Troy Beans

Troy Beans is a winner.  His success at the Union Tournament is incredible.  His teams have won when they were supposed to win and they have won when they weren't supposed to win.  You could never count a Campion team out when he was coaching.  He is also a very humble man.  Everyone that I have met that has gone through his program has nothing but great things to say about him.  When I was in High School I was in the dorm during the tournament as he was walking around checking his kids in.  I was intimidated by him because he is the Coach K of Adventist basketball.  I don't remember what I asked him but he talked to me and showed genuine interest in what I had to say.  I think that is one of the key's of his success.  He makes people feel important.  He always has time for a word or a conversation.  This is the first year he isn't coaching a team at the tournament but he had to come up and see his "kids" play.  He was so kind to answer a couple questions for me.

Big Rich:  In your time coaching at Campion Academy you won the Union College Basketball tournament 8 times. Your team was in the championship game 9 out of the last 10 years. To what do you attribute all of the success?


Troy Beans:  I think you could attribute our success to many different things. First we are the biggest school in the union so we had more kids to choose from. I was fortunate to coach large number of players who were great athletes and great basketball players. We were also very fortunate that we hit some really big shots at the end of games. The most important thing was doing every thing we could to create a culture that fit the Mission Statement of Campion. "Experiencing Christ in a learning environment" Every practice every game are we growing in our relationship with Christ and are we learning something? Three things built our culture: 1. In a game do your very best so that you provide the other team with the best game possible. 2. In games and practice do your best to help your teammates. 3. Do your best to use the talents that God has given you to glorify Him.
If the peace of God rules in your heart you will be able to play at your best.
From a strictly basketball sense we worked very hard at fundamentals every day in practice. I certainly had a system we played but I was very willing to change and switch things up to fit the players. And finally at the tournament because the players understood the system so well that after the first three games we were able to adjust and the players were able to adjust and still perform at a high level.

Big Rich:  They say that a team takes on the characteristics of their coach. What traits did you want your teams to have?


Troy Beans:  1. Hard work all the time!! I have one unwritten rule and that is if all ten players do not run down the floor at any point in practice or games, I will pull you out of a game and in practice the entire team had to run lines. They learned real fast there is NEVER an excuse to be lazy!!!
2. Play with the spirit of Christ in your heart at all times! A player who has the peace of God in him will be a better person, a better student and a better player.
3. Play as a team! Understand your role and do everything you can to carry out that role to the best of your ability. 
4. I think offense is harder to be good at than defense but you cannot ignore defense. It has to be done well and with effort.
5. Get better as the season goes on.
6. Have fun!
7. Play with confidence and humility. God has given you gifts!! Use them to glorify Him but understand you cannot do it without the help of your teammates. 
8. Play smart. Understand situations, time and score, how to manage the clock, when to shoot three's, when to try and get to the free throw line, play hard but don't foul, shot fakes and pass fakes, how to trap, how to use your feet on offense, how to use your dribble, transition for both offense and defense.

Bottom line for me was always did we do everything we could to be our best in every way!