Q&A With Knights Coach Vince Oliver

As the new school year rolls around, the Notre Dame Knights basketball program will roll out its newest arrival, head coach Vince Oliver. 

The 26-year old UC Davis graduate sat down with Patch to share his expectations for the upcoming season and what makes him fit to take over the role of Knights head coach. 

Sherman Oaks Patch: What's your athletic background, specifically in basketball? Did you grow up playing, play in High School, play in college?

Coach Oliver: I started playing basketball when I was five. When I was younger, I also played football and ran track, but basketball was the only sport I played once I got to high school. I attended Loyola High School, in downtown Los Angeles, where I was a part of back-to-back CIF Championship teams (2002-2003). During that stretch I was named to the All-League team and All-CIF team. After high school, I attended UC Davis, where I was a four-year letter winner. I was fortunate enough to leave as the school's 3rd all-time leading scorer (1,523 points). After college, I played briefly in the NBDL for the Idaho Stampede.

Patch: What about your athletic background helps you as a coach?

Coach Oliver: My athletic background helps me tremendously as a coach.  I have played for some great coaches, and having an up close look at how they run their programs and deal with players has been invaluable. My success and experiences as a player allows me to relate to my players.

Patch: How'd you get into coaching? What is it about coaching that you enjoy the most?

Coach Oliver: I just kind of fell into coaching. I started coaching at basketball camps when I was in high school. While in college, during the spring and summers, I would coach a high school travel basketball team called BTI (Basketball Training Institute). After my brief professional career, I went back to Loyola High School to join their coaching staff.

Patch: You're a pretty young guy. Do you feel that works to your advantage as a HS coach or it makes your job a bit more difficult?

Coach Oliver: I feel like my age can work for and against me. I believe it can work for me because, I am young and I have the energy and drive to build a successful program. I do not know if my age works against me, but I feel as though I just have to be that much more prepared because people can look at me and make assumptions about my ability to run a program because of my age.

Patch: What are your expectations for the team this year? I know that winning is the top priority, but what other goals do you have set out for your guys?

Coach Oliver: I expect each player in our program to COMPETE each and every day, practice or game. I try not to put the emphasis on winning, but rather competing and putting ourselves in the best possible position to be successful. Obviously, you play to win the game, but we really can't control whether we win or lose, all we can do is prepare and compete to the best of our ability. If we do that then hopefully the wins will follow. I ultimately want the guys to feel like they are a part of building something special.