The OPEL SKYLINERS set up their coaching staff for the new season. Headcoach Gordon Herbert and Assistant Coach Daphne Bouzikou will be joined next year by new assistant coach Simon Cote.
Simon Cote, born on August 17th 1971 in Concord, Massachussetts, began his career at the age of 17 as a local high school coach. From 1994 to 1998 he was an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee and from 1998 to 2002 he assisted in training the Basketball Team of the famous Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas. As a coach for the OPEL SKYLINERS and the Basketball Academy Rhein-Main Simon Cote will concentrate especially on the development of young talents.
In the interview Simon told us about his life as an OPEL SKYLINERS coach.
What took your interest in Europe and the OPEL SKYLINERS?
As I was an assistant coach at SMU, I really wasn't satisfied with how much I was getting a chance to actually work with players on the floor. At that time a lot of European players were coming to the states and got drafted into the NBA. So I thought that would be a great learning experience for me. One culturally - to learn a different culture and try to learn a new language - and also to work with European players and spend a lot of time on court with them.
Have you learned German already?
Ein bisschen.
Can we do the whole interview in German?
No - but I'm working on it. That's one of my goals this year. To be able to communicate with people in German. But whenever I try to speak with Germans right now everyone responds me in English (laughs).
How do you get along with the team?
This team is a lot of fun for me, because I like every single player. The players here are for the most part very coachable. They want to learn and get better. That makes it easy for a coach.
Do you hang out together after the training session?
Yes. I think it's important that relationships are build not just on the court but off the court. A lot of coaches maintain a distance between their players and as a head coach I think you sometimes have to do that. But as an assistant you can develop the relationships a lot closer. It helps with motivation and understanding the player. Knowing the player off the court may help you to understand why they are struggling on the court. So I will have dinner with the players or go to the Go-Carts one day.
What are your biggest hobbies?
I love independent and foreign films. "Life is beautiful", "Memento" or "Fight Club". And I Iike to listen to music and go to concerts. Mostly Independent- and Alternative-Rock. Chris Whitley or Cold Play.
What other sports do you do besides Basketball?
I don't really have a lot of time for sports, but I used to play Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, and Football in High School.
Really? You do not look like a typical Football player?
I was a Quarterback - and Tackling Dummie (laughs). I could throw the ball pretty accurate.
A lot of Basketball players love tattoos. Do you have one too?
I can't reveal that here (laughs)
Your female fans....
Female Fans? Have I got female fans?
Certainly - and if not, you will get them now. Are you still single?
Yes, I am single. Some people called me the most single man in Frankfurt.
Could you describe the girl of your dreams?
I'm single, so the saying in the States is: beggars can't be choosers (laughs). I'm looking for a woman who is intelligent, independent, positive, has a happy demeanor and is someone, who is easy to get along with.
No wonder that you are still single...
Too many attributes, hmh? And she could be attractive as well. But there is many different types of attractive.
Do you have plans after your career in Basketball?
No. I think I will be involved with Basketball until the day I die. Some people work to live. I live to work. My work is my biggest hobby.
Is the NBA a goal for you?
The NBA never interested me as a coach. I felt like it is to business focussed. And it's not as enjoyable as College Basketball or european Basketball. My ultimate goal is to return to College Basketball to be a Headcoach and build a program where I stay in one school for 20 years and develop a lot of young men on and off the court.
We thank Simon Cote for this conversation and wish him all the best in Frankfurt.
