Ron DuBois
Age: 31.
Residence: Memphis, Tenn.
Then: The Lodi native was an assistant coach at UC Davis under Gary Stewart for three seasons (2003 to '06) and the head coach of the Chico Force of the International Basketball League for two seasons (2005 and '06). He also spent time on the bench of a professional team in Paris and with the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, was an assistant video coordinator with the Phoenix Suns and the head coach of a pro club in Tijuana, Mexico.
Now: DuBois is in his second season as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies.
How does one get from UC Davis to the NBA?
I was the video coordinator for the Phoenix Suns prior to going to Davis, so networking. I worked under two different coaching staffs there, I got to know 10 different coaches, one of them being our head coach here, Marc Iavaroni.
How has the transition been? How are you enjoying it?
I love professional basketball. There are positives to both college and the pros. In pro, it's just basketball all the time. You come here early, you get extra shots with guys, you spend extra time video game planning. In college, there are other duties you have to take care of. I love working with professional athletes. They're highly motivated. They want to learn. It's been a blessing to work for coach Iavaroni.
Does Davis seem like a long time ago? I know there have been some other stops along the way.
Not really. It seems like yesterday. I went to the exhibition game (against Bethany on Nov. 4). I keep in close contact with coach Stewart and coach (Duane) Kouba. I owe coach Stewart so much for giving me the opportunity to get on the court and really get better as a coach. I take a lot of pride in the program there and I'm happy to see the program that they're building.
What's the biggest thing that has stayed with you from your time at Davis?
My voice. Coach Stewart let me do the offense, and you find your voice. It's great as a video coordinator, and I was a graduate assistant (at Arizona State). Those were things where I was learning and observing, but it wasn't my voice out there instructing and putting things together. That's the opportunity coach Stewart gave me.
You've coached in Chico. You've coached in the NBA. You've coached in Paris. You've coached in Tijuana. Much difference between Paris, Tijuana and Memphis?
Hmmm. Paris, Tijuana and Memphis. Man, it seems like a completely different world in all three. But it's been great. I just feel like I've (been able) to see so many different cultures and meet so many different great people. I love it.
This is your first time on an NBA bench. Has that jump been what you expected?
Yeah. I think I prepared myself and was ready. When I first started at Davis and then going to Mexico, being a head coach in Chico, going to France – I think I continued to build. It's been a dream come true. This is what I've always wanted to do.
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