December 13, 2011

Willemsen's "Video Diary Series" gives fans inside look at gameday

The latest contribution in Tennessee Tech assistant coach Russ Willemsen’s “Video Diary Series” is live and online at CollegeChalktalk.com.

Assistant basketball coach featured on CollegeChalkTalk.com

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — The latest contribution in Tennessee Tech assistant coach Russ Willemsen’s “Video Diary Series” is live and online at CollegeChalktalk.com.

Willemsen, a seventh-year coach on the Golden Eagle bench, is featured on the web site as part of its Diary Series, which runs from November through March and is comprised of monthly contributions from coaches.

Willemsen’s first contribution was published Nov. 1 while his second went on display Monday night.

The latest entry gives viewers an inside look at a Tennessee Tech basketball game day, specifically Saturday, Dec. 10, when the Golden Eagles hosted Lipscomb. The video begins at 7 a.m. and depicts several players eating breakfast and having a film session in the team’s locker room.

The clip then follows the team to practice and back to the locker room for head coach Steve Payne’s pregame talk. The entry closes postgame in Willemsen’s office after a hard-fought 89-87 overtime victory over Lipscomb.

Viewers are introduced to numerous Golden Eagles who have speaking roles in the video, including Chase Dunn, Mitchell Hill, Javon McKay, Matt Marseille, Zach Bailey, Ryon Riggins, Lanerryl Johnson and Dennis Ogbe, who, unfortunately, spills Gatorade all over himself during the morning film session. Managers Seth Bruton and Ty Young are also featured on the video.

Willemsen will post entries periodically throughout the season.

Founded in 2007, College Chalktalk began as a website dedicated to coverage of the Atlantic 10 Conference, but over the next four years, expanded its coverage to every conference in the nation. College Chalktalk has earned respect throughout the coaching community and is committed to analysis which is credible and accurate.

Willemsen began his career at Tech as Director of Basketball Operations in 2005-06 and was promoted to assistant coach in 2006-07. A native of Rushville, N.Y., and a graduate of Lee University, Wilemsen handles a wide variety of duties on head coach Steve Payne’s staff, including on-floor coaching and off-campus recruiting. He is also heavily involved in the academic progress of the Golden Eagles and is involved with players on a day-to-day basis.

To view Willemsen’s Diary Series, click here.