I could have written 2,000+ words from today's press conference introducing Jeff Strohm as the new head coach of the Vermont Frost Heaves. I am excited about this guy - he seems to be a great choice. And, he seems to be quite media-friendly. Will Voigt was great about the media, too, for the record.
Here are some quotes that didn't get into my story in Thursday's print edition.
Alex Wolff, Frost Heaves founder:
"It was 10 below when my wife and two kids came over from Addison County to make that crazy announcement, and I remember saying here that if we can start our car this morning, we can start a pro basketball team in Vermont. Well here we are, three years later, we have a couple of championships to our name and the coach who led us to this point has moved upward and onward, and we’re so delighted. As we now consolidated in central Vermont which has shown so much support for the Frost Heaves. I’m so delighted to be able to introduce our new head coach, Jeff Strohm. He knows Vermont intimately by marriage, and it’s fair to say, Jade Huntington, from Bradford, here with daughters Rylee, Sydney and Jordin. Jade knows this building intimately because she was in four state championships, winning three. We think there’s some mojo in the Strohm family that will continue with our tradition.
Things about Jeff that fit in with our organization are many. His commitment to teaching the game both at the grassroots and community level, more than 100 basketball camps he’s organized, participated in or directed. But more than that, he’s shown a tremendous ability to identify talent and bring it along. At his Division I stops at four universities, he’s been able to bring along some of the finest talent there is and send it on to the NBA. Dwayne Wade is only one; there are many, many others. Coaches in the college game where Jeff spent most of his career just rhapsodize about his work ethic, his commitment to team, and what we, the Frost Heaves organization, think is particularly important, is the selection of the players is just as important in the community as it is on the court. Those of you who’ve been around know that, and it’s something the Frost Heaves are proud to stand for. This marks the beginning of an incredibly exciting new chapter in the Frost Heaves’ history.
He’s going to work every waking moment on behalf of this team. That’s the kind of guy he is. The whole connection to the Huntington family and what he said about Jade’s dad is going to motivate us.
John Wooden model of success - at the end of the day, it’s the journey. And that’s what the fans are accustomed to. That we give our all out and the court and then go do the meet-and-greet with the team after the game.
Jeff instantly understood that. He grew up in that environment - he’s the youngest of seven kids ona farm in Illinois. He’s paid a lot of dues - he’s humble and he’s candid - and he knows this is his chance. He hasn’t been a head coach, but he has done everything else you can do in basketball and at a pretty high level. He knows how to identify talent and how to get people to reach their potential. Guys who want to keep playing and get better and, with the help of a network, find another place to go to.
I feel that on the basketball side we’re in terrific hands. Plenty of time between now and our first game to identify and put together a roster. It’s a challenge in the PBL because it’s such a short season, but I have great confidence that people who come into this building are going to recognize substantially the same product and though it might be different names and faces, they all know the mystique of the Frost Heaves and we’re going to try to uphold that."
Jeff Strohm, new Frost Heaves head coach:
"Thank you for the ability and the chance to be a coach again. This group of people, because of them I’ve been able to coach for the last 10 years. Because of that they’ve made sacrifices. They’re going to have to make weekly sacrifices. They’re going to have to give up their resources and needs and wants, and because of them, it drives me to be a coach and to be successful. This group of people love me win, lose or tie, unconditionally, for the good and for the bad. I am so proud to represent them. They have footprints very deeply in this state.
Sydney, she’s at school today, but she’s signed on. As soon as she heard there was a mascot named Bump and he was a moose, she was aboard.
Family vote, and it was unanimous.
(Credits his wife, honored to represent Huntington and Strohm name)
Obviously today is a very happy day for me and for my family, but it’s a sad day. There’s some sadness in my heart. Three people missing today.
My father, lost 4 years ago, farmer in Midwest, and he taught me more than any coach ever did. Faith and family. I wish he was here today.
Jade’s mom, Vermonter, lost her 4 years ago, too. Jade’s mom was all about family. She really taught all of us to question things. Because of that we’re all stronger because of her.
I’m truly honored and humbled to be coaching again. When our daughters were born two years ago, they were born with a rare disease, and I didn’t know if I’d ever coach again. I am honored to be the coach of the Vermont Frost Heaves. I would not be here if it weren’t for these three.
I’ll start with Alex. I would not have taken the job if it weren’t for Alex. If you love the game of basketball, if you coach the game of basketball, if you’re around the game of basketball, if you see Alexander Wolff’s name on an article or a book, you read it. It’s that simple. I grew up in a small town, and I think sometimes, if you grow up with someone great in your area, you overlook them, and I hope the folks in Vermont don’t. Nationally, I hope you realize how respected he is. His love for the game in writing is unmatched, his love for Vermont is hard to match.
