Topic: Daily Mail: On the road with Tom Herrion: Herd coach is 'creature of habit'

[ZackUSAF82]

by Chuck McGill
Daily Mail sports writer

Editor's note: This is the second of a three-part series. The writer spent two days on the road with Marshall University men's basketball Coach Tom Herrion.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - It's late Thursday night, the twilight of the first day of West Virginia Jam Fest, an AAU basketball tournament with more than 200 teams from throughout the East Coast.

Marshall Coach Tom Herrion pulls out a piece of paper with a carefully scripted schedule that, if followed, ensures he sees every prospect recommended by his assistants. It is 9:36 p.m. and Herrion has crossed every name and game off the tiny sheet of paper, which he guards closely.

He summons me, presumably to depart University High School after nearly 10 consecutive hours of hoops. After a brief exchange with St. Joseph's (Pa.) Coach Phil Martelli, Herrion exits the auxiliary gym. I follow close behind.

I hang a right to head to the parking lot, but Herrion has veered left down the hallway toward University's main gymnasium, where there are two 9:30 games on tap.

Link: http://dailymail.com/Sports/MUSports/201107181598

[jdherd]

Great set so far Mr. McGill.  We fans and supporters of Marshall University are very very fortunate to have Tom Herrion & staff running our basketball program. We all should be stoked about this upcoming season after these first two installments.

[biggreenarms]

"No question about that," said Rob Kennedy, the president of Hoop Group, the organizer for Morgantown's annual AAU event. "Tom Herrion is such a tireless worker and he's out all the time, always visible. He's got terrific connections and he's got such a great staff.

"When guys take a job, you can give me two weeks and let me know who their staff is and I'll let you know how successful they are going to be. Tom put together a terrific staff, lost Bill Barton (to Pittsburgh after the 2010-11 season), and replaced him with Jorge (Fernandez).

"That tells you a lot about him."

I love the reputation and street cred he has. Go get em' Coach!

Also, great series McG!