Coach Phil
The surprise meeting Phil wasn't prepared for
12:30 pm in Charleston, South Carolina.
Phil Hines stood outside near the Charleston Otters building in his black pocket pants and a green shirt.
While he waited for the still-new General Manager of the Otters to meet him, he began having flashbacks of being one of the assistant coaches for the Boston Lucky Charms at their packed arena during a tense playoff game against the Kansas City Foxes two months ago.
Phil could vividly see himself walking up to the slightly intimidating head coach, Keith Jones. Coach Jones had his arms folded as the score was tied at 112 with four minutes to go. He shook his head, staring at the Kansas team and their red jerseys.
‘‘Coach?’’ Phil softly said. ‘‘Coach?’’ he repeated, with a worried look.
‘‘Yeah.’’ Coach Jones finally stoically replied.
‘‘I think if we run nothing but an offensive squad out there, we can win this game.’’
‘‘Hmmm.’’ Coach Jones hummed.
Phil waited to hear what Keith had to say with a worried face. Keith remained still, staring at the basketball court in front of him. Keith turned and stared at his top assistant coach.
‘‘Alright, we’ll give that option a try.’’
Phil’s worried face turned into a grateful one. A weight quickly evaporated from his body.
‘‘Steve! Hansen! Get out there on the court!’’ Coach Jones commanded.
‘‘Phil!’’ the familiar voice brought Phil back to the present.
‘‘Lawrence!’’ Phil said loudly.
The slightly shorter Lawrence walked towards Phil, also in his sports outfit, but with a blue shirt instead of green. The shirt has the words Charleston Otters shining in bright white ink.
‘‘How are you doing? How was your flight?’’ asked Lawrence.
‘‘I’m doing well. My Southwest flight was good. A little turbulence, but it was good and quick.’’ Phil answered.
‘‘Good. I bet you’re on a serious high after winning the 2026 NBA championship.’’
‘‘I am, I can’t lie. I feel like my head is in heaven.’’ Phil said with a smile.
‘‘Congratulations, friend, well deserved!’’
‘‘Thanks, friend.’’
‘‘You’re welcome. You’re welcome.’’
‘‘So…how’s the new job going?’’ asked Phil.
‘‘It’s going good. I’ve been assembling my team to help turn this franchise around.’’ Lawrence answered.
‘‘That’s great! The Charleston Otters organization is lucky to have you. If anyone can help get this franchise to greatness, you can.’’
‘‘Appreciate that, brother. I’m…just… having trouble with something.’’
‘‘Oh…what’s that?’’
‘‘I’m…having trouble picking out the coach I want for the Otters.’’
‘‘Ah…I see.’’
‘‘But… I do have one candidate in mind, but I don’t know if he’ll accept it.’’
‘‘Right… right! Keith Jones is a great choice, but I don’t know if he’ll accept the gig. He’s having great success in Boston.’’ Phil blurted out.
‘‘No… no… no, not Keith, friend.’’
‘‘No?’’ Phil’s head and eyes rose.
‘‘Nope.’’ Lawrence quickly replied. ‘‘I was… thinking of you as being the new coach for the Charleston Otters.’’
Lawrence’s words gain Phil’s entire attention. ‘‘Me?’’
‘‘Yeah! You!’’ Lawrence enthusiastically said. ‘‘You have a brilliant basketball mind, just like Coach Jones and a few other coaches. You’re the King Midas of the NBA now. Every team you’ve been a part of in the last six years has become a winner.’’
Phil didn’t know what to say. He had never heard his accomplishments said before.
‘‘Plus, the word has it that the ideas you had during the playoffs helped the Lucky Charms go to the NBA Finals and win the championship. You’re a winning creator, Phil.
Charleston is starving for a winning organization. I want to give that to them, and I believe you can too, Phil. Surely, you have thought about coaching a team at some point during your basketball journey.’’
‘‘I have. But…what if I can’t do the job? What if I’m not made to be a coach?’’ Phil said with his head leaning slightly down.
‘‘Let’s find out together.’’ Lawrence gleefully said. ‘‘Look, Phil, I’m not expecting you to be perfect in the first season. Think of it as a training year for you to see… how you feel about coaching.’’
‘‘I…do have a lot of coaching ideas that I’ve been dying to try out.’’
‘‘Here’s your chance to put those ideas to the test said Lawrence.
‘‘Well then, let’s create a winner, friend,’’ Phil said smilingly.
‘‘Let’s do it, Phil!’’ an excited Lawrence said.
Thanks for reading!