Tale of 2 Feltons: Dennis at Tulsa, Jazz at WKU
Call it a Tale of Two Feltons.
Tulsa assistant coach and former Western Kentucky University head coach Dennis Felton is back in college after spending the past five years in the NBA. Meanwhile, 626 miles away from Tulsa, his son Jazz is in the embryonic stages of a possible coaching career as a WKU student manager.
Tulsa (18-7, 11-2) is in its inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference. WKU (16-8, 9-3) is in its inaugural season in Conference USA.
Dennis Felton last coached in college at Georgia in 2009. He's best known for resurrecting WKU, guiding the Hilltoppers to three straight NCAA tournament appearances in five seasons (1999-2003). Felton is one of three former head coaches on Frank Haith's staff at Tulsa, joining Dave Leitao and Tom Abatemarco.
"It's been beautiful," Felton, 51, said. "I'm really, really enjoying it. I'm part of a great team. We may have the most experienced staff in the country."
Felton had been working with the San Antonio Spurs as the Director of Pro Player Personnel from 2010-2013. Prior to that, he was a scout for the Phoenix Suns (2009-10). He was still in touch with the college game.
He missed it.
"The reasons I came back were the opportunity to lead, teach and the fun part of being back in the locker room," Felton said. "That kind of competitive camaraderie."
Dennis Felton wants to become a college head coach again. His son aspires to be a coach, too.
Jazz Felton was a child when his father was at WKU. He is now a 20-year-old sophomore and marketing major. As a student manager for Hilltoppers coach Ray Harper, he does a variety of tasks from getting equipment, providing water for the players, helping set up practices, etc.
It's a jack-of-all-trades position that can eventually lead to coaching. Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel was a student manager at Kentucky under Rick Pitino. Virginia Tech's Buzz Williams was a student manager at a junior college.
Jazz Felton wants to follow in his father's footsteps.
"I wanted to get an early start into getting into coaching," he said. "That would be my dream."
Jazz Felton went to WKU in part due to his familiarity with the school. One of his favorite childhood memories was WKU upsetting then-No.4 Kentucky 64-52 at Rupp Arena in 2001.
Jazz Felton has a copy of the game on DVD.
"I watch it a couple of times," he said. "It's really cool."
Dennis Felton's favorite WKU memory was winning the 2003 Sun Belt tournament championship in what turned out to be his home final game. He recalled cutting the net down and looking into the E. A. Diddle Arena student section and seeing "a wall of people."
His memories at Georgia aren't as joyous.
Felton took over a program that was reeling from the academic fraud scandal that turned that the Bulldogs into a national punch-line. Georgia reached the 2008 NCAA tournament after a surprising run to win the Southeastern Conference tournament but was Felton fired midseason in January 2009.
Felton went 84-91 in six seasons.
"It was a difficult time," he said. "We only had only one losing season (in the first five seasons) . Our students did well academically. I'm proud of what we accomplished. It was a difficult task on a daily basis."
Coaching can be a tough job but Jazz Felton isn't deterred.
"I like teaching basketball," the younger Felton said. "You break it down, have scouting reports. I like to see all of the preparation come together at once."
In 15 to 20 years, could Jazz Felton see himself as coach of the Hilltoppers?
"That would be a great start," he said. "I'd love that."
Dennis Felton is certain his son will make the most out of his basketball opportunities.
"All he has to do is get his foot in the door," he said. "Then he'll kick the door down."
courier-journal
Call it a Tale of Two Feltons.
Tulsa assistant coach and former Western Kentucky University head coach Dennis Felton is back in college after spending the past five years in the NBA. Meanwhile, 626 miles away from Tulsa, his son Jazz is in the embryonic stages of a possible coaching career as a WKU student manager.
Tulsa (18-7, 11-2) is in its inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference. WKU (16-8, 9-3) is in its inaugural season in Conference USA.
Dennis Felton last coached in college at Georgia in 2009. He's best known for resurrecting WKU, guiding the Hilltoppers to three straight NCAA tournament appearances in five seasons (1999-2003). Felton is one of three former head coaches on Frank Haith's staff at Tulsa, joining Dave Leitao and Tom Abatemarco.
"It's been beautiful," Felton, 51, said. "I'm really, really enjoying it. I'm part of a great team. We may have the most experienced staff in the country."
Felton had been working with the San Antonio Spurs as the Director of Pro Player Personnel from 2010-2013. Prior to that, he was a scout for the Phoenix Suns (2009-10). He was still in touch with the college game.
He missed it.
"The reasons I came back were the opportunity to lead, teach and the fun part of being back in the locker room," Felton said. "That kind of competitive camaraderie."
Dennis Felton wants to become a college head coach again. His son aspires to be a coach, too.
Jazz Felton was a child when his father was at WKU. He is now a 20-year-old sophomore and marketing major. As a student manager for Hilltoppers coach Ray Harper, he does a variety of tasks from getting equipment, providing water for the players, helping set up practices, etc.
It's a jack-of-all-trades position that can eventually lead to coaching. Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel was a student manager at Kentucky under Rick Pitino. Virginia Tech's Buzz Williams was a student manager at a junior college.
Jazz Felton wants to follow in his father's footsteps.
"I wanted to get an early start into getting into coaching," he said. "That would be my dream."
Jazz Felton went to WKU in part due to his familiarity with the school. One of his favorite childhood memories was WKU upsetting then-No.4 Kentucky 64-52 at Rupp Arena in 2001.
Jazz Felton has a copy of the game on DVD.
"I watch it a couple of times," he said. "It's really cool."
Dennis Felton's favorite WKU memory was winning the 2003 Sun Belt tournament championship in what turned out to be his home final game. He recalled cutting the net down and looking into the E. A. Diddle Arena student section and seeing "a wall of people."
His memories at Georgia aren't as joyous.
Felton took over a program that was reeling from the academic fraud scandal that turned that the Bulldogs into a national punch-line. Georgia reached the 2008 NCAA tournament after a surprising run to win the Southeastern Conference tournament but was Felton fired midseason in January 2009.
Felton went 84-91 in six seasons.
"It was a difficult time," he said. "We only had only one losing season (in the first five seasons) . Our students did well academically. I'm proud of what we accomplished. It was a difficult task on a daily basis."
Coaching can be a tough job but Jazz Felton isn't deterred.
"I like teaching basketball," the younger Felton said. "You break it down, have scouting reports. I like to see all of the preparation come together at once."
In 15 to 20 years, could Jazz Felton see himself as coach of the Hilltoppers?
"That would be a great start," he said. "I'd love that."
Dennis Felton is certain his son will make the most out of his basketball opportunities.
"All he has to do is get his foot in the door," he said. "Then he'll kick the door down."
courier-journal
