The Observer, December 8, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 13
McGuinness brings experience, calm attitude to Case basketball
Many new faces join the men's Spartan basketball team this year, both on the court and on the sidelines. Todd McGuinness was brought in as a full-time assistant coach, the first one for head coach Sean McDonnell. Having experience as both a Division III player and coach, he certainly will have a fresh impact on the team this year.
McGuinness was hired in August after coaching basketball at this level for the past four years at Hartwick College in upstate New York and Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.. He played collegiate ball at Bethany College in W. Va., where he also participated on the varsity golf team because both sports shared the same coach.
"Oh, I'm not that good of a golfer, but my coach was in charge of both, so at least I got to play for free," McGuinness said. "At Hartwick, I was even the golf coach because I had experience, and now I have fantastic clubs."
All this work in the northern part of the country, though enjoyable, is not what McGuinness really wanted. In the warm parts of November, he would love wearing shorts to work and admits that coaching in the ACC is where he wants to be.
"If I got to coach in the south, it would be great because then I wouldn't have to go tanning like some of the coaches on our staff do now," said the quick-witted McGuinness. "However, I would love to find a perfect medical or law student so that I can remain a Division III coach for the rest of my life."
When he moved to Cleveland (being a native of Pittsburgh) he did not expect much, but he has been really pleased with the city. McGuinness acknowledges the strength of Cleveland's downtown and public transportation when compared to Pittsburgh; he has taken in Indians and Cavaliers games, the Warehouse District, concerts, and East Fourth Street.
"Everything has been really nice so far. All the stadiums are right next to each other, there is good public transportation, and there is no traffic in Cleveland, even if people do complain about it," he said.
The life of an assistant basketball coach at Case is not all fun and games, as it may seem with McGuinness' joking and story telling. He has worked hard to determine and make a clear line between being his players' friend and coach. As an assistant, he gets to work heavily with the men on an individual basis, honing their talents and pushing their limits.
One of McGuinness' most important roles with the Spartan program is with recruiting. He travels around Ohio watching prospective players, meeting with families, and bringing them back to Case. For farther away recruits, such as those in California, McGuinness has not been able to travel yet, but spends late nights in the Veale Center making phone calls with players thousands of miles away.
As a complement to head coach McDonnell, McGuinness hopes to bring experience and new ideas to the program. He has played and worked at this level before, so he has a strong background for success. In his eyes the team is young and talented, but needs to work on controlling the ball and making the open shot when they have it. Perhaps they could learn something from McGuinness, who starred in college as a wing player known for his tenacity and good shooting.
His basketball knowledge, combined with a good attitude and light demeanor, make him a great fit for Case and Cleveland, even if he is from Pittsburgh.
