Marlon “Smoke” Williamson was introduced as a new Pitt assistant coach yesterday.
“We are excited about Marlon becoming a member of the University of Pittsburgh community and I know he is ecstatic to be coming aboard,” Dixon said. “As a former point guard with strong knowledge of the game, Marlon will help us in recruiting, scouting and player development. We are fortunate to have a coach with his well-rounded background. Marlon is also extremely excited to be a part of our staff considering his family ties to Pittsburgh.”
The former YSU point guard is openly ambitious and perhaps a little cocky.
“Actually, my pursuit is to become a great assistant coach right now. In the future, I want to become a head coach,” Williamson said. “When you say ‘great assistant,’ you have to fill a lot of bullets. Recruiting is definitely one, but I don’t want to be singled out as just a recruiter. I can get in the film room and break down Xs and Os. The relationship with the players is a huge factor for you as a coach. It’s much easier to play for someone you respect and love versus someone you just play for. That’s what I want to strive for as a professional in this business, being able to relate to the coach, co-workers on the staff, as well as the players and their parents.”
So, like [UMass Coach Derek] Kellogg before him, Williamson made a move to put his career in an upward trajectory.
“This is a big step,” he said. “When you talk about the University of Pittsburgh and ACC, you’ve got to go get players first. Our position as assistants is to put Coach Dixon in a position to be great. I look at coach Dixon as a legend. I don’t think he hired Coach Knight or Coach Barton to be mediocre. We want to give him the tools that he can go coach those guys. Our goal is to win the last game. Why not us?”
These are not bad things for a young assistant.
One other thing to note from his official bio. Even though he played four years at YSU he didn’t complete his degree at that time. Williamson, however, did go back and complete it in 2012. Another sign that he is serious about his ambitions to become a head coach. It is a little thing. But as Steve Masiello learned, it can become a huge barrier to a better job and the subsequent mess hurts the reputation.
The hiring of Williamson also means that Coach Dixon has effectively elevated Brandin Knight to the top assistant position. I guess now it’s just a matter of time before John Calipari poaches him.
2016 commit Maverick Rowan completed his play at the Adidas EuroCamp.
The U.S. team played three games and lost all three by an average of 78 points. It wasn’t a surprise because the team played against older international players, including some who could be selected by NBA teams.
“I learned to play overseas, you have to be a lot more physical,” Rowan said. “There is just more physicality compared to the NBA.”
Really? More physical than the NBA?
“You watch LeBron James. He gets touched, he flops and gets a foul called,” Rowan said. “The competition over there was just a lot more physical. Like, when they set screens, they move a little on the screen and bump you harder. And if you went to the hoop, you weren’t getting a call.”
Overall, Rowan said it was “a great experience.” He believes he played against “five or six NBA draft picks.”
Rowan was not close to the main attraction on the US team. In fact, his selection was something of a surprise. At the same time, as noted by the scores, not many of the US players were overly impressive — including Thon Maker. Rowan did make an impression with his shooting.
Class of 2016 Pittsburgh commit Maverick Rowan was the least highly touted recruit here outside of Danta Hales, but held his own. A 6’7 shooter who can also put the ball on the floor and create his own shot a bit, Rowan has a picturesque shooting stroke and nice size for a wing. He may not be a great athlete, but he plays within himself and should give Jamie Dixon’s Panthers an efficient scoring option on the wing down the road.
Also one of the younger players on the squad, so to have a shot that already looks so good is the sort of thing that should make Pitt fans smile.
While it was noted that he did on his Pitt bio, there is no mention of his degree on his UK bio.
If true, it would make Pitt look silly, correct?
As for our 2016 recruit… not a big fan of parents that hold their kids back so they can dominate their younger classmates (& it starts in kindergarten)- but thats the world we live in. I thought the rumor was that he would have to fall off the radar & prep a year or 2 because the meter on his PIAA eligibility has been running for a long long time? I guess Lincoln Park Basketball Academy is off the radar enough? Ah heck who am I kidding, he comes from great stock, grew up Coach Miller’s lab, seems to be an absolute Pitt lock who has access to other recruits on the elite tour & his stroke is pure sugar (his court vision is legit with an improving handle) h2p
There is a lot to be optimistic for this fall and especially fall of 2015. I share you enthusiasm!
While there are definitely question marks that will probably cost us an unexpected loss, every Panther fan will hold his/her breath every time Voytik drops back. We may bee thin in some area but coaches will find a way to shuffle players if need be. But you just can’t do that at QB. That’s the one major roadblock to a winning season.
Maybe “Smoke” knows Herron’s father too?? Herron’s from New England too isn’t he??
Still worried that Herron’s fathers friendship with Rohrsen may steal him.
NO!! I’m not saying they are both going to win National Championships!!!!!
I just think they are both in a half decent place right now. That’s all.
I haven’t had Kool-Aid since they quit making
Lime Flavored Kool-Aid in 83′!!!
78 points ! Is that a typo ?
Peabody HS is now called Obama Academy ?
Oy Vey !
Is this indicative of the state of HS football in the Keystone state, losing to Maryland in the Big 33 game ?
If the OL gels, I honestly believe Andersen can do a serviceable job at QB if the unthinkable happens. Again, the OL has to be good.
