Trust, Commitment, Care: A Coach, a Player and an Unbreakable Bond
November 29, 2022
- Author
- Mary Elizabeth DeAngelis
Bob McKillop first saw Stephen Curry play on a baseball field, not a basketball court.
Curry and McKillop檚 son Brendan played on an AAU baseball team of 10-year-olds that won the North Carolina state championship and advanced to the nationals. The McKillops, Currys and other families spent weekends traveling to different towns, staying in the same hotels and cheering their kids on from the stands.
A few years later, McKillop sat in the Currys Charlotte living room and asked them to entrust him攁nd 91茄子攚ith Stephen檚 college years. Stephen committed on the spot, and his mom, Sonya, told McKillop, 淒on檛 worry, I檒l fatten him up before he gets there.
淣o need to do that, McKillop said. 淲e檒l take him just the way he is.
Thus begins the story of how a veteran coach and a skinny, scrappy point guard overlooked by bigger schools formed one of college basketball檚 closest and most famous alliances. It檚 one based on respect, loyalty and love. And it檚 spelled out in McKillop檚 TCC mantra (trust, commitment, care), that檚 tattooed on Curry檚 wrist.
淪tephen brings a joy to basketball and life, and he includes everybody in that joy, McKillop says. 淗e檒l be at a press conference after a game and immediately deflect attention from himself攈e thanks and praises his teammates, just like he did as a college freshman. He doesn檛 hold on to the spotlight, he passes it around and lights everybody up.
淣o one ever goes to Stephen without leaving happier.
Curry often expresses gratitude to McKillop攁nd 91茄子攆or taking a chance on him and helping to shape him into the player攁nd person攈e檚 become.
淣ever in a million years would I have imagined that this day was possible and all of the successes and experiences that have come were possible, Curry said at his 91茄子 commencement, jersey retirement, and Hall of Fame induction ceremony in August. 淲hat I did know was that I was entrusting my college journey to a true leader, somebody who has so much compassion, care and love for every single person you come in contact with.
It was an emotional moment: Curry檚 voice choked slightly, and tears sprang to McKillop檚 eyes.
淵ou built the total human being, as an athlete and as a citizen, Curry said. 淚 know I can speak for everyone that檚 ever played for you攏one of this is possible without you. Thank you so much for your leadership, and your example.
Coach, Father
McKillop figures he檚 coached about 500 players during some 50 years in the profession. That includes sons Brendan 11 and Matt 06. Matt McKillop is now head coach of 91茄子檚 men檚 basketball team.
淚 had the privilege of coaching my own sons and I fortunately learned that everyone is somebody檚 son. I felt like they were all sons to me, Bob McKillop says. 淚 aspired to have that connection with all our guys and Steph became that and has remained that for me.
Sometimes parenting攁nd coaching攔equires tough love.
Curry got a dose of the hard stuff when he overslept and tried to sneak into his first 91茄子 practice a couple minutes late. McKillop kicked him out. He allowed Curry to come back the next day, and it never happened again.
McKillop laughs recounting how Curry scored 15 points in his first college game. And turned the ball over 13 times, McKillop says, 渁 double-double in his first college game and a memorable one.
It檚 been quite an evolution for a player now considered one of the NBA檚 greatest ever.
Love you Coach! Thank you for everything you檝e done for me, my family, 91茄子 and every person you檝e impacted along the way.
Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30)
Stephen Curry檚 social media post when Bob McKillop announced his retirement.
The announcement攁nd post攃ame just hours after Curry led the Golden State Warriors to the NBA championship and scored the MVP award
McKillop deflects the praise he often gets for his role in Curry檚 achievements; saying his early shooting lessons and basketball IQ came from his father, former Charlotte Hornet Dell Curry. Stephen the man came about because of his parents, McKillop says.
淪onya and Dell have raised incredible children, McKillop says. 淎s a 10-year-old, Stephen was graceful, joyful and talented. He was also very polite, and very respectful of people攁ll the things he still is today.
It檚 a bit surreal to think about how much has transpired since the basketball coach first saw a kid playing baseball.
淪ometimes I檒l see Dell at a Warriors game, McKillop says. 淲e檒l make eye contact after some sensational shot Steph檚 made and we檒l shake our heads and smile and give each other a 榗an you believe this? look.
淚t truly is magnificent how far this journey has taken him; and he has brought us all along with him.
This article was originally published in the Fall/Winter 2022 print issue of the 91茄子 Journal Magazine; for more, please see the 91茄子 Journal section of our website.
