Catching up with Coach Paternostro

Entering his fifth year as head coach of the Leicester Riders, Connecticut-born Rob Paternostro knows exactly what to look for as he sets about assembling his team for the 2012/13 BBL season.

“Versatility is always something I look for from the very beginning,” Paternostro revealed. “You see the impact that has on the game and how it lengthens your roster when you have guys that can comfortably play multiple positions. We hope that is what we see here in the first few weeks of pre-season. If you have that kind of versatility you can be effective.”

The Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders have set the bar high as they head towards the new season having won a franchise record 22 league games in 2011/12, the clubs most successful ever league campaign.

The squad that achieved that success received national praise for their chemistry, style of play and talent and rightly so. And although the consistently excellent play of first year duo, Cameron Rundles and Ayron Hardy – both early ’11 off-season signings for the Riders – deservedly grabbed a number of headlines, it was the acquisition of Great Britain Captain Drew Sullivan late in the calendar year that helped tip the team over the edge, anchoring the team and providing the club with the confidence and composure to challenge on all available trophy fronts.

With the impact Sullivan had on the Riders and his evident leadership during the London Olympics this summer, it’s no wonder the Riders and Paternostro were keen to re-sign Sullivan as soon as possible.

“It’s certainly a fantastic starting point for us with Drew, not only with his ability but with his overall intelligence of the game and his ability to play multiple positions.

“When you’re able to get a guy that you feel comfortable playing all over the floor it helps in a lot of ways with the recruiting, bringing in the new guys.”

Sullivan is joined on the Riders roster for the 2012/13 season by the returning Barry Lamble, Connor Washington and Jamell Anderson. New signings John Fraley, Zaire Taylor, Jorge Calvo and the recently announced Pavol Losonsky have also been recruited.

BBL teams have the opportunity to sign three ‘passport’ players – players not from Britain or the EU and typically filled by American talent – which leaves the window open for one former fan favourite to return.

Small forward, Ayron Hardy, who averaged roughly 16/8/4/3 during his only season with the Riders, is still without a team for the new season, although there has been interest from a number of European clubs.

Coach Paternostro was, and still is, a big fan of Hardy’s and when asked, did not rule out the possibility of the 6’5 Birmingham Alabama native returning to the Riders.

“In a lot of ways, when you have a good year, you like to keep that continuity flowing. We’re very interested in retaining some players,” said Paternostro, before later adding “…I’ll never say never. The lines of communication are always there.”

The man who regularly manages to pull a rabbit out of the hat and sign unknown stars, was full of enthusiasm as talk turned to his newest players, describing 6’8 Fraley as ‘athletic’ and a ‘hard worker’, praising Calvo’s on and off court intelligence, as well as being impressed by both Taylor and Losonsky’s careers to date.

Paternostro knows that his new faces will need to gel quickly if his side are to continue the success of the 2011 season and launch another assault on the Newcastle Eagles who currently hold all four domestic trophies.

“I look at this league every year as a whole new start. When you see a team that has players back you can look at them as a team that you think will be successful…,” said Paternostro. “With Smith, Chapman, Defoe and Fab you have a pretty good idea of what they (Newcastle Eagles) can do. We all know they have been successful in this league. You expect them to be good. You pretty much understand that they will be tough to beat.”

Joining the Newcastle Eagles as undoubted early season silverware favourites, are the UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders, who declared their intent for the coming season earlier on this summer by committing to a seven man rotation.

The Raiders shortened roster has already been assembled, with starters from other BBL clubs joining a handful of returning players to form a formidable line-up. For Paternostro though, the focus is not so much on other teams, but more about his own side and their mindset.

“Anybody that knows me knows I want to win every day. I don’t think there will be any trouble going into the year knowing what the goal is: To win every practice, every game and give it our best shot.

“The goal is to win.”

The 2012/13 BBL season tips-off on the 21st September. For all the fixtures, visit the official BBL website.

As  always, all statistics taken from Brithoops.com