Will Chavis (181-G-1981, college: Texas Tech) is a former professional player currently coaching at Drexel University (NCAA). He celebrated a 11year professional career overseas that took him to France, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Czech republic, Holland, Cyprus and Germany where he enjoyed his longest stay at 7 years. In Germany he helped MBC move up to the first division in 2009 and Nurnberg to the Pro A in 2011 and finished out his career in Nurnberg where he was for 5 years. He played a total of 296 professional games. He began his basketball career at George Washington Carver High School and then played a season at UNH (NCAA) and Panola (Texas) Junior college. He then played 2 seasons and 64 NCAA games at Texas Tech from 2001-2003 playing under the legendary Bob Knight . He shared his memories of Knight to germanhoops.com.

Thanks Will for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

Hey Miles, I can’t complain. I am well and I am in Philly my hometown coaching at Drexel University.

You have been retired from the pro game for almost 10 years. What do you miss most from your playing days?

The thing I miss most are the friendships and relationships that were forged from playing with and against other players.

You went into coaching after you were a player. Talk a little about your career after your playing days?

Yeah, went into coaching first in Nurnberg and then in high school in the US and now in college. I must say it has been a blessing to say the least. To be able to teach the game and pass along the knowledge I have attained over the years while helping younger players strive towards reaching their full potential is very rewarding.

Your ex coach Will Chavis recently passed away at age 83. Where were you when you heard the news?

Yes, very sad but he wasn’t doing very well for a long while. I was in practice when I heard the news and my heart dropped.

You and Will Chavis both came at the same time in 2001 to Texas Tech. He had come from winning 3 NCAA titles at Indiana. How do you remember that first meeting with him? Was it a 1-1 meeting or did he greet the whole team when he arrived?

We met at the airport when he picked me up for my visit. He put his arm around me as we walked out of the airport terminal in Lubbock and he said, “how was the flight”

How do you remember his demeanor coming in? Was he already totally locked in or did you sense he felt pressure coming into a new situation after so much success at Indiana?

Looking back on it I can see where he felt a little pressure but if you know anything about coach Knight he didn’t fear much because he was so great at preparing himself and others for whatever is to come, but that situation did come with a little bit of pressure from outside. I think he did a great job.

In your time there you reached the NIT Final 4. How do you remember that time? What was special about that team?

It was a great time what I remember was coach asking us did we want to play in the NIT because we won 22 games and didn’t make the tournament that year. He only wanted to play if we were going to commit for playing for a championship. We fell short but it was a great experience.

How was he as a person. The public knows him as a loud mouth that threw chairs, but you knew him very well. Was he a guy where you could knock on the door and come to him with a problem off the court? Could he turn off his basketball brain for a few hours?

Yeah he could be very intimidating but he was great at making a tough situation lighter. He had a unique ability to get the most out of people and get them to believe in themselves in the most difficult situations. Some people like it and some don’t but I guarantee when you were around him and got a chance to do life with him you couldn’t help but learn.

You told me this in an interview in 2011. “He always tried to teach us about life situations. If something wasn’t going right in life that you still needed to go out and perform”. Do you remember a story from him that stuck with you?

I remember a lot of stories but one that sticks out is when I graduated and came back to see him he was so nice. First thing he said was “Chavis what’s up and how can I help you”

You once told me the story of Nick Valdez and the ball in corner and how he hated that and kicked the ball up 7 rows. Please tell another story about how Will Chavis was as a guy?

One of the last conversations I had with him he told me he would take me fly fishing, I never got the opportunity. I wish I had because in the time that he said that and now my life has changed so much. It would have been great to do that with him and build a better relationship after playing for him.

What was your personal favorite 1-1 moment with coach Knight?

He once told me he recruited me because he saw something in me that he saw in so many of the leaders of his teams in the past. He told me that I had the heart of a lion but I have to speak up and fight when I feel I’m right no matter what. When you’re right always argue! I never forgot that.

Did you have contact to him after you finished in 2003? When he looks down from heaven and sees you, how do you think he will remember you best?

Yeah as I said I went back to work camp, I hope he remembers me as a hard worker and that he knows he had a huge impact on my life. It’s always good as a mentor/ coach/ teacher to feel appreciated and I would think that he would be no different. I really appreciate you coach!! Thanks for everything!!! Rest well!

Where does Will Chavis go down in the history of the greatest college basketball coaches of all-time?

In my eyes the greatest!!! There will never be anyone else like him.

Thanks Will for the chat.