Getting to Know John Pelphrey and Norm Roberts
It has been a definite period of transition for the Florida basketball coaching staff. First, Larry Shyatt left to become the latest head coach at Wyoming. Then, we find out Rob Lanier and Richard Pitino are leaving as well. Now, we’ve learned two former head coaches will be joining Billy Donovan on the bench.
John Pelphrey – Pelphrey comes back to the Gators after serving as an assistant under Donovan from 1996 until 2002. He originally came to Florida with Donovan with who he spent two years with at Marshall as well, but that wasn’t his first link to the current Gator head coach. Donovan was an assistant at Kentucky while Pelphrey played there.
In 2002, Pelphrey left Florida to take his first head coaching job at South Alabama. He went 80-67 over five years with the Jaguars, but his best work was done during the 2005-2006 season. After coming off a 10-18 record in 2004-2005, Pelphrey led South Alabama to 24-7 and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. He would win 20 more with the Jaguars the next season before leaving for Arkansas.
Things started out great for Pelphrey at Arkansas and he guided the Razorbacks to a 23-13 record in his first season. Arkansas would reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament that year, but would not go back under Pelphrey. He would win only 14 games each of the next two seasons and go 18-12 last season before being fired.
Pelphrey’s name was brought up during various coaching searches before he finally landed back with Florida. He has the type of experience you want in an assistant. Pelphrey is already very familiar with Donovan and how he runs a program and was a head coach himself for 275 games. Nine years of head coaching experience at only the age of 42 is nothing to turn your head at. Pelphrey should be welcomed back to the Florida program with open arms.
Norm Roberts – Roberts also comes to the Gators after being a head coach and an assistant at some of the nation’s top programs.
Roberts played for Queens College in the mid-1980s and would return there to become their head coach in 1991. Things didn’t go well for Roberts at Queens where he never managed a season with more than eight wins. After four seasons, Roberts was out after posting a 24-84 record.
After leaving Queens College, Roberts caught on to the Bill Self train and was an assistant under Self at Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois, and Kansas. It would be nine years before Roberts would get another shot at a head coaching job.
In 2004, Roberts took over at St. John’s, but had an up-and-down ride with the Red Storm. His best seasons came in 2006-2007 when he went 16-15 and 2009-2010 when he went 17-16. After six years and no appearances in the NCAA Tournament, Roberts was out after going 81-101.
Roberts had a rough go as a head coach and only won 105 out of 290 career games, but that experience should prove valuable as an assistant. He was with Self for many years as he climbed the program ladder and an assistant spot could be where he does his best work. One of his biggest assets may be recruiting and his connection to the New York area.
While Florida has to go through a major coaching overall this offseason, the hiring of Pelphrey and Roberts should be seen as a definite plus. Between the two, you get 19 years and 565 games of head coaching experience. One is familiar with the program and one has been an assistant at other high-profile schools. Despite having to replace others, the Gators should move forward without skipping a beat.