New assistant Werdann facing big challenge

Golf course decorum dictated that Rob Werdann's jubilation remain somewhat restrained.

But Hornets Coach Byron Scott remembers the day last summer when, during a match with Werdann at Money Hill Golf & Country Club in Abita Springs, Scott informed Werdann he was the most serious candidate to fill the vacancy as the team's big-man coach for the coming season.

It was tough for Werdann to stifle his excitement, Scott said.

"When I had him on the golf course, he had no idea," said Scott, who had dismissed long-time assistant coach Kenny Gattison about six weeks after the Hornets' disappointing playoff run, searching for a new direction for the players in the middle. "I told him, 'You know what, Rob: I've interviewed about four or five assistant coaches, and I want to talk to you about the position.'

"He was like, 'Coach, I would love it.' I thought he should be informed at that time that I was seriously thinking about him. And I gave him the reasons why. And when we finished that day, we talked a couple days later. And it was then that I told him, 'I think I want you on the staff. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty positive I want you on the staff.' He was elated. And he called me later that day and thanked me. But I knew it was a good fit, just watching him and being around him and talking to him. I knew he would fit in well with the staff and fit in extremely well with the bigs."

Werdann is no stranger to Hornets players.

His résumé with the Hornets lists only the past five years as an advance scout, but Werdann was around all of last season in the gym, working with players before and after practice, as well as sitting on the bench during games, honing his skills and increasing his familiarity with the team.

Werdann had worked three seasons as an assistant coach in the NBA Development League with the Columbus Riverdragons, and had also been an assistant in the defunct Continental Basketball Association for one year with the Yakima Sun Kings.

His transition into his current role has been smooth, Werdann said, but the road hasn't been completely without bumps.

Two of Werdann's charges, center Emeka Okafor and power forward Ike Diogu, have missed a large chunk of preseason preparation with injuries. Okafor has yet to participate in a full practice after spraining the second toe on his right foot on the first day of training camp, and Diogu has been severely slowed by a strained left knee, injured in a an offseason weightlifting session.

CONTINUED 1 | 2 Next