Interview with Ross Convertino, Graduate Assistant Coach at Gonzaga University.

ODN: Please tell us a little about your background. Where are you from? How did you get involved with basketball and what made you want to be a coach?

RC: I am from Hampden Massachusetts, which is a small town that boarders Springfield Mass. I grew up roughly 15 minutes from the Basketball Hall of Fame so naturally I discovered basketball at a very early age. I have been playing basketball my entire life. I fell in love with the sport from the beginning and dedicated every minute of my days growing up to the game. I would do everything I could to study the game in order to better myself. So when it was time to enter college I knew I wanted to be a basketball coach and I felt as if I had been studying all my life to prepare for it. Since graduating from the University of Connecticut (UConn) I had coached at two different preparatory schools in Massachusetts, The Winchendon School and Notre Dame Prep as well as with the New England Playaz AAU Basketball Club. Combined at this level I had coached over 40 Division I players including one McDonald’s All American, Khem Birch, and two Canadians- Khem Birch (UNLV), and Grandy Glaze (University of St. Louis). This past season was my first one with Gonzaga.

ODN: You coach at Gonzaga University, which consistently has one of the top men’s basketball programs in the NCAA. What are the some of the secrets to Gonzaga’s success? Does Gonzaga also have a strong women’s program?

RC: Like with every successful program you need to have talent. Our coaching staff continually does a terrific job at evaluating and recruiting players. In particular, recruiting oversees has yielded great success for us. We have high character kids who sincerely care for each other and we take pride in each player’s successes. Coach Mark Few does a tremendous job teaching and developing players and he knows how to maximize each player’s potential. Our women’s program has built itself as one of the premiere programs in the west and is now continually ranked in the nations top 25. They are in a position to compete for a national title themselves.

ODN: Gonzaga has a strong Canadian connection, particularly with B.C. How do Canadian kids compare to US kids in terms of ability, attitude, work ethic, etc? Are Canadian players experiencing more success south of the border these days?

RC: There is no question that we have a strong Canadian connection. There is a lot of talent in Canada and with the increasing popularity of prep school and AAU basketball, Canadian kids are having the opportunity to play in the US and gain the recognition they deserve. I have found that Canadian players tend to play as if they have a chip on their shoulder, and they will put in the extra work to prove that Canadian basketball is the real deal.

Canadian kids are equally as talented as US kids and US colleges have begun to take notice. Canadians have had great success playing high school basketball in the US. Seemingly every year there is at least one Canadian being named to the McDonald’s All American game.

ODN: How did you get involved with Nothin’ But Net? What has Spencer told you about Oliver?

RC: I met Spencer last summer when we were both coaching at the Gonzaga University Advanced Skills Camp. He told me about Nothin’ But Net, and it sounded like they ran a first-class camp. He also mentioned that there was a lot of talent and interest in basketball in Oliver, so when he called me to invite me to coach at NBN, I jumped at the opportunity. Basketball camps of this caliber are nearly impossible to find, especially in smaller communities. I think the product Spencer and NBN offer to the kids is truly incredible, and it’s always great when elite players give back to their community. I’m also excited about coaching at NBN this summer because I’ve been told that Oliver is famous for wine and fruit, and also that there are 2 very nice golf courses there which I hope to play!

ODN: What advice would you give to young players who want to play in the NCAA or the CIS?

RC: The best advice I can give is to continue to do all you can to better your game daily and then be proactive in the recruiting process. Send game film to coaches, attend exposure event, etc. Don’t sit back and assume it will happen. Put your name out there, work hard and good things will follow.

Picture and story supplied by Spencer McKay – Ross will be coaching this year at Nothin’ But Net