Big rebound for Anderson: Ex-Net turning life around as HS coach
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
BY AL IANNAZZONE
STAFF WRITER
The Record
Print | E-mail Kenny Anderson isn’t looking back. He’s moving forward and thinks you should, too.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kenny Anderson as a Net driving past Penny Hardaway in 1994. The former Nets point guard is tired of people rehashing troubles he had financially and in his personal relationships. It’s the past, says Anderson, who likes where he is and what lies ahead.

Anderson is taking his knowledge and experiences to South Florida and coaching the David Posnack Jewish Day School high school basketball team. Anderson, 40, is excited to teach kids about basketball and life, and admits he’s gone through needed changes in his.

"If you do not change your ways after 15, 20 years, I think you’ve really got problems," Anderson said. "If you keep doing the same things you did when you were 20, 25 years old, I think you’ve got some problems."

Anderson said he has no problems; he’s "fine" and "comfortable." He does seem to be in a good place personally and professionally.

He’s living in Pembroke Pines, Fla., with his third wife, Natasha, son and stepdaughter. Last year, Anderson earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Thomas University in Miami. Professionally, he’s combining his two loves — basketball and children – and sees no way he can lose.

"I thought this would be awesome for me to coach on this level, to really teach and really get my point across," Anderson said. "I’m going to deliver a message that hard work, commitment, dedication and staying true to yourself will overcome anything."

Anderson, viewed as a can’t-miss star from Queens and Georgia Tech, was the second pick in the 1991 draft, going to the Nets. But he was an All-Star just once and played for nine teams in 14 NBA seasons.

He said he had "no control over things like trades and some business decisions" and still says, "I had a great career."

After missing some paychecks during the 1998-99 lockout, Anderson famously said, "I was thinking about selling one of my cars." In 2005, Anderson, who has seven children from five different women, filed for bankruptcy. He said he remains in all of his kids’ lives. Two are in college; one on a trust fund Anderson said he put away.

Anderson can’t live off of his salary coaching at Posnack and occasionally substitute teaching, but he has other ventures.

He runs his own basketball academy in South Florida, working with about 10-15 children. Anderson wants that to grow. He’s also a spokesperson for "Blockoman," a robotic basketball practice device, markets "Pass the Roc" clothing line and makes other paid appearances.

"Don’t worry about me," Anderson said. "I’m doing fine. I’m making my way and I’m enjoying myself."

He coached the Atlanta Krunk of the defunct CBA and worked for the NBA during the 2006 pre-draft camp in Orlando. He’s kept in contact with some of his ex-coaches, including Jim O’Brien, who thinks Anderson will be successful on the sidelines.

Anderson was the starting point guard on O’Brien’s Celtics team that lost to the Nets in the 2002 Eastern Conference finals. O’Brien said Boston wouldn’t have gotten that far without Anderson’s leadership and selfless play on both ends of the court.

"It’s clear he has the humility to do whatever is necessary to coach," said O’Brien, who also coached the Sixers and Pacers. "Somebody who is willing to sacrifice as a professional athlete on the court and willing to take a couple of steps down to do whatever it takes to fulfill a dream of coaching, I think that speaks the world of a man."

Anderson, who interviewed for an assistant coaching position at the University of Miami, would love to coach in college. But he said he could see himself planting roots at Posnack. Athletic director Mitch Evron hopes so.

"A person of his caliber and knowledge doesn’t come around that often," Evron said. "This is a good opportunity for both of us."

Posnack is a K-through-12 school in Davie, with about 500 students, 150 in the high school. The basketball team went 10-11 last year. Anderson can’t recruit players for the upcoming season, but can starting next year.

"I’ve been waiting for this," Anderson said. "They want me to build a basketball program. I’m thrilled with it. It’s not going to be easy. Nothing is easy."

But Anderson believes it will be as rewarding for him as the school.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/131121258_Big_rebound_for_Kenny.html