University of Richmond Athletics
Cleveland Cavaliers Promote Dan Geriot To Assistant Coach
06/25/2018 | Men's Basketball
Former Spider Has Been With Organization Since 2015
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. -- Former Spider Dan Geriot has been promoted to assistant coach by the Cleveland Cavaliers following three seasons as a member of the organization's player development staff.Â
Geriot, who won an NBA championship with the team in 2016, told ESPN Richmond that in his new role he'll focus on the Cavaliers defensive game plans and work on skill development with the team's frontcourt players. He'll also sit on the bench during games.
Geriot credited his time playing in Chris Mooney's defensive system at Richmond for laying a foundation for his current work with the Cavaliers defense, noting that "we do a lot of stuff that we did in [Richmond's] matchup zone -- taking rollers, switching pick-and-rolls, switching off ball screens. I'm fortunate we were doing that a lot from '06 to '11 and I was able to sit in the back of that zone and learn a lot and see a lot of basketball." Off the court, Geriot said he still utilizes some of the lessons he learned during his Spiders career. "The mentality -- never have a bad day. Get better every day. That's the way we were all brought up by Coach Mooney. That's what he preaches every day. To be an everyday guy, that's huge in the NBA. Because it's not about if you have two good weeks, because other players have two good weeks too. But what are you going to do that third week? What are you going to do that fourth week? You've got to come back. That's what we talk to our players about all the time."Â
Geriot also weighed in on his relationship with LeBron James, telling Bob Black "it is a little like playing for Coach Mooney -- you've got to be on your stuff every day. He's a guy that when you slip up he's right on you. You miss a rebound, bad pass -- he'll let you know about it. He's a tremendous worker. ... If you have belief and you have a confidence in what you're teaching him, he's definitely one that will listen. If you put your work in, he trusts you. I think that's been the greatest part of our relationship. He trusts my work ethic. He trusts the video that I've seen. He trusts the film that I break down. I think all that goes into it so when I'm coaching him on the court during the summer or during the season ... he's able to believe in what I'm saying."
Geriot was a four-year starter for the Spiders from 2006 to 2011 and finished his Spiders career with 1,389 points, 21st most in program history. He started all 37 games for the 2010-11 Spiders, winning the program's first Atlantic 10 title and leading the team to the Sweet 16. Following his time at Richmond, he played professionally in Belgium. Geriot has also been an assistant coach at Princeton University and Campbell University.Â
Including Geriot, four former Spiders players are currently coaching in the NBA. Kenny Atkinson just finished his second season as the head coach for the Brooklyn Nets, where Chris Fleming, his former Spider teammate, serves as an assistant coach. Tony Dobbins, who was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Year twice in his three seasons at Richmond, just completed his first season as the assistant video coordinator for the Boston Celtics.Â
Â
Geriot, who won an NBA championship with the team in 2016, told ESPN Richmond that in his new role he'll focus on the Cavaliers defensive game plans and work on skill development with the team's frontcourt players. He'll also sit on the bench during games.
Geriot credited his time playing in Chris Mooney's defensive system at Richmond for laying a foundation for his current work with the Cavaliers defense, noting that "we do a lot of stuff that we did in [Richmond's] matchup zone -- taking rollers, switching pick-and-rolls, switching off ball screens. I'm fortunate we were doing that a lot from '06 to '11 and I was able to sit in the back of that zone and learn a lot and see a lot of basketball." Off the court, Geriot said he still utilizes some of the lessons he learned during his Spiders career. "The mentality -- never have a bad day. Get better every day. That's the way we were all brought up by Coach Mooney. That's what he preaches every day. To be an everyday guy, that's huge in the NBA. Because it's not about if you have two good weeks, because other players have two good weeks too. But what are you going to do that third week? What are you going to do that fourth week? You've got to come back. That's what we talk to our players about all the time."Â
Geriot also weighed in on his relationship with LeBron James, telling Bob Black "it is a little like playing for Coach Mooney -- you've got to be on your stuff every day. He's a guy that when you slip up he's right on you. You miss a rebound, bad pass -- he'll let you know about it. He's a tremendous worker. ... If you have belief and you have a confidence in what you're teaching him, he's definitely one that will listen. If you put your work in, he trusts you. I think that's been the greatest part of our relationship. He trusts my work ethic. He trusts the video that I've seen. He trusts the film that I break down. I think all that goes into it so when I'm coaching him on the court during the summer or during the season ... he's able to believe in what I'm saying."
Geriot was a four-year starter for the Spiders from 2006 to 2011 and finished his Spiders career with 1,389 points, 21st most in program history. He started all 37 games for the 2010-11 Spiders, winning the program's first Atlantic 10 title and leading the team to the Sweet 16. Following his time at Richmond, he played professionally in Belgium. Geriot has also been an assistant coach at Princeton University and Campbell University.Â
Including Geriot, four former Spiders players are currently coaching in the NBA. Kenny Atkinson just finished his second season as the head coach for the Brooklyn Nets, where Chris Fleming, his former Spider teammate, serves as an assistant coach. Tony Dobbins, who was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Year twice in his three seasons at Richmond, just completed his first season as the assistant video coordinator for the Boston Celtics.Â
Â
Thursday, March 26
Monday, March 09
Saturday, March 07
Tuesday, March 03