Snohomish County Explosion: New coach, new players … same goal

Published 9:43 pm Saturday, April 11, 2009

The Snohomish County Explosion tip off their third season in the International Basketball League tonight with Chris Weakley occupying a new role.

Head coach.

Weakley, 31, a former Explosion player, was named head coach in December, replacing Randy Redwine, who stepped down after guiding the team through its first two seasons.

Weakley played for the Explosion in 2007 and 2008, but said he felt he had accomplished all he could as an IBL player.

Explosion owner Nathan Mumm considered other coaching candidates, but said Weakley emerged as the favorite because of his familiarity with the team, its goals and the league.

Weakley’s goal for his first season is simple: “The goal we are setting is winning that championship,” he said.

Weakley used the team’s month-long training camp to shape his roster and implement his system. He preaches an up-tempo style of play.

“The style of play is going to change,” Weakley said. “We are going to get up and down the floor a little more.”

The Explosion plan to play a style similar to that seen in the NBA or in international basketball, Weakley said. They will use more pick-and-rolls on offense and spread the floor in order to take advantage of mismatches.

Weakley also promises a more stable roster than Explosion fans have seen in the past.

“I am going to keep a solid 12-man roster,” said Weakley, who also hopes to maintain a three- or four-player practice squad.

Going into tonight’s opener, the Explosion have 14 players on their roster. Only forward Troy Gwynn returns from last season.

Weakley said one player who has stood out in practice so far is forward Devon Green, who played previously with the Arizona Rhinos of the ABA.

“If I need him to get 40 (points), he can get 40,” Weakley said. “I’m looking for Devon Green to probably be the best player in the league.”

The Explosion has added more height to this year’s roster, including Brad Kanis, a 7-foot-2 center.

“In the past we didn’t have guys that big, this is a bigger team, and I believe a more athletic team than the teams we have had in the past,” Weakley said.

The new coach preaches a team-first philosophy, and the players are buying into it.

“The biggest thing that has stood out for me is that these guys really compete,” Weakley said. “These guys believe in what I am teaching them.”

Weakley said his coaching style differs from what the players experienced in Redwine’s two seasons. “I am not here to out-coach Randy, I am just here to do a job,” Weakley said.

But things will change.

“Randy’s style of coaching is way different than mine,” Weakley said. “I’m a hard-nosed coach. If you’re not doing it right, we’ll stay until we get it right.”

Although this is Weakley’s first coaching job at the professional level, he does have coaching experience. In 2002, he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Salem International University in Salem, W. Va. The following year, he served as head coach at Prince Avenue Prep in South Carolina. In a year and a half as the coach at Prince Avenue, Weakley led the team to a 48-2 record.

Last year, while playing for the Explosion, Weakley served as an assistant coach at Archbishop Murphy High School.

Following games in Oregon tonight and Sunday, the Explosion return home to prepare for their home opener, April 18 against the Seattle Mountaineers.