New Alabama NCAA college basketball head coach Avery Johnson walks the basketball court in Coleman Coliseum after an introductory press conference in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wednesday, April 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)As a player in the National Basketball Association, Avery Johnson helped propel the San Antonio Spurs to their first championship in 1999.
As an NBA coach, Johnson guided the Dallas Mavericks to a berth in the 2006 finals.
Now several weeks into his new role coaching the University of Alabama, Johnson is getting used to working in the college ranks and the differences that come with it.
"It's the paperwork and making sure everything from a compliance standpoint is squeaky clean," Johnson said recently on a teleconference. "It's a lot of paperwork, but I like all of the checks and balances here in college. If you're organized and everybody stays synchronized on the same page, it shouldn't be a problem."
Johnson, who was hired to resurrect a Crimson Tide program that made one NCAA tournament trip in predecessor Anthony Grant's six seasons, is part of an accomplished quartet invading the Southeastern Conference. New Mississippi State coach Ben Howland guided UCLA to three consecutive Final Four appearances from 2006 to '08, while Rick Barnes is now at Tennessee after taking Texas to 16 of the past 17 NCAA tournaments, including a Final Four run in 2003.
Entering the SEC with the least experience is Michael White, who was hired from Louisiana Tech to replace Billy Donovan at Florida. White coached the Bulldogs to a 101-40 mark the past four seasons, reaching the NIT quarterfinals the past two seasons, and he recognizes the impressive coaching wave on which he is riding.
"It speaks volumes to the level of competition within the Southeastern Conference throughout all sports," White said. "It's just a prestigious conference nationally, and basketball has always had its blips on the radar to where it's been really, really good in certain years. With the emphasis on basketball and the increased scheduling tactics to get our computer numbers up as a league, the last couple of years have seen SEC basketball do some really good things.
"With the addition of some really good coaches with great experience, it will only continue to improve our brand name as a league throughout the country."
While not at the level of their football counterparts - all seven West division coaches will make at least $4 million this season - SEC basketball coaches are receiving higher salaries as well. A record 10 will make at least $2 million this season, topped by Kentucky's John Calipari and his whopping $7 million annual salary.
Two newcomers are next, with Johnson scheduled to make $2.8 million with the Crimson Tide and Barnes $2.3 million with the Volunteers.
"This makes a statement that our league continues to step up and upgrade from the standpoint of coaches and that we want to be one of the best conferences in the country," Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. "We're serious about basketball in the SEC."
Said Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy: "It has certainly enhanced the profile of SEC basketball, which is obviously a good thing for our league."
Though the incoming coaches bring track records of success, there is one departure who will be hard to replace. Donovan took over a Florida program low on tradition in 1996 and guided the Gators to 14 NCAA tournaments, including seven trips to the Elite Eight, four to the Final Four and national championships in 2006 and '07.
Donovan left Florida for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, who have Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and are expected to challenge for the title next season.
"I doubt if anybody has done a better job in this league than Billy Donovan did while he was at Florida," Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said. "I think he'll be an outstanding NBA coach."
It wasn't long ago when Johnson was viewed as an outstanding NBA coach, claiming coach of the year honors in '06.
Now it's about paperwork, adjusting to younger players and getting out on the recruiting trail.
"People talk about the grind of being on the road for July with these AAU tournaments," Johnson said. "There is nothing like the grind of an NBA season, when you can play four games in five nights. We're up for the challenge."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.