Glover bringing NBA experience to UVU

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In his third season, associate head coach says team is only getting better

As the associate head coach for UVU’s women’s basketball team, Jason Glover is involved in just about everything basketball related, including practice planning, scouting, game planning and managing player development. It is Glover’s third season here at UVU, but prior to his time here, he was a well-traveled basketball coach. Having spent time in a NCAA Division I program, the WNBA, the NBA Development League and even the NBA, Glover brings years of experience from every level into the fold.

“No matter what job you do, you learn from where you’ve been,” said Glover. “This is my 29th year [coaching], so I’ve had a lot of experiences to build from … My learning curve just keeps going up.”

During his time on the coaching staff of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves in 2010, Glover worked with Kurt Rambis and J.B. Bickerstaff among others, now the interim head coaches for the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, respectively.

“To be able to be around those kind of basketball guys, I was just like a sponge. I just sat there and learned and listened and watched and I think that really helped me develop as a coach,” said Glover.

Glover also spent five seasons in the NBA D-League, during which time he was able to work directly with more NBA franchises and continue to build on his experiences. In April 2013 Glover was named the head coach of the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League. The Bighorns at the time were the D-League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings. However, in September ownership of the Kings changed hands and the new owners bought the basketball operations of the Bighorns. Subsequently, Glover was let go before the season began.

“As NBA politics goes, they wanted their own guy,” Glover said.

Meanwhile, UVU Head Coach Cathy Nixon had just lost her top assistant, Dan Nielson, to BYU. When Nixon heard what had happened with Glover, she contacted him and gauged his interest in coming to UVU.

“At first, I was still trying to stay in the D-League and stay in the professional game, but after a couple conversations with Cathy I said sure,” Glover said. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to just do a different level… I’ve really enjoyed it.”

This year, in a season that looks like a roller coaster on the surface given the team’s record of lengthy streaks both winning and losing, Glover thinks the team is only getting better.

“Our record doesn’t really show how good we’ve played. Our record is under .500 but we played Oregon to 10 points; we played Alabama to six points. Win-Loss wise it’s been a roller coaster but our girls keep improving so they’re going in one direction; they’re just getting better,” said Glover.

Having already won the most games since their 2012 season and with a good chance at grabbing the third seed in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament in March, the Wolverine women are a team on the rise, and having Glover and all of his coaching experience is a big asset for a rising team.