RICK MAHORN BIG MAN CAMP COACHING STAFF

MEET OUR COACHES

RICK MAHORN

Big Man Skills Lead Coach

Rick Mahorn was a member of the legendary Detroit Pistons “Bad Boys.” An 18-year veteran of the NBA who also played two seasons in Italy, Rick is currently one-half of the Pistons’ radio broadcast team.

You can read about Rick and the "Bad Boys" here

"My goal is to get you to always be a student of the game.  Hakeem was one of the most gifted post players, but guys like Kareem and Kevin McHale, once they developed a counter-move, became much harder to defend.  You will leave the camp with a better understanding of the game, and of your game – that will help you become the best player you can be. Based on my many years as a player and coach, I would say, too, that the mental part of the game is holding too many players back today. Combine the mental component with the physical skills you have and you will become a much more complete player. This combination – the physical plus the mental – makes our camp truly one-of-a-kind."

GEORGE GALIOTOS

Director of Player Development

George hails from Greece, where he played 13 years in the physically demanding Greek Basketball League. The 7-foot Galiotos has played against many of Europe's best big men, and has an exceptional eye for detail.

MITCH SMITH 

Mental Conditioning Coach

Dr. Mitch Smith has worked with hundreds of college and professional basketball players, coaches, and teams in both the U.S. and Europe helping them to develop the mental qualities to achieve greater competitive success. For ten years he served as Director of Sport Psychology Services at Florida Atlantic University.

The true value of a camp is if it can help you become a more dominating player in critical game situations. That is where the mental part comes so that players can:

• Maintain consistent focus and fend off distractions of all sorts
• Use effective strategies to keep their confidence high during a game (or a season)'s ups and down
• Employ mental rehearsal techniques to compete at the highest level
• Keep anger from getting in the way, and use it to their advantage
• Become more resilient and more aggressive by accepting setbacks as challenges and opportunities rather than defeats

   “Mitch Smith is passionately committed to helping athletes capitalize on their talents and reach their dreams. He has worked with several players in our basketball program. Their success can be traced, in part, to the direction and inspiration he has provided. He is committed to excellence and his integrity is the foundation of all that he does.”

          —Bob McKillop, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Davidson College, 2008 NCAA Coach of the Year, 2013 Head USA Men’s Basketball Coach at World University Games, and College Coach of Stephen Curry

Rick and Mitch discussing our work at a U.S. Embassy abroad