Q&A with NAZ Suns head coach Ty Ellis
Ty Ellis is no stranger to the NBA D-League. He actually suited up for the Huntsville Flight during the inaugural season for the now sprawling minor league. Despite not making his NBA dream come true, he still enjoyed a very successful international pro career and now he’s earned his first head coaching job back where it all began.
Ellis played in Spain, Italy, Germany, Turkey and even for the Georgian National Team before calling it a career in 2012. Since that time he’s been an assistant coach in the D-League on four different teams — 2012/13 Tulsa 66ers, 2013/14 Reno Bighorns, 2014/15 Grand Rapids Drive and 2015/16 Bakersfield Jam.
Bakersfield has now moved their franchise to Prescott Valley, Arizona to be closer to their parent club in Phoenix and they have chosen Ellis to lead the way.
Recently Upside & Motor was lucky enough to chat with the newly-minted boss, who is extremely excited to get started. Ellis also appeared on the D-League Dialogue Podcast Sunday morning.
Upside & Motor: You played in the inaugural D-League season. How has the league changed since your days with the Huntsville Flight?
Ty Ellis: Back then there were only eight teams, so we played everyone a lot. Back in those days we were battling the CBA for minor league supremacy, there wasn’t much coverage at all either. It has come so far since then. I don’t think there was a single assignment from an NBA club that season and now it’s a breeding ground and a training tool for every NBA franchise.
U&M: Do you think your personal professional journey will assist you in relating to your players?
Ellis: Yes. I really do. I believe in the process, man. My motto was always to be the best player I could be today and that’s what my philosophy will be with our guys. If God puts the NBA or a big overseas deal in your journey, then it will happen but the focus has to be on today. I preach that with genuine conviction and I truly believe that if you’re good enough as a player, you will be found.
U&M: Within your journey you had the opportunity to play for the Georgian National Team; describe that experience.
Ellis: Absolutely awesome. Nothing like playing for a country. For them to watch us succeed, for them to watch us on TV and us to be the beacon of light for that country during a time of war was just amazing. They accepted me. I took a picture with their President man! I visited the equivalent to the White House and took a picture with the President of the country! I still talk to those teammates. Zaza Pachulia is one of my best friends and we talk all the time.
U&M: Did you always know you wanted to be a coach, or was there something specific in your journey that sparked that interest?
Ellis: I always knew I wanted to teach the game. I actually asked my college coach if I could red shirt my freshman year because I knew I wanted to be able to earn my Master’s Degree while on scholarship. That season I helped with scouting and I just knew it would come to this eventually. When I first got into it (coaching) I interned with Coach Gentry’s staff in Phoenix and that was a real blessing for me. I would say I’m more of a European style coach, than an American style coach though.
U&M: The last four seasons you have been an assistant coach with four different staffs in the D-League. How has being with multiple organizations helped prepare you for this opportunity?
Ellis: You know, it really gave me the chance to pull all the good things from each and every staff I was part of and add those to my skill set. It also helped me see the bad things, so I got a chance to really learn. My past relationships have prepared me for this and they’ve really helped me mold my thoughts.
U&M: Last season Xavier Munford earned an NBA call up with the Grizzlies. How enjoyable was it to watch him get his shot and really flourish once he got it?
Ellis: We all felt proud man, the players, the coaches, the PR people. You just saw his maturation from the previous season and we all witnessed his growth mentally just as much as physically. It was just absolutely phenomenal and we were all a part of that.
U&M: I imagine the Northern Arizona Suns will mimic the Phoenix Suns in terms of schemes and the like, however what is your coaching style personally?
Ellis: We will be an extension of Coach Watson’s staff, so we will do 99 percent his stuff. Personally I will hold guys accountable. If I need to have tough conversations I can do that. My job is also to teach the game and help prepare guys for the next step. It’s not my job to be friends with the players — my job is to coach. I don’t take this job or this opportunity for granted, so if we do those things then the wins will come naturally.
U&M: What are some of your personal and team-oriented goals for your first year as coach?
Ellis: Player development, on and off the court, is the most important thing. I want to build a culture of character and family. My number one goal is that both players and staff develop and continue to grow. I want to grow. I refuse to be stagnant. Mistakes will be made and that’s okay, but I refuse to be stagnant.
U&M: Alright, be honest — how disappointed are you that the initials of the team are NAZ and not NAS?!
Ellis: (Laughs) Oh man, I didn’t even think about that. Personally I stayed loyal to Jay-Z when they had their little beef so I’m good with NAZ. I’m just excited man, the fan support in Prescott is really at a high level and it gets me excited just thinking about it — I’m ready.