Eric Detlev is in his first season as head coach of the Fraport Skyliners(PRO B) team as well as assistant coach for the Fraport Skyliners(Beko BBL). He was 11 years with the Soba Dragons Rhondorf and last three years as head coach helping the team reach the PRO A in 2010. Awards/Achievements in his coaching career have been Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Coach of the Year 2010 and German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Champion -10. He spoke to German Hoopsabout basketball recently.

Welcome to the Fraport Skyliners. How happy are you being a part of the Skyliner family?

I am very happy to be here and be a part of the family.

Did ex Skyliner PRO B player Chris Rojik influence you a bit on making your decision since you coached him for many years at Rohndorf?

I did speak to Chris about coming here, but the contact has broken off a bit because he is back in the States. So he didn´t really have so much an influence in me making this decision.

You were 11 years with the Soba Dragons Rhondorf. How did the contact come about with the Fraport Skyliners?

I had spoken to Gunnar Wobke about a year ago about me coming to the Skyliners, but it didn´t happen because I had signed a contract with Rhondorf.

On what things are you looking most forward to with your new challenge with the Fraport Skyliners?

There are really two main factors about what I am most looking forward to. First being able to be with young players and help them develop further and second to be able to work with Muli Katzurin and be able to learn new things from him.

What will be your biggest challenge with the Fraport Skyliners?

My biggest challenge will be coordinating everything between the JBBL, NBBL, Eintracht and PRO B players. Also helping PRO B players make the possible jump to the Beko BBL team. Danilo Barthel made the jump last season.

What will be the goal of the PRO B Fraport Skyliners juniors this season?

Being able to stay in the PRO B. The biggest difference to Rhondorf is that there I had the first team and all players, but now I have the second team and might not always have all players for practice.

What is your biggest strength as a head coach?

My biggest strength is talking with all the players. It is most important that no matter what the situation is that you can create a identity in the team and try to teach the players to get integrated into the team.

You were 11 years in Rhondorf and head coach the last three years. How were you able to develop as a coach?

I think it was important that I saw all aspects. I was head coach, assistant coach under guys like Klaus Perwass and Olaf Stolz, athletic coach and youth coach. I learned so much and really all things that a coach needs to know.

What is a strength that doesn´t always get noticed in your style?

My ability how to work with the players. I am more a teacher than a general. I try to make young players better by being a teacher.

Who was the best player that you coached?

Chris Rojik was one of the best and really made a name in the second league. Others good players that I coached was Jonas Wolfarth-Bottermann and point guard Nick Larsen.

How much of a joy was it seeing Fabian Thulig and Jonas Wolfarth-Bottermann?

It was a lot of fun helping them make the next step and giving them confidence and trust and just watching them improve.

You coached American Deandre Spraggins. Why isn´t a guy like him playing now? Did he retire?

I don´t have too much contact with him anymore. I think that he just didn´t find his way anymore and maybe didn´t get as many offers anymore. He has a tough character. In the first year in Rhondorf it was ok, but he was just a tough character guy.

How many players do you know that have played in the PRO B, but have Beko BBL calibur? A Josh Young had no problems making the transition from PRO B to BEKO BBL.

There surely are some guys that could make it. Especially young Germans always have the potential to make it. Gotha had some strong Americans this season that had that potential to make the next step.

How does the Fraport Skyliners PRO Team roster shaping up for next season?

We want to keep all our German players. We will look for our Americans later in the process. We would like to keep guys like Larry Wright and Demetrius Jemison, but it depends if they want to stay.

Can Konstantin Klein make the next step?

He started his career in the Alba Berlin youth program and helped Gotha reach the PRO A last season. He is a very versatile point guard with a good attitude. He plays for his teammates. He might not score much, but that isn´t necessarily what we are looking for first in a point guard. He has a good character and will make the team better.

What was your first impression of Muli Katzurin?

My first impression was that he is a very serious guy that is very professional. For him, the small things are very important. I will learn a lot from him.

What are your hobbies?

I like to be outdoors in the mountains and like to read.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

I can´t remember. I watch many player DVD´s.

Thanks Eric for the chat