Unfinished business for former Skyline Conference Coach of the Year James Mooney
BRONX, N.Y. (BVM) — The Mount Saint Vincent (CMSV) Dolphins have the talent to make it to the playoffs but without the right gameplan, even the best teams can seem lost. For CMSV, their navigation lies within their head coach and all-time leading scorer, James Mooney.聽
Mooney, who is entering his fourth year as head coach for the men鈥檚 basketball team, is confident with his team chemistry
鈥淭he culture was pretty much established and going into this year it鈥檒l be even stronger,鈥� Dolphins coach James Mooney said.
Mooney, who is also on the schools all-time minutes played list, is making it a priority to build a connection with this team. With most of his first recruiting class now being juniors and seniors, the Dolphins head coach knows the tweaks he needs to make.
鈥淕ame planning wise each year we know what we’re returning for the most part,鈥� Mooney said. 鈥淲e know what we’re bringing in and the game plan is to get better defensively, as well as, figuring out ways to space the floor to get guys open looks to score.鈥澛�
Mooney has a very offensively conscious basketball mind. Mooney prefers the Dolphins have a plethora of ball handlers and guards because he likes to play fast, space the floor and prefers to go with a 4-out-1-in type of approach.
As offensively proficient his offense is, Mooney knows the edge to have in these close games is defense.
鈥淭he hardest hurdle for me is trying to relate to guys that maybe don鈥檛 have the same passion and desires I had for basketball,鈥� Mooney says. 鈥淪ome of the things I say or do might not correlate to the current kids we have. It’s almost like we鈥檙e speaking two different languages, my expectation is this, but theirs are not that. They want to get their degree and they also want to continue playing basketball, but not at that level where it鈥檚 the end all be all.鈥澛�
When Mooney played, basketball was the end all be all, so much so that he took his talents overseas.聽
After years of basketball experience at different stages of his career, Mooney was hired as the head coach at the same school he set records at, but the difference in generation became one of his most challenging tasks to address. Luckily he takes on the role of coach, mentor and role model for players and students alike.聽
People like Mooney are rare in that they want to dedicate their time outside their intended role to take care of the people around them.聽聽
鈥淐oming to this position I knew we鈥檙e talking about guys that after graduation, school is over and they have to now live the rest of their life in whatever career they choose, so how can I help that,鈥� Mooney said.聽
Knowing his players require guidance, especially during these turbulent times, is one of the main reasons Mooney enjoys his job.
鈥淚 take great pride in helping my guys find work after they graduate or while they’re here鈥� for me, it’s seeing these guys grow from teenagers to young men,鈥� Mooney said. 鈥淲e have guest speakers come all the time to talk to the team on so many different aspects of life outside of basketball.鈥�
With a great framework of morals and good team chemistry, the sky’s the limit for the Dolphins.聽
鈥淚 want to see the way Duke is and their brotherhood,鈥� Mooney said. 鈥淚’m not job hunting, I鈥檓 not looking for the next best thing, I want to really establish something here and I really want to cement something and call it my own.鈥澛�
The fourth-year head coach is trying to connect alumni to current players, who will connect to recruits, which will create a school network that mostly exists in the top division sport schools.
鈥淚鈥檓 doing everything I can to take people I knew and people I played with, but also people I didn’t coach or play with, the older generation, and trying to connect them with my current team,鈥� Mooney said. 鈥淭hat’s the hardest part, but if I鈥檓 a few years into this, I’ll have kids that I coached and that鈥檚 a much easier way to merge the two, past players and present players.鈥�
Although the pandemic has affected almost every facet of life, people like Mooney are doing everything they can to stay focused. Whether it is focusing on basketball or helping his players find a job, Mooney wants to be present to help at all times. Hopefully, this will all culminate in the creation of a new dynasty in Division III basketball if Mooney can remain dedicated to his alma mater.
鈥淎 championship,鈥� Mooney said when talking about his goals for the future. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been looming since 鈥�96-鈥�97 when the program last won a championship, it鈥檚 definitely something that I couldn鈥檛 leave here without鈥� I don’t care what the opportunity is, I have unfinished business here. I’m at my alma mater and I had great success here as a player so I feel even more pressure to do it as a coach.鈥澛�
After a close but competitive effort last season, Dolphins fans and players have a lot to look forward to in their head coach. If everything here is not enough evidence to convince anyone of coach Mooney鈥檚 credentials, then maybe his answer to a possible bad season after COVID-19 would keep everyone鈥檚 hopes high.聽
鈥淎s a coach, it doesn’t matter, the wins and losses rest on your shoulders, no matter what,鈥� Mooney said. 鈥淚’ll be the first one to put the responsibility on me to get us there. So for me in the future, I want to see this thing grow, I want us to continue on the path that we are. We鈥檝e done so many great things and we’re just scratching the surface.鈥澛�
With a solid roster and gameplan, coach Mooney is taking full control of the Dolphins season and beginning a whole new chapter for the College of Mount Saint Vincent.
