Adam Drummond is making waves off the court as a coach the same way he does on it as a player

Star basketball player Adam Drummond is making waves for himself as a young basketball coach.

He is very diligent regarding his progress and has been working and learning under different head coaches at national league level for the past few seasons.

Adam's history is well documented.

He was an underage star with Neptune, winning multiple of honours, however, he was left paralysed after a tragic accident a number of years ago.

However, Drummond didn’t feel sorry for himself and is now playing wheelchair basketball and starring with with the Rebel Wheelers and the Irish wheelchair team. 

After a couple of years coaching with his boyhood club Neptune, he traveled to Dublin to do his Masters degree in UCD and he became assistant coach to UCD Marian head coach Ioannis Liapakis.

“I loved working with Ioannis, as he was fantastic to work with and learn from,” Adam said.

“The respect he gets from his players is like nothing I’ve seen before. 

"He has a European flair to his offensive system and demands full commitment on the defensive end also. 

"I use some of his stuff today with my teams.

“I recently completed my masters in international business in UCD, but I’m back living in Cork now and working in Brown & Brown insurance in Blackrock since August and loving it so far."

Adam is now back coaching in Neptune and has guided his U20 side to the semi final of the National Cup where they beat both Killester and Merry Monk Ballina away and now face Portlaoise Panthers in Neptune in early January.

“I’m coaching the U20 and BIDL teams in Neptune this season, however, I’m still playing wheelchair basketball with Rebel Wheelers, so coaching these teams allows me to balance both.

“My early memories when I started coaching, I was 22 years-old and I was coaching an U20 team. 

"So, I was coaching fellas that I was only two or three years older than. 

"From that perspective, I don't even think being in the wheelchair was at the beginning anyway, one of the difficulties. 

"I would say it would have been the age gap and being so close to the fellas in age I was coaching. 

"They were great (that initial team) and they gave me the support and respect to be honest when I was coaching them.

“One of the other things that I struggled with early on then was demonstration and showing drills and showing different actions and different moves, but that's just something I learned to adapt and get around. 

"Again, the lads I've coached have been great in that sense. If I want to demonstrate something, I'll always have someone or another coach that knows what I want to demonstrate. 

"I guess it's the case of me adapting early on and then was also the lads adapting to, "alright he can't demonstrate this here now, but we know what he means.

“I'm delighted with both teams this season, as our U20 side are in the National Cup semifinal and the BIDL team are 3-0 so far this season. 

"A lot of my U20 team play BIDL so there’s a nice group there across both teams. 

"The lads are a joy to coach and genuinely want to learn.

“Traditionally, coaches are a lot older, but it’s a challenge I’ve tried to embrace. 

"It’s finding a balance of being their coach but also their friend. An advantage is that it wasn’t too long ago since I was in their shoes, so the struggles and emotions are still fresh in my head.

“It gives me great satisfaction that I’m able to still be a part of a game that I’ve grown up playing. 

"I would also say the relationships and memories that are formed with players through different teams I coach. 

"I’ve become less focused on the outcome and more focused on the journey. Winning is a bonus for me."

While Drummond has ambitions to be a head coach at Super League level and also coach internationally one day, however, he is very patient with his progress and won’t rush into any position.

“My main ambition is the coach at the highest level possible, but I’m conscious I don’t want to skip steps along the way. 

"I would love to become a head coach in the Super League but also an underage Irish team. 

"It’s where I spent my teenage summers playing in three European championships at the U16 and U18 level. 

"For now, I’m fully focused on having a great season with Neptune's U20 and BIDL teams,” Drummond added.

As a young basketball coach, learning his trade, Drummond is a breath of fresh air.

He has a wonderful attitude and vision on how the game should be played.

I have no doubt that he will reach the levels he wants to in coaching, just as he did and is still doing as a player.