Emel, many of the top PA players skipped the Big 33 this year … including Bookser and Amara as well as Nicholsen, Winovich and Henry
And PA didn’t have one, Tyler Boyd to score 5 TD’s this year !
As with many things Pitt, we take so long to hire someone, it almost becomes anti-climatic.
Welcome to Smoke nonetheless !
“The Pirates held a moment of silence for both Tony Gwynn and Chuck Noll prior to first pitch on Tuesday.”
I get it for the Emperor, but to my recollection, Tony Gwynn didn’t play for the Pirates, Steelers, Penguins and didn’t star in the Fish that Saved Pittsburgh. So therefore why was he included with the great Chuck Noll ?
But I forgot Obama is beyond most humans.
Not exactly true. My nephew is a Navy jet pilot on the George H W Bush carrier, today deployed in the Persian Gulf. So, some things are named after living people on both sides of the aisle.
H2P
I don’t agree with naming that after a living person either.
So I’m fair….on both sides of the proverbial supposed aisle. 🙂
Did you learn how to wash your Pitt undies yet ?
🙂
Ah, yes, the “blue and gold” boxers. I had hidden in my undies drawer and was planning to not take them out until football season started. But, then it occurred to me that they may have some value during recruiting. So, I have been torn.
Plus, I tend to buy in quantities and stock up on things. When I got out my summer stuff from storage, I found a whole bunch of boxers that are still in their original packages. And, amazingly, there is a back-up pair of “blue and golds.”
Life is very good. And, to answer your question, my wife still does not trust me near the clothes washer. She does welcome me every night to help make dinner—so I am not a total slug.
And, yes, on my toes. Need to be to keep up with you and my other fellow crazies on here.
H2P
Yes ..it pays to have a ‘backup’ pair !
You can wear those if Anderson ever gets to play a game this year. ha
Man, that’s not what I want to hear.
link to news.google.com
Heck of an athlete.
The Pirates give a moment of respect to one of the game’s greatest players and ambassadors….and you are upset because he didnt play for a Pittsburgh team?
Congrats for the absolute dumbest thought of the entire week
Well done.
…..Darryl transferred to PITT.
Believe he played 2 years for us ! Was a nice player, could shoot it pretty well mid-range.
Bravo !
If that makes any sense to you.
Some great players of BigEast lore mentioned in that above story, Chris Mullin, Ed Pinkney, Walter Berry, Dwayne McClain, Reggie Williams and Patrick Ewing.
Think I disliked all of them intensely as they were all nemesis’s of PITT.
And Lorenzo Charles of NC State is mentioned, he of the game winning slam in the NCAA championship against heavily favored Phi Slamma Jamma (Houston).
Kicker – 18
Defensive back – 40
Linebacker – 22
Defensive line – 15
Offensive line – 31
Tight ends – 29
Wide receiver – 3
Running backs – 23
Quarterbacks – 37
That’s not bad for a school that has struggled for decades. How got 37 for quarterback is beyond me.
A Moment of Silence. Just one moment! Can you stand it?
Emel is not denigrating Tony Gwynn. It just strikes him, and me, that Noll deserved his own, separate, very special moment of tribute in our city.
In any case, we need more people in sports like both of them.
H2P
It is interesting to read his comment that the team interacts like “family.” So similar to what we are hearing the recruits say about our football team.
H2P
The Pirates are connected to Gwynn by virtue of the game.
They are connected to Noll by virtue of location.
Why would anyone be upset they were honored together, both for legitimate reasons as related to the Pirates?
The notion that Noll had to share some type of spotlight with gwynn, or vica versa, is ridiculous.
Only the mouth breathing yinzers would find something to complain about for a moving gesture by the Bucs.
Couldn’t resist. Probably should have.
“Every time I tell myself I’m going to do something, I do it,” (James Conner) said. “Before the bowl game, I said I want to leave with the MVP, and I did that. I said I want to run a 4.4- (second) 40-yard dash, and I did that (in the spring).
And if you’re still a DOUBTER… take a look at the NEW Leaner Version of PITT’S 250 Pound “PANTHER BEAST MODE.”
WARNING! Image may be disturbing to ACC Defensive Backs.
And if you don’t like yinzers stay the f*ck out of Pittsburgh.
Buddy. Be nice. We all are in the same row boat here. Oy vey, what if the food is not kosher?
The important thing is getting quality kids to represent our school and kick ass. Particularly, Notre Dame’s ass.
I am going to have a great dinner and signing off boys (and girls, maybe).
H2P
He reminds me of Luke Hancock, who played a big role in Louisville’s national championship run.
Montour Monday!
As was Larry Harris who was also a pure shooter.
He became Pitt’s leading scorer is Sophomore Year, the 1975-76 season. He averaged 22.1 ppg and 6.4 rpg which was 2nd best.
1976-77 season Larry averaged a little more at 22.9 ppg and 6.5 rpg again 2nd on the team.
His senior year ’77-’78 his average dropped a little to 20.6 ppg as Sam Clancy arrived on campus and Larry got a few less shots with Sam averaging 14 ppg. Larry’s rpg dipped a little to with 5.2 rpg as Clancy ripped down over 12 rpg.
As you can see Larry Harris was a very consistent scorer and rebounder and I consider him to be among Pitt’s top players ever.
Great experience for Rowan. Wish he was coming next year. If he keeps getting better, he will be an amazing freshman. Shoots like JJ Reddick.