Miami basketball HC Jim Larranaga’s son Jay earns own coaching career
Jay spoke with the Herald about going on recruiting trips with his father that were in driving distance of Charlottesville and then Bowling Green and summer basketball camps.
"“When he was an assistant at the University of Virginia and head coach at Bowling Green, he traveled quite a bit and I got to go on recruiting trips with him,” Jay recalled. “Any trip within driving distance, I’d jump in the car with him. I enjoyed keeping my Dad company. It was less about the sport and more about the time in the car. My dad’s a great storyteller, so I loved hearing stories about him growing up and all the players he played against; really, the same stories he tells now. He’s been telling the same stories for 40 years, and I still like listening to him.”"
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Jon also had many memories of growing up with his father that revolved around basketball. He also discussed those with the Herald.
"“We were doing a father-son trip, and he was my coach the whole week at the camp, which tells you what kind of Dad he was because he was a Division One Head Coach and he spent a week as a coach at a day camp just to spend alone time with me. I was on fire the whole week. Everything I threw up went in. Our team made the camp championship and every day after camp my dad would take me to 7-11 and we’d get Slurpees. We stayed in the dorms together. He put baby powder in my shoes at night so they’d dry and be ready for the next day. Those are memories I’ll never forget.”"
When Jon was 12, Jim coached his AAU team. They played against former Duke star and 14-year NBA Veteran Corey Maggette. Jim proved his prowess as a scout of basketball talent to Jon after the game.
"“After the game we left the gym, and my dad looked at me and he goes, `That was the first NBA player you’ve ever played against.” And I looked at him like, `NBA player? We’re only 12 years old’.”"
Before becoming a Celtics Assistant under Brad Stevens in 2012, Jay Larranaga spent two years as the Head Coach of the Erie Bayhawks in the NBA Developmental League.
He led them to a 60-40 record and consecutive playoff appearances in two seasons. He set franchise records with the 60 wins, 32 wins in a season and 12 players called up to the NBA.
There is no doubt Larranaga will continue to be a candidate for Head Coaching positions as the cycle starts again next offseason. He received a glowing endorsement from Stevens last month.
Next: Miami Hurricanes extension with Jim Larranaga important for future
If he doesn’t land an NBA job by the time his father retires from coaching he would be the perfect successor as the Miami basketball Head Coach.