(Also credits/thanks VFH general manager Michael Healey and Barre Mayor Tom Lauzon.)
Over 11 years ago I first came to Vermont. People always say they want to come to Vermont to see the foliage, that it’s beautiful country. Eleven years ago was the first time I came back with Jade, and we’ve been back as much as we can. We’ve met wonderful people and we’re looking forward to meeting even more people. I’m just blown away by the quality of people in Vermont. I want to share some of the things I’ve observed over the last 11 years. These traits and values, I hope that whenever you see our team play, you see them in them. These values is what drives the engine.
Pride. Vermont people have a lot of pride. Proud of their town, their state, their way of life and the beauty of their state. Whenever Mr. Huntington came out to visit us and people would ask where he was from, he’d stick his chest out real strong and say, ‘I’m from Bradford, Vermont,’ and he was so proud of that. I see it in people every day in how they work. Our team and our players are going to play with that kind of pride. I want people to say, ‘Wow, they’re playing with Vermont pride.’
Work Ethic. There are a lot of people who want to work hard, but they can’t sustain it. People in Vermont have a work ethic. Some of them have it because they have to survive, but some of it’s their inner fiber. That work ethic is special. There’s a farmer in our area named Larry Martin, and I’ve gotten to know him over the last month. He brings in hay. I’ve actually had to do hay. We do hay. He’s 60-something years old, and we’ve done it three or four times - he comes and there’s his son, my brother-in-law and myself, and he outworks us. Last time I was there he said something, and I thought, ‘This explains the work ethic in Vermont.’ He said, ‘Jeff, I was born and raised in the house I live in, I’ve spent my entire life here. I just love to work. I don’t take a lot of vacations, but I love to work. I love getting up early at 4:30 and milking the cows. I love working all day. I love the snow, even though it makes the job harder, but I love it.’ So when you see our team play and practice, you see a group that loves to work. I love basketball. I love to study basketball. That’s what we want from our players.
Character and Integrity. When you talk to someone in Vermont, their word is their word. It’s been so refreshing to see people of character and integrity, and you will see that in the players. When they say they are going to be somewhere, they’ll be early. When they represent us, they’re going to represent us in the right way.
Discipline and preparedness. When I watch some of the farmers, it’s amazing how detailed and organized their days, weeks, months and years are. They have a plan, they make slight adjustments to it, and it allows them to be successful over the years. I look forward to probably too much preparation. It’s something I take a lot of pride in. We’re going to be organized prepared and efficient. We’re going to have a plan, that plan’s going to work, and you’re going to be very proud of it.
Care and Love for Each Other. When another is sick or in the hospital, they reach out and do potlucks and dinners and they go visit. When they say, ‘Do you need help?’ ‘Yeah, can you do this?’ It’s done. It’s not something you have to call them back on. Vermont people just want things to be better and be right. I want our team to embody those virtues. And I will wake up every morning and go to bed every night being driven by those things. Just like the people here in Vermont are. People in Vermont understand that you get up before the sun comes up, you work hard all day, and then you go to bed.
Process Person. You won’t hear me talking about the final product. I think you should enjoy the journey, and that’s what it’s all about. Having a plan and implementing it is the fun part. Any coach I’ve ever been around or who has seen me work has said that I have a sickness. I like practice more than I like the games. I do. I love practices. I love working and sweating with kids, I love making them better. I love the process. I love the buildup to the game. I love the gameday shootaround. In this business some coaches are all about one thing, and that’s winning, and I’m not. I look forward to enjoying it with the great fans of Vermont and with the Frost Heaves.
Compete. You have to bring players in that love to compete, and not just in the games but on a daily basis - drills, warm-ups, sprints - they compete to be the first in the gym. They go to play a game of checkers, they compete. You do not have competitive people around, we will not be successful.
Care for Each Other. If they don’t care for each other and want to build lifelong relationships, you don’t have success. I want them to care off the court, I want them to care about the fans, each other. That’s vital to me.
Care and love for the game.
We can’t wait ‘til we start bringing them in.
The reality is people care about Xs and Os. I love to teach the game. I have been blessed to be around and studied and worked under great coaches, and I love to pass that on to people. I love to bring people together on the basketball court.
Defensively - I’m not going to take the easy way out. You win championships because of it. We’re going to be aggressive. We’re going to get excited about not letting the other team score.
Offensively - Based on the players. We’re going to play five people as one, get the very best shot we can every time down, and you’ll see a team that is organized, detailed and efficient.
Schedule - we need people to circle those dates and say, ‘Come heck or high water, we’ll be there.’
This isn’t about Jeff Strohm. It's We Us Ours.
See? What do you all think of the new head coach?
-Anna Grearson
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