Photo by Erin FredrichsTribune

Tribune

Assistant coach Shane Flanagan was all ears during an animated conversation at breakfast with UNM women's basketball players (from left) Valerie Kast, Porsche Torrance, Nikki Nelson and Amanda Best. "My dad started the tradition of breakfast with the team when he first started coaching," Flanagan said. "I took over when he brought me on." Flanagan eats with the women every morning at La Posada dining hall on campus. "We just want to make sure they are up and going to class."

Photo by Erin FredrichsTribune

Tribune

All eyes, including those of assistant coach Shane Flanagan, were on the ball during a recent scrimmage at practice. Flanagan began assistant coaching for his father, head coach Don, last season. "I always thought he'd be a coach," Don Flanagan said of his son. "It's the position that motivates him, that makes him happy, so I'm happy he chose to become a coach."

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He was born with the basketball pedigree.

He was raised in the gym since age 5.

He was blessed with a fondness for X's and O's.

And he watched as his father won state titles and made NCAA trips into uncharted territory.

But life as a basketball coach has come later than expected for 33-year-old University of New Mexico assistant Shane Flanagan.

Flanagan - making up for lost time - is in his second season assisting his dad-turned-boss Don Flanagan with the Lobos women's basketball program.

"I was waiting tables in Boise (Idaho) when I decided to come home," Shane Flanagan said of his decision to give coaching a try back in New Mexico. "I always knew I wanted to be a coach, but . . . sometimes life hits you in the face."

Shane Flanagan was a star at Eldorado High and earned a Division I scholarship to Boise State, where he played college basketball from 1995-98. But he missed his senior year with the Broncos and didn't graduate.

From there, he held several odd jobs before he chose to return home, get his degree at UNM and eventually follow in his father's rather large footsteps.

His dad is glad he did.

"I always thought he'd be a coach," Don Flanagan said. "It's the position that motivates him, that makes him happy, so I'm happy he chose to become a coach."

The father-son relationship has worked well from both ends.

"It's been terrific for me," the elder Flanagan said of having his son on the UNM coaching staff. "He energizes me. It gives me an opportunity to see him every day, to work with him every day and see him grow as a coach."

Shane Flanagan's only coaching experience before joining UNM was three seasons as an assistant to Eldorado boys basketball coach Roy Sanchez. It's the same school where his father won 11 state championships in 19 seasons as the girls basketball coach.

"I feel very fortunate to be in this position," Shane Flanagan said. "Actually, it's been awesome. My dad's been successful for so many years. I'm just trying to learn as much as I can every day."

Don Flanagan certainly has plenty to teach. He owns a career record of 268-115 in his 13th season at UNM, a mark that includes six straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

"He should write a book," Shane said. "He has so much knowledge about the game of basketball and so much experience working with young players."

Don Flanagan dishes equal praise to his son, saying he's been a valuable addition to the staff. Shane is one of three assistant coaches.

"He's fortunate that his dad is still in the game when he decided to become a coach," Don Flanagan said. "It's hard to break into college coaching today. For the most part, you almost have to be a go-fer for four or five years before you get a chance like this."

Shane Flanagan's duties at UNM include on-floor coaching, recruiting, scouting, academics, community service and summer camps.

"Being on the outside, I had never really seen what my dad does," Shane said. "A lot of stuff goes into it. I'm learning every day and it's been a fun, very positive environment."

One of Shane's favorite chores is eating breakfast most mornings with the members of the basketball team on the UNM campus.

"I feel like I can relate to the players because I know what they're going through," Shane Flanagan said. "They can talk to me about their problems or whatever's bothering them."

His busy days are also filled with phone calls or letters to recruits, putting together film of upcoming opponents, stat tracking during games.

"This is really a seven-day-a-week job during the season," Shane said. "Most of what I do is off the court."

His sanctuary is the two hours on the days the team practices and game days.

Shane's gaze during those times often reveals a mind at work, like the flickering orange blip on a laptop when it's processing information.

"The more I can learn from my dad, the better off I'll be down the road," Shane said.

Although his coaching experience has been limited, Shane actually has been auditioning for this job nearly his entire life.

"I used to take Shane to the Boy's Club on San Mateo since he was 5 when we lived across the street," Don said. "I'd drop him off at 8 in the morning, he'd eat lunch there and he'd play sports all day until I picked him up around 5 o'clock at night.

"He was so involved in sports since he was a little kid. Obviously, he used to be around my teams (at Eldorado), and I'd take him every year to the summer camps I went to."

Many of the drills his father teaches to the Lobos are familiar to him.

"I've been doing the same drills since I was 8," Shane said. "My dad has been teaching the game the same way for a long time."

Don Flanagan said showing his son all aspects of running a college program will prepare him to become a head coach in the future.

"That's my goal," Don said. "I want to do everything I can to help him become a head coach. I think he'll make a fine coach for somebody. He's still got a lot to learn . . . but he's a competitor. I got to watch him a lot as a player and he's probably the most fiery competitor I've seen on a basketball court."

That fiery nature often got Shane into trouble as a player in the form of technical fouls or ejections in high school.

"A Flanagan trait," Don admitted. "He wants to win so badly."

But he's matured as a person since his playing days and his calm courtside demeanor displays a coach-in-training who's striving for perfection. Much like his father.

This father-son coaching tandem is just starting to take form at UNM, but both realize Shane will have to make his own way someday.

"My journey here was a lot longer," Don Flanagan said. "Shane has taken a short cut. But from now on, there are no more short cuts."