Chapman familiar with CMU basketball
Greg BurghardtMen’s Basketball Head Coach Jay Smith hired Lamar Chapman as assistant coach, replacing Cornell Mann.
Chapman spent the last two years as head coach at Muskegon Heights High School, where he led the Tigers to a pair of state semifinal appearances, two district championships and a 42-9 overall record.
Following the 2002 season, The Muskegon Chronicle named Chapman the area “Coach of the Year.”
“We thought he had great credentials,” Smith said. “He is a great communicator and a great role model. He’s going to really help us.”
Chapman is familiar with CMU’s program after the signing of one of his high school players — Eddie Spencer — last November.
“I’ve known Jay since he was at Grand Valley, so I’ve followed the program for a while,” he said. “Especially over the last two years with the recruitment of Eddie, I kind of focused in and learned a lot about Central Michigan.”
Chapman spent the last eight years serving as recreation coordinator for the City of Muskegon Heights.
“Working over the last 8 or 9 years at Muskegon Heights has helped me a lot,” he said. “We play various teams around the state, so it has allowed me to establish relationships all across the state, from the east side to the west side.”
Smith said Chapman’s relationships will help the Chippewas recruiting efforts.
“He will definitely help with our west Michigan recruiting efforts,” Smith said.
Chapman graduated from Muskegon Heights High School in 1988. He was a four-year starter on the basketball team at Lane College in Tennessee. He then played in the Global Basketball Association with the Jackson Jammers in 1992-93.
He started coaching in the Muskegon Heights system in 1995 as head coach of the freshmen team (1995-97) and was an assistant on the varsity staff from 1998-2000.
“I think from a head coache’s experience; I can offer preparation and motivation,” he said. “Those are two strengths as a coach that I think I can offer. I can push and motivate players to get better.”
Because of Chris Kaman leaving for the NBA and the summer basketball camps, Smith doesn’t know which players Chapman will mainly be working with.
“He will accept any role on the floor we need,” Smith said.
Chapman said he’s excited to make the move from the high school level to Division I college basketball.
“I think it’s a great fit. My first priority is to develop and establish a relationship with the players and athletic staff,” he said.
Chapman said he’ll have no problems fitting in.
“It’s just a matter of being myself,” he said. “I can’t be anybody else. I just have to be me.
“I’m a former head coach. I have to adjust to being an assistant, which shouldn’t be a problem,” he said.
Chapman also will have to adjust to the longer schedules and higher levels of play.
“It’ll be an adjustment,” he said. “This first year will be very critical just finding my niché on the staff. When you go from high school to Division I, it’s a jump, but it’s something I’m ready for.”
Chapman said winning is at the top of his list of goals for CMU.
“As a unit and as a team, you want to help players get better and see kids graduate and continue to be successful as a program,” he said.
“When you step out there and start competing, that’s what it’s all about — winning. I enjoy winning.”
