Muller Navigating 2020

Broad Conversation with the Illinois State Coach

(St. Louis, MO) – 2020 has been anything but normal. From a pandemic to social unrest, to killer hornets, wild fires and hurricanes. 2020 has been a mess! But how does it affect college basketball coaches? I wanted to know, ‘How is Dan Muller navigating 2020?’

The Illinois State coach is beginning his ninth season with the Redbirds. He has won a conference championship (Tied in 2017) and has accumulated 149 wins. Many of his players have gone on to have solid pro careers and recently Redbird Arena underwent a facelift. Things are good in Normal, Illinois.

But this is 2020

Navigating 2020 – Pandemic – Safety – Scheduling & Recruiting

Muller is philosophical about all things covid. He praises the university and Athletic Director Larry Lyons on their work on behalf of the safety of their players. While students have returned to campus, 85% of their classes are virtual. The former Redbird player is concerned about the welfare of students that feel stuck inside their apartments. He’s glad his players get a break from that by having work out sessions.

Muller’s players are tested routinely and following university guide-lines. They wear masks when not on the court and wear wrist-bands stating they are safe to participate. According to Muller, protocol communications from the school have been outstanding. However, several Redbird players have been quarantined and some have tested positive.

Navigating 2020 means everything has changed. When asked about recruiting, Muller says ‘what’s that?’

Since the announcement of a basketball season start date, 357 Division 1 coaches have been in a scramble to figure out theirs. Muller says he’s glad the coaches he’s dealt with have been flexible and understanding.

 

 

Traveling to games will be tricky. Coaches and administrators routinely say schedules will be more regionally located. Muller’s reasoning is that he doesn’t think his team will fly to play any games this season. Since there are numerous D1 schools in Illinois, I wondered if just playing teams from ‘Land of Lincoln’ made sense. Muller says that may be a group too small to choose from.

 

 

As a former Redbird player, Muller has a deep appreciation for the league and the program. His offseason interviews “Monday Meeting with Dan Muller” were his way of connecting with the broader fan base.

 

Navigating 2020 – Social Inequality

Racial tensions are impacting young people in a massive way. College students and student athletes are particularly aware of current events and current emotional struggles. Illinois State and numerous Missouri Valley Conference schools have launched social justice initiatives and Muller believes in having a lot of conversations on many different ‘life issues’.

Muller stresses the more we realize we don’t know about someone’s past, we will be more gracious with their present.

 

 

The philosophical Muller says, ‘you never know what’s going on in a 20-year-old’s life,’ so he believes cultivating trust is vital. He says emphatically. He wants to teach his players how to think, but not what to think.

Navigating 2020 – The Remade Roster

The Redbird roster will look both familiar and very different. Senior forward Keith Fisher (9.6 points and 6.0 rebounds) was named to the Valley’s all-newcomer team. D.J Horne (8.7 ppg) was part of the all-freshman team. His freshman backcourt running mate Antonio Reeves (7.2 ppg) was named to he all-bench team.

Two other returners, 6’9 Abdou N’Diaye and Dedric Boyd also contributed. Boyd, the Eastern Kentucky transfer made 27 three-pointers and had what Muller called an ‘up and down’ season.

Newcomers Josiah Strong and Alex Kotov are among the top rated junior college transfers by jucorecruiting.com. Strong is a 6’3 guard from Iowa Western Community College. Kotov (6’10, 215) is from Russia and played previously at Dayton State.

Muller expects Strong to be an important piece of this year’s squad. Fans expected more from Fisher and Boyd last season and Muller expects more this season. Since the season ended, Fisher has become a father and Muller thinks that will help the 6’8 senior be more grounded. Boyd was hot and cold and then hurt. Muller shares a bit more about Strong and those returners.

 

 

Three freshmen arrive from Florida, Michigan and Kentucky. Perhaps the most talented is 6’5 guard Howard Flemming Junior.

This is an important season for Muller and the Redbirds. During the first six seasons of his career, the Birds never won fewer than 18 games. They won 17 in 2018-19 and ten last year. Returning to the upper half of the Valley pecking order is expected in Normal, Illinois.

Our full conversation is at Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts.

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