Taking it personally
McDermott believes Johnson didn't agree with his coaching style
Kyle Oppenhuizen
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Wesley Johnson's decision to leave the ISU basketball team came as a complete shock to everyone in the program, coach Greg McDermott said Wednesday, as he addressed the media for the first time since the news emerged.
The bottom line, McDermott said, was Johnson didn't agree with his coaching style, something the coach made no apologies for.
"I think Wes took some of my coaching personally, and that's why he decided to transfer. I was certainly willing to work with that relationship if he were to so choose that he wanted to do that," McDermott said, "but I told him, 'I'm not here to be your best friend. I'm here to coach you, I'm here to make you better. I'm here to help you pursue a professional career if that's what you want to do.
"And if I don't do that, you might be happy while you're playing for me, but somewhere down the road you're going to be really disappointed that I didn't do my job, what I was supposed to do.'"
McDermott said he was troubled by Johnson's assertions that their relationship was troubled during the second half of the season. Johnson told the Des Moines Register on Tuesday that he came to McDermott in the middle of the season and told the coach he "wasn't happy with our relationship. We talked about it. After that it just wasn't the same."
McDermott said that the meeting did happen, but didn't feel as though the relationship changed at all.
"I do not agree with his characterization of our relationship," McDermott said. "When I met with Wes, he really had a hard time giving me examples as to why he felt that our relationship wasn't where it needed to be in his opinion. He's entitled to his opinion. I feel bad that he felt that way, I feel really bad that he felt that way and I didn't know it."
Johnson did not answer repeated phone calls and messages from the Iowa State Daily.
McDermott laid out a timeline of events which made him and the rest of the team believe that Johnson wasn't going to leave, making the move a complete surprise, including 6-8 meetings after the season, in which Johnson "told me everything was fine." Johnson also hosted recruits, sat in on the interview for recently hired assistant coach Daniyal Robinson, signed a housing contract to live in Frederickson Court, and even signed a scholarship renewal letter.
McDermott also addressed what he felt were unfair rumors about Johnson's health. Johnson was found to have what McDermott called a "line in his foot" that is similar to a stress fracture. Johnson had MRIs throughout the season, and no stress fracture was ever found. What assistant director of athletics training Vic Miller found was a bone bruise which he said "developed into something more."
Miller and McDermott reiterated that they worked with Johnson on a daily basis to make sure he didn't try to do more than he could handle on the court.
McDermott also said he didn't believe former ISU assistant coach Jean Prioleau had anything to do with Johnson's decision.
The news conference was also attended by most of the players, as well as assistant coaches and trainers and even associate athletic director Steve Malchow.
Malchow said athletic director Jamie Pollard was actually on a trip with McDermott when they heard the news. McDermott said Pollard had been very supportive of him, and Malchow said he still felt comfortable with the direction of the program.
"The pieces we have coming back will do their best to elevate this program," Malchow said. "They're on the right path. It's time to get to work... We couldn't be more confident with the direction of the program. This guy [McDermott] can coach. Look at his track record. He's been at multiple schools and has been a winner, and he's going to be at Iowa State also."
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