From Billy Donovan’s staff at Florida to NBA All-Star Game coach: Inside Mark Daigneault’s rise

San Francisco – Mark Digenolt has arrived at the University of Florida 15 years ago in search of a master’s degree without any guarantees for a job on campus.

Billy Donovan, who is now coach of the Chicago Bulls team, was near the end of the tail in his legendary tour in Gynezville, Florida, after he led Gutors to a successive NCAA championship. Three of his aides, Larry Shiat, Rob Lanere and Richard Betino left this season. Donovan has rehabilitated these sites with experienced candidates, but I need additional help in the program. He became one of his best friends, his teammate, Ryan Ford, close to Daigneault while training together at Holy Cross. Connect the two. Dunovan mainly rented Daigneault as a low -level employee, according to NCAA rules, was not allowed even in court during training.

“It has just started as a volunteer,” Donovan said. “I did a lot of different projects. Planning plans. Did the film work with individual players. He only worked its tail.”

Which – whichMore than anything else, is the spark that presented Daigneault – The American Professional League coach for this year, the current coach of the best 44-10 in Oklahoma City Thunder, and the relative unknown and who will go to an additional explosion of the limelight this week. All stars Coach – to this increasingly amazing stage. He is already considered one of the best coaches in the American Professional League a few weeks of his fortieth birthday.

Daigneault loves people to tell people that if you restart his life 100 times, this result occurs only once.

Thunder was still in his days the baby Oklahoma City at the time. General Manager Sam Brestty has just entered Kevin Durant, Russell Westprook, James Harden chooses in three consecutive drafts. Bradley Bell was one of the upcoming expectations at the high -level level on Brestti and Thunder radar. Therefore, Bristi spent a group of time in Gynezville, both Bell, and as it turned out, the Florida program raised his admiration.

Oliver WinterbonWho now represents Donovan and Dignol in Vasermanand Florida employee was at the time, determined to jump to the American Professional League. Every time Pressi came to the city, Winterbone has prepared time to meet for coffee, meal or a quick conversation. Daigneault joined when he could never dream of a future in the American Professional League, but he is always curious about Prostity’s view of leadership, building culture, industry or anything else. Daigneaut often takes handwritten notes. Two of the original Massachusetts population arrived.

In April 2015, Presti took the seismic option to hire Donovan away from Florida, to replace Scott Brooks when the Durant’s final season will be with The Thunder, an earthquake in the training community.

Eight months ago, in August 2014, Presti actually rented Winterbone and Daigneault from Florida, where it brought Winterbone to the front office and deduced Daigneaut as the main coach of Oklahoma City Blue, affiliated to the G League team. It can now be considered among the most influential strokes in Brestty, taking into account the rise of Daigneault from a decade to the top of the profession.

Daigneault was initially hesitant in acceptance. His future wife, Ashley Care, was a gymnast coach in Florida. They settled in Gynezville. The G league was not glamorous or respected as it would become, but the stability of Bristi was sufficient. Darko Rajaković (the current Toronto Raptors coach) has raised full -time assistant to the American Professional League. There was a way to develop and escalate in the organization.

Alex Caroso was in the third league team in Donio. Daigneault remembers a lot of daily habits themselves and then as it does now. They remained close enough over the years that they were having dinner in the same city.

Caroso more is continuity. After his career in the American Professional League with Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls exploded in the past several seasons, he joined Al -Raad as a high -level trade acquisition last summer and signed a four -year extension. When returning, note the same faces in high situations.

“Our assistant coach, David Aquinoyo, was the cinematic man, my graphic man during my presence with blue,” Caroso said. “Kevin Hyde, one of our strengths, our strength coach in G. Wilson (Taylor), our equipment manager, was here for the longest time. This is part of the organization’s philosophy. They find people flying with how to attack every day in their copy of excellence in The workplace and promotes them. “

The G league season begins at a later time and does not extend as long as the American Professional League. Therefore, Daigneault worked during his five -year training period with Blue, as an actual assistant for The Thunder during the qualifying and training camp. This was released to watch post -season games during the Durant and Westprook days at the back with Breceti, and to choose his brain.

A tragedy was struck in February 2016. Monte Williams’s wife died in a car accident near Al Raad Square. Williams, the main assistant Donovan, moved away from the team. Daigneault was uploaded to a temporary assistant where Thunder team advanced to the 7 Western Conference game.

Daigneaut received a full-time rise in the thunder seat before the 2019-20 season, at the same time as Gilgus-Alexander and Logontz tea joined the concession. Daigneault was an influential voice in the team’s development plan.

“My first day in OKC, my first exercise with coach Mark,” said Durat. Tell me on his way. This was really the first coach I got to know. As a young player, these little things are important. “

Dorty gave an example. It was unpopular for more than a month during the rising season. But in early December, during a match against Minnesota Timberolves, his number was finally called for the first time in the American Professional League.

“Billy was the main coach, but Mark was the first to come and grabbed me on the bench,” Durat said. He was real with me from the beginning. For some reason, I remember that moment. It is very strange. I wonder if he was the person who told (Dunovan), “Y, to try Lu”. I still do not know to this day. “

Thunder quickly hit forward in rebuilding it in that summer, and Chris Paul and Dennis Schroeder traded and handed over the keys to a young Gilgos. Dunovan and thunder a crossroads. He landed in Chicago.

Chris Paul Breceti recalls this summer as OKC has developed his next renovation. Pretsti asked Paul his opinion on Daigneault, and gave Paul a thumb. In his only season with thunder, he admired the Daigneault acumen.

Pressi narrated a story about Daigneault at a press conference 2022. Presti used to mark one road on the blue road every season, and during this particular story, he was at Best Western in Sioux Falls, SD Jannero Pargo was the team warrior in the team. Daniel Hamilton was the younger possibility. Presti was with both in a gym.

“They were talking, and somewhat, Mark came,” said Prestige. “Janeiro said, he is important, it is better to listen to Mark. He will be a coach in the American Professional League one day. It was years ago, and that was the first time I was like,” so he sees what I see. Yes.’ “

He rented Presti Daigneault as a main coach of thunder in November 2020. They did not win much during his first two seasons, but those in Gilgeous-Elexander, Dort, Daigneault, will say that the ability to adapt, the culture and gameplay that emanated in a competitor at that time has been cultivated at that time . The other coaches took.

“I liked humility on the sidelines, and the patience he showed when they were going through,” said Steve Care, the Woriors coach, who struck a friendship with Daignault. “I loved the fact that the organization was already intertwined and gave it all the support he needs. I only think the way I dealt with, the way Mark dealt with things, you can see that she is building something for a long time. I love the way they went to their work, and I love the way Mark is going through in his work.

Dorat said he was pumped to know that Daigneault was taking the head of the head. He had no conversation with Presti on this topic, but it was his favorite result. Darat said he did not know the tactical Daigneault acne until he saw it in the head of the head.

“This will look a bit selfish, but I remember my high career in Utah two years ago,” Durat said. “I was going early, and then, drawing like three or four different plays for me to get the ball. Everything was different, and all of this has succeeded. I was like, yes, it’s already crazy about it.”

Daigneault will spend the weekend in San Francisco K. All stars The representative of the main coach of the West. When he returns to his regular duties, thunder is eight better games than the next conference competitor, which is a close lock to cancel the first seeded at the conference for the second consecutive season.

“It is crazy how life works.” “I remember when he was sitting there, and we had a camp (in Florida), and he is waiting for my interview. He is 24 years old, and he only wants a job, and he is ready to work for free. All-Star game.

(Top picture of Daigneaut: Soobum IM / Getty Images)