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March 1, 2000
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – When Director of Men’s Basketball Administration Alexis Sherard joined the Virginiacoaching staff last spring, most of his new colleagues greeted him with a warm welcome. Yet,unlike the others, head coach Gillen and top assistant coach Herrion simply smiled, shook hishand, and welcomed him back. From 1996-1998, Sherard worked two seasons under Gillen asthe administrative assistant in the men’s basketball office at Providence College, while Herrionwas an assistant coach. After spending last year as an assistant coach at Binghamton University,Sherard rejoined Gillen and Herrion here at UVa, filling a similar role to the one he held while atProvidence.
“Working for coach Gillen in the past, I know he does a great job with both his players andhis staff, so it was an easy choice to come back [and rejoin his staff],” said Sherard. “During mytwo years at Providence, I learned a lot and being a high school coach was also a greatexperience. Now here at UVa, I am incorporating all of my previous experience while still trying tocontinue to learn. I think coach Gillen is a great teacher. He gives you a lot of freedom andresponsibility, and that is all going to help me in the long run with my coaching endeavors.”
As UVa’s director of men’s basketball administrations, Sherard works closely withAssistant Director of Academic Affairs Cynthia Cardosi to help monitor the team’s academicprogress. Often times he finds himself primarily helping the freshman players get acclimated tothe rigorous demands of being a student-athlete at Virginia. In addition to his academicresponsibilities, Sherard also schedules all of the team’s travel arrangements and handles thebasketball film exchange between UVa and other schools. Though he constantly stays busytrying to meet the demands of his daily routine, he always finds extra time to study the Cavaliers’next opponent. He remains as involved in the actual coaching aspects as he possibly can, withhopes that his extra efforts will ultimately benefit the team.
“It is a time-consuming position because I have a lot to do, but I like to keep up with thegame plan as well as my primary duties. I try to do my homework and be on the same page asthe other coaches,” said Sherard. “Even with my responsibilities regarding academics and travelarrangements, I always try to be familiar with the different teams we are playing so I know exactlywhat is going on during the games.”
One of the best ways Sherard keeps a firm grasp of the game plans and coachingstrategies for each opponent is through his close working relationship with assistant coach ScottShepherd. Last spring, Sherard and Shepherd filled the two coaching staff positions that becameavailable after Bobby Gonzalez and Micheal Malone both went to coach at Manhattan College.Naturally, as the two newest members of the Virginia family, Sherard and Shepherd quicklydeveloped a friendship and teamed together in an effort to assist each other in getting accustomto their new environment. “I am very fortunate that coach Shepherd and I, both in our first year [atVirginia], were able to bond right away,” said Sherard. “He looks to help me out, and I look to helphim. We are just very fortunate to be compatible and get along so well, which is a big asset to ourworking relations.”
Unlike Sherard, Shepherd did not have the opportunity to work with coach Gillen prior tojoining the Virginia coaching staff. While adjusting to his new position as an assistant coach underGillen, whenever Shepherd was unsure of something, he often elicited the advice of Sherard.”The first couple of weeks [after coach Shepherd joined the program], he had a lot of questionsabout what coach Gillen expected in his scouting report and what he expected for his playersduring practice,” said Sherard. “Basically, they were normal questions that anyone would ask,and I was just fortunate enough to be with coach Gillen for two years [to know the answers]. If theroles were reversed, I would have been asking coach Shepherd the same questions.”
Aside from developing strong working relations with the rest of the coaching staff, Sherardspent a large portion of last summer getting to know many of the players. As a former collegebasketball player, he understands many of the demands and expectations a college athlete mustendure. For Sherard, this shared experience represents a common bond that helps him and theplayers relate to one another. By playing basketball with the guys, he hopes to create betteropportunities to get to know the players on a more personal level. Developing a connection withthe players during the off season only helps to maintain a solid family atmosphere throughout theseason. “I am able to play with the guys over the summer, so I develop a good relationship withthe players during that time. I have a similar background to most of the guys, especially since Iplayed college basketball myself,” said Sherard. “I feel I have a very good rapport with theplayers, I am close with them, and I think the guys feel very comfortable talking with me.”
As the youngest member of the coaching staff, Alexis Sherard views his age as an assetwhen developing relations with the players. Relatively close in age with the players, he often findsthat many team members feel very comfortable approaching him for guidance and advice. Not farremoved from his own playing days at Saint Michael’s, he can almost always see things from aplayer’s perspective, which makes it easier for him to understand the thoughts and concerns of aplayer. “Different coaches relate to different players differently. I most closely work with thefirst-year guys but even some of the older guys come to me,” said Sherard. “I think with anyone, ifthey are closer in age to someone, then there is a better chance for them to be more compatible.Sometimes I think because of this, the players might feel I can really relate to them.”
As Sherard has slowly gotten to know the entire team much better throughout the season,it has begun to remind him of another team he helped Pete Gillen coach. According to coachSherard, the players on this year’s squad have developed as a cohesive unit over the last fewmonths, and their play reminds him of the 1996-1997 Providence team that advanced to theNCAA Elite Eight. For both him and the UVa team, the first three fourths of this season has beena time of extreme growth and learning. If both the players and the coaches can continue to cometogether as a group, then Sherard predicts the Cavaliers have a very bright future ahead of them.
“I see a lot of similarities between the ’96-’97 Providence team and this year’s Virginia squad. Theguys are starting to gel, and they are beginning to really buy into Gillen’s family-orientedphilosophy,” said Sherard.