10 Questions with Men's Basketball Coach, Eddie Payne
10/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 14, 2008
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Eddie Payne is entering his seventh-year as the head men's basketball coach at USC Upstate. Payne brings a plethora of experience to the Upstate team, as he is currently the only active men's college basketball coach to have coached in all five levels of college basketball (Division I, II, III, NAIA and Junior College). Before coming to Upstate, Payne spent time coaching at Greensboro College, Oregon State, East Carolina, Truett-McConnell College and Belmont Abbey, among many assistant coaching stints. In 22 years, Payne has earned two Coach of the Year honors, three NCAA Tournament appearances, and two Peach Belt Conference Championships.
Payne played basketball for the Demon Deacons at Wake Forest, where he graduated in 1973 with a degree in communications. He earned the MVP team honors as a senior and helped lead the team to the NCAA Championships. He then went on to play professionally in France from 1973-74.
Payne led the Spartans into the Division I era last season after capturing two consecutive Peach Belt Conference League Championships in 2004-05 and 2005-06. During the 2004-05 season, the Spartans jumped into the NABC/NCAA Division II Top 25 national ranking at No. 15, moving as high as eighth in the pool and settling for a final No. 25.
Payne and the Upstate men's basketball team will enjoy a fun kickoff to the season with Midnight Madness on Monday, Oct. 20. Their first game is scheduled for Nov. 14 at 7:30 at Georgia State.
Recently, Sarah Hurd of upstatespartans.com, sat down with Payne and recapped his career accomplishments and expectations for this year's team.
In your opinion, what have been some of the bigger changes in college basketball since when you played at Wake Forest?
As far as the game itself, the speed and athleticism of the game is much greater than it used to be. The physical strength of the players is much greater than it used to be, as there is a lot more emphasis on weight training and those types of issues today.
You have been recognized as the only active college basketball coach to have coached on all five levels of college basketball. How would you sum up your career and experiences?
Well, I've been heavily involved with basketball since I was eight years old, so it's been a life-long experience. Coaching at the different levels is something that just happened with opportunities I pursued. It has enabled me to have some unique travel experiences I would have never had, as well as experiences and relationships with a variety of young people. I'm very grateful with what basketball has provided me with.
The men's basketball team starts practice on Friday, followed by Midnight Madness on Monday night. What can the public and fans of USC Upstate men's basketball look forward to next week and this season as a whole?
I think we're going to experience a difficult season as it relates to wins and losses because we have a very young backcourt in particular. We also have perhaps the most difficult schedule in America this year, as we will face Georgia, Notre Dame, Gonzaga, and Fresno State, among others. The challenge that we are facing is significant. What we hope to accomplish will be determined on how we deal with these challenges and compete with integrity on a day to day basis in practice. That is how I would judge us as being successful.
Your son, Luke Payne, graduated last year after playing under you for four years. What is he doing now?
Luke is playing basketball regionally within the US with Athletes in Action, a touring group sponsored by Campus Crusade.
You came to Upstate after coaching stints at several different places, most recently Greensboro College and Oregon State. What is different about the atmosphere here in Spartanburg as compared to the other places you have been?
Well obviously, there is a huge difference between Pac-10 (Oregon State) and Division III (Greensboro College) basketball. When I got here to Spartanburg, Division II basketball was very competitive with good coaching, and was more similar to the Division I perspective. Our Division I status now is much different from some of the places I've been because of the newness of the program and the challenges we are experiencing financially and in gaining recognition.
Where would you rank USC Upstate's first Division I victory over Southern Methodist last season in your 361 career wins?
I've never really thought about how to rank one win over another because when you're in the mix and you win a game, you're excited about it regardless of who it's against. There's always another game in the next few days to worry about, so I've never really sat down and thought about ranking my victories. My mind has never really worked like that.
Is there a college or professional coach you model your coaching style after? If not, in your opinion, who is the most admirable of all coaches and why?
My coaching style and perspective is a culmination of years and experiences of a lot of different coaches, beginning with my high school coach. Playing in college at Wake Forest and working with coaches around the country have also contributed to my style and my message. I don't think I could just pinpoint one individual.
Do you have a most memorable moment in your playing or coaching career?
As a player, I have a moment that stands out, which was the 1973 NCAA Tournament. There was only one team that got to go to the tournament back then after winning the ACC championships. At Wake Forest, we had a big win against North Carolina in the Tournament, and they were ranked third in the country at that time. When we beat them, we knocked them out of the NCAA Tournament.
Do you enjoy playing at home in the Hodge Center or on the road in some of the more hyped-up facilities?
I think every coach prefers home games because you have a much better chance of winning. You're playing where your players are more comfortable in front of a home-town crowd, which usually provides a better chance for winning. Coaching is a lot of fun when you win.
There will always be the debate that teams can't consistently win games without a good defense. Do you think it's more important to have a stronger offense or a stronger defense on the court? Why?
Well, it's a catch 22. Nobody wins championships without good defense, but you also have to score. I think scoring fuels the defense. There's a balance that you have to possess. As a coach, I don't think you have to put one over the other. A good team has to be able to do both regardless.
