’ said Nored. “I would not be the coach I am today without going through the journey I’ve been on.’’
And it has helped tremendously for Nored that he is working with his Butler peers. He has their blessing and clearly has a shared view of the future of Butler basketball.
The Bulldogs have gone through a slew of coaches since Stevens left for the Celtics in July 2013. Brandon Miller lasted one season before leaving for personal reasons. Chris Holtmann spent three seasons at Butler before going to Ohio State. LaVall Jordan had a five-year run. Thad Matta returned for his second stint for four seasons.
And now, enter Nored, who gets to work for his former teammate, athletic director Grant Leiendecker.
Add in Gordon Hayward, the star of the 2010 Butler title-game run, as the team’s executive basketball advisor and the Bulldogs continue to have a family-run business.
And I love that Ali Matta, Thad’s daughter, stayed on as the director of basketball operations. That continues to show how much this school and program pride itself on consistency and loyalty.
The Butler way is a real deal.
Getting Hayward to stick in the gig that Thad Matta originally helped orchestrate was a no brainer.
And it’s not just in name only.
“He’s definitely involved,’’ said Nored. “We’ve been close for a long time, going back to our days as my roommate at Butler. He cares about what’s happening here. He hit us about the portal and he was with us at the NBA Top 100 in Rock Hill (S.C.). It’s a great benefit for us. He cares about this place. He grew up here and we’re fortunate to have him on board. He’s a tremendous asset for us.’’
This won’t be an easy gig. Nored isn’t expecting a transformation overnight.
The Bulldogs have under performed lately, missing the NCAA Tournament the past eight seasons. That gap spanned Matta’s second head-coaching tenure as well as all but the first season under Jordan.
The transition to the Big East hasn’t been seamless and Hinkle magic hasn’t been a given.
So Nored, a top on-ball defender during his time with the Bulldogs, has to establish a defensive identity. That’s what has been happening throughout the summer.
He had to find the right character players who fit his system, while also understanding the budget for said players.
He said there has been alignment from day one and an understanding of what is needed to compete at a high level. Still, the Butler way is to do more with less. That’s what got the Bulldogs to two national title games, albeit with at least one NBA player leading them.
“We want guys who are humble and that means players who aren’t a finished product,’’ said Nored. “We want guys who are willing to work hard to get better. We want guys who are tough mentally and physically. The Big East is a tough, nasty, physical league. And we also need guys who can handle adversity. We need players who have evidence that they’ve done that.’’
Filling out the rubric for the right set of players to fulfill the Butler roster was accomplished this summer — or so Nored hopes.
Getting a healthy Jalen Jackson back as a lead guard to be a two-way player was a must. He has been the leader the Bulldogs coveted.
The rest is unknown for now — a collection of “hungry” mid-level players as well as international additions that will hopefully mesh and take this team to a contending status for an NCAA Tournament bid.
Nored isn’t shying away from any of the challenges, including taking on Indiana in a highly anticipated exhibition game at Hinkle, which the Bulldogs will return to Bloomington next season.
“That’s a great thing for our state and credit to our administration for making it happen,’’ said Nored. “That’s another step in the process.’’
Nored has never been about skipping steps. The Bulldog faithful just have to be patient. Throughout his career, Nored has continued to make the right moves — climbing up a ladder to enrich his basketball knowledge and skill set to put him in position to be a high-major Division I coach.
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