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It’s clear why Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti was drawn to the idea of hiring Mark Daigneault as the head coach for the team’s rebuild.
Daigneault, at heart, is a teacher.
His mother is a special education teacher and his sister is in education as well. His wife, Ashley, is a gymnastics coach at Oklahoma. He got a degree in education from UConn.
“I see the court as an extension of (the classroom),” Daigneault said. “It’s a really a teaching job, and basketball is just the vessel through which you’re teaching.”
He put his teaching to the test in the G League, when he was hired to be the Oklahoma City Blue head coach at age 29.
“He had the rare traits of someone that had high potential,” Presti said. “He’s a curious learner, a diligent worker, a creative thinking and has the upmost integrity and selflessness, which I think is critical to be in a leadership position.”
Over Daigneault’s five years as head coach, the Blue made the playoffs four times and posted an overall record of 143-107 (.572).
Both on the Blue and with the Thunder, where he was an assistant coach last season, Daigneault got involved with different areas of the operation.
“As a basketball coach, he’s a great teacher,” Presti said. “He’s been intricately involved with our draft processes. Our player development systems have come significantly further and further each year under his purview. He has had a hand in so many different things that happen behind the scenes including staff development of a lot of different coaches that he’s had with the Blue … so I think that’s a tremendous sign of his leadership.”
On Wednesday, Daigneault was announced as the head coach of the Thunder.
He steps into the shoes of Billy Donovan, who parted ways with the team after his contract expired this offseason and agreed to terms with the Chicago Bulls.
Oklahoma City is now transitioning into a rebuilding phase. As the Thunder begin to deal veterans and start to use their trove of draft picks, development is going to be at the forefront of the team for the first time since the early days of moving to OKC.
In the player-empowered environment, coaching has shifted away from yelling and lecturing and toward of a more positive, friendly level of respect.
Daigneault, who is just 35 years old but has already spent more than a decade with colleges and at the G League, will be able to use his youthfulness and experience to connect with the modern NBA player.
When asked about his development process, Daigneault emphasized that there is a reason to not just respect players, but to admire them.
“(Respect is) a baseline for any player, but if a player’s made it this far — this is what the Blue taught me — if a player’s made it this far, there’s a reason to admire them,” he said.
“I think expressing that admiration and accepting them for who they are and then trying to help them be the best they can be … that’s the big picture view.”
His success will hinge on the development of young players currently on the team and prospects who will join as early as Nov. 18, the day of the 2020 NBA draft.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can continue along his all-star trajectory. Lu Dort has already shown All-NBA-level defense, but needs to work on his offense. Darius Bazley put together a unique, blossoming game in the bubble that needs more development and consistency.
Presti has been assured in the last few years that Daigneault is capable of cultivating young talent.
As the Thunder “continue to reposition the organization,” Presti said, the team is looking to rely on quick learners, people who can connect different disciplines of the organization and those who are able to relate to modern players.
“I think Mark does a great job of balancing accountability but also meeting people where they are to use his words, and understanding what people’s motivations are,” Presti said.
“We can’t underestimate the level of experience that he’s gained at an early age. Those experiences I think will really compound over time as he gets into this role.”
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