Basketball Coaching Book Review: "destination Basketball"

I had some time over Christmas break to do a little bit of reading when I wasn't watching "Dora" or the "Backyardigans" with my little girl. I have to admit that I have been swamped with book reviews and dvd reviews so I finally caught up on the break.

I was sent a book named "Destination Basketball" and it isn't a basketball coaching book, but just a book for college basketball fans. It was a really interesting read and I couldn't put it down. It is about two college student who on a shoe-string budget decided to meet 29 of the best basketball coaches in the country. It took 23 road trips, 421 days, 1,134 phone calls, 2,314 emails, 27, 125 miles driven to compile this book.

Here is why I wasn't a basketball coach and just a college basketball fan that I would want to read this book. The concept was to not ask about a single play, player, game or season, but their methods, their influences, their experiences, and their time within basketball. I love reading books on coaches whether it is basketball or football. I couldn't put this book down, because it was really funny to see how Andew Hemminger and Dave Bensch went on this path to talk with the best 29 basketball coaches in america. They spoke to all 29 basketball coaches in person and there were no interviews given on the phone, letters, emails, or faxes. In these times, where college basketball coaches have non-stop schedules that is amazing.

They took pictures of themselves with each coach except for Jamie Dixon. They forgot the camera and the SID department sent them a picture. Each interview gives background on the basketball coach and then they go through a series of questions. They didn't use the same questions on each coach. I thought that it was a tremendous idea and wish that I could have went on the trips. The book reads like you are on the trip.

One of the interviews was John Chaney, formerly of Temple University and he said this of the interview. "It is more of a human kind of interview where the question touches you a little bit more, and it gives you a relaxing feeling when you are able to talk about some of your experiences".

I can't say enough on how I thought that Andrew and Dave did a tremendous job on their book and I really appeciate them sending me a copy to read. I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. It is a tremendous book for college basketball fans who want some insight on 29 of the best basketball coaches in the country.