Jeremy ‘Opie’ Lade has recently stepped down as head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater after 12 years. He won two NWBA National Championships as a player and a further six as a coach. The former Team USA national player spoke with Rollt.’s Dylan Cummings to discuss some of his fondest memories of coaching at Whitewater.
Why did you decide to stop coaching at Whitewater?
“I felt like it was time for a new challenge for me professionally. I really enjoyed coaching and being around the team. I will certainly miss being a coach and miss being around the team. A new job and a new challenge will open up some new opportunities for me. I feel very fortunate to still have the ability to be around the team and help out when I can.”
Do you think you’ve made the right decision? If so, why?
“It’s hard to look at a decision in the moment and know if you have made the right decision. My goal has been and will always be to make sure the UW-Whitewater wheelchair basketball program is in a spot to be successful. The coaches before me have established that goal and I will continue on with that tradition. The program is going to be in a good spot, and we have a very strong team. I am happy that I am moving on at a time in which the program has lots of talent to help with the transition to a different coach.”
Will you coach again in the future or are you retired from coaching now?
“I’m not sure what the future holds at this point, but I am certainly not closing the doors to any opportunities. I am pursuing a new professional challenge, but I am not retiring from coaching.”
If you will coach again, what club and/or national teams would you be interested in coaching?
“I don’t have an ideal landing place or opportunity that I am waiting on. I plan on still playing basketball and still being close to our wheelchair basketball program here at Whitewater.”
What are some of the fondest memories from coaching at Whitewater?
“Bus trips are always a big part of what we do, and we have had some fun on those trips. I really enjoyed watching student-athletes grow and reach goals they didn’t think they could accomplish. I cherish the moments before a practice begins and we are together as a team joking or catching up on things happening in our lives outside of basketball. The list is too long to list all of my fondest memories.”
Do you have any regrets?
“No regrets that I can think of. I didn’t do everything perfect, but those imperfections taught me a lot of lessons that helped me to develop as a coach. I always told the team, ‘a loss is only a loss if you don’t learn something from it.’”
Which coach influenced you the most in your career?
“Tracy Chynoweth is a big influence on my coaching career. We had a lot of fun when he was coaching me at UW-Whitewater and I always wanted this program to be about having fun. I believe you are playing your best basketball when you are having fun and that is certainly Tracy’s influence on me. My dad also plays a big impact. He taught me a lot of life lessons that helped me with coaching, and I tried to pass those lessons onto my athletes.”
Who was your favourite coach to work alongside in your career?
“I have been very fortunate to have some great coaches to work with. I really enjoyed bringing in student-assistants that didn’t know anything about wheelchair basketball and as the years passed their knowledge and enjoyment of the game increased. It was fun to see young students turn into coaches. Those student-assistants were incredible and some of the greatest people I got to work with.”
What is your style of coaching?
“I would describe myself as a players’ coach. I try to have a gauge on what is happening in the lives of my athletes on and off the court. I tried to be a positive influence on their lives and be available when they needed me. I was willing to enjoy the process of becoming a better athlete and a better team.”
Photo: Craig Schreiner
Who’s the coach you’ve always idolised in your career?
“I have always been impressed with Phil Jackson from the Chicago Bulls. He had some philosophies and ideas that might be hard to sell to professional athletes, but his ability to sell those ideas to his athletes and get them to buy in was really impressive and it led to lots of wins for his team.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given by another coach?
“Coaching requires thick skin. You can’t keep everyone happy all of the time. Make your decisions based on what is best for the team.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given to a player and/or team?
“Have fun. If you’re not having fun, you’re not going to be at your best. Enjoy the process. Enjoy the pursuit of excellence in every area of your life.”
If you got the chance to coach alongside 3 coaches you’ve never worked with before, who would you choose and why?
“Phil Jackson – He was able to get the best athletes on the planet to buy into his system and sacrifice some of their individual talents. Vince Lombardi – I’m a die-hard Packers fan and Vince was a great motivator. Greg Popovich – He seems to keep basketball in perspective while running a tight ship and an unselfish offense.”
If you got the chance to coach players and/or teams that you’ve never coached before, who would you choose and why?
“USA Wheelchair Basketball – I took great pride in representing the USA when I was playing, and I would take great pride as a coach of that team as well. Any NBA team – I would like to know the ins and outs of professional basketball. I would like to see what goes into fine tuning athletes of that calibre.”
What’s next for Jeremy ‘Opie’ Lade?
“I plan to still be around the game playing with the Milwaukee Wheelchair Bucks and helping out here at UW-Whitewater when needed. I am going to pursue some other hobbies that I have interests in like shooting sports (trap, skeet, sporting clays) and spending some quality time with my wife and family.”
Thanks for your time Jeremy!
Rollt. would like to thank Jeremy ‘Opie’ Lade for the interview!
Jeremy ‘Opie’ Lade Profile:
Date of Birth: 06/01/1981 (aged 39)
Hometown: Oconto, Wisconsin
Started playing: 1996
USA senior debut: 2002 World Championships – Kitakyushu, Japan
Retired from USA: 2014
Started coaching: 2006
Classification: 2.5
Disability: L2 Spinal Cord Injury
Current Club: Milwaukee Wheelchair Bucks, USA (1996-Present)
Former clubs you played for:
_University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, USA (1999-04)
Former clubs you coached:
_Milwaukee Wizards Juniors, USA (2006-08)
_University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, USA (2007-20)
Career Highlights:
International
_2002 World Championships – Kitakyushu, Japan – Gold (USA)
_2004 Paralympic Games – Athens, Greece – 4th (USA)
_2006 World Championships – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Silver (USA)
_2007 Parapan American Games – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Gold (USA)
_2008 Paralympic Games – Beijing, China – 4th (USA)
_2010 World Championships – Birmingham, GB – Silver (USA)
_2012 Paralympic Games – London, GB – Bronze – (USA)
Club (Player)
_2001 NWBA 2nd team All-American (Whitewater)
_2002 NWBA 1st team All-American (Whitewater)
_2002 NWBA Division II National Champion and MVP (Bucks)
_2003 NWBA Intercollegiate National Champion and MVP (Whitewater)
_2004 NWBA 1st team All-American (Whitewater)
_2004 NWBA Intercollegiate National Champions (Whitewater)
Club (Coach)
_2009 NWBA Intercollegiate National Champions (Whitewater)
_2011 NWBA Intercollegiate National Champions (Whitewater)
_2012 NWBA Intercollegiate National Champions (Whitewater)
_2014 NWBA Intercollegiate National Champions (Whitewater)
_2015 NWBA Intercollegiate National Champions (Whitewater)
_2016 NWBA Intercollegiate National Champions (Whitewater)
Interview: Dylan Cummings | Photos: Craig Schreiner