[JRutledge]

I tend to not listen to assistant coaches at all. But if a coach comes to me very respectfully and in the right tone of voice asking a question, I will accommodate. If they start to accuse me of something or my partners ("You missed that call") then all bets are off. RoyalCoach, I have no problem with the way you approach an official. Sometimes the assistant is the one with the questions more than the Head Coach. As long as both you and the HC are not talking to me at the same time, I really would not have a problem answering your questions. The problem is that most assistants do not behave that way and I will admit that I have a very short leach for anything assistants might say.

Just this past Saturday I had a conversation with an assistant coach that was asking me about a play. He did not raise his voice. He did not accuse me of anything. He just wanted to know why I made a call on his kid during a screen. He was even asking things like, "Well can't he do this" or "Can't he do that." He was so respectful I did not get upset or have a problem with the discussion. Actually the last thing I said to the coach, "well if he does that again, I am going to call the very same thing." They got the message and we moved on. No contention from the bench at any other point in the game.

Peace