Hawkins has formula that has worked

If you were to survey the boys basketball coaches statewide, asking who they think are the best coaches, you would get a few different names.

I guarantee one name would be mentioned frequently. That is Madison coach Bill Hawkins.

I’ve known of him for several years. I interviewed him briefly a few years back at a state tournament. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him.

So it was a pleasure to watch Madison swing through Coeur d’Alene last weekend. The Bobcats are considered the team to beat among the five eastern Idaho 5A teams.

After seeing the tall and athletic Bobcats sweep Lake City (58-49) and Coeur d’Alene (62-60), I understand why Madison should be playing in the Idaho Center in early March. They returned essentially three starters off a team that finished runner-up in the 4A state tournament last year.

Hawkins, who turns 50 in February, is a disciple of former Rigby coach Elliott Anderson. Hawkins played for and assisted under Anderson, who coached seven teams to state titles.

Anderson is friends with Texas Tech coach Bob Knight, who, back in the day, would swing through eastern Idaho and do a little fly fishing with his buddy.

Hawkins is old enough to have a little old school in him but young enough to stay in touch with kids of today.

Take, for example, a strategy he adopted about eight years ago. He doesn’t start preseason practices the first day teams are allowed to start. This year, Hawkins waited until the Wednesday following the first day, a Friday, before holding his first practice.

The following week, he gave his players four days off at Thanksgiving. When Madison left Rexburg for Coeur d’Alene last Thursday, Hawkins arranged to have a practice that evening at Sentinel High in Missoula. It was Madison’s 10th practice. Teams must practice 10 times before playing a game.

Madison was understandably rusty. The Vikings’ frenetic all-over-the-court style forced 30 turnovers.

So what’s with the late start?

“I feel it helps you in the end,” Hawkins said. “You’ll be a little shaky early and not in great physical condition, but it’s a long season. The season is about 3 ½ months. I knew it would hurt our conditioning (last) week what with the long trip up here. But I truly believe that it will make them that much more fresh at the end.”

Hawkins’ teams don’t practice Saturdays, either, unless it’s in preparation for a district tournament that begins early the following week.

“We’ve been doing it the last eight years or so,” Hawkins said. “I was one of those kinds of guys where I felt you had to get started as soon as possible. You become good early, but sometimes kids tend to burn out a little. It’s just a silly theory of mine.”

It must work. After all, Madison has won two state titles and played for state titles in ‘03 and last year since 2001.

Hawkins was impressed with CdA and LC.

“They’re going to have a tough league,” Hawkins said. “Whoever comes out of it is going to be prepared to do well at state. We kill each other in our area and it sounds like they’re going to do the same over here. It helps us for state and it will help these guys, too. I was very impressed with how both teams are coached.”