Catalyst for Victory: Monarch keystone of Marquette’s
coaching staff
February 5, 2009
Over the past several decades, Scott Monarch has displayed
an exceptional passion for the game of basketball,
resulting in success at various levels throughout the
collegiate ranks. After paying his dues at NCAA Division
II Kentucky Wesleyan and several JUCO’s, Coach Monarch has
worked his way up to recently being promoted an assistant
at Big East powerhouse Marquette University. Currently
ranked 8th in the country (AP Top 25), Marquette is
steamrolling through its opponents and on its way to a
possible #1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Monarch, who after a solid playing career at Mississippi
Valley State, landed his first coaching stint at McLennan
Community College in 1993. He spent three years there in
Waco, Texas, adjusting to seeing basketball from the
sidelines rather than from on the court as a player. It
didn’t take much time for this transition, however, as
Scott quickly emerged as a young talent in his era. His
next opportunity presented itself at perennial Division II
power Kentucky Wesleyan. He helped recruit players that
would eventually become All-Americans, including two who
received National Player of the Year awards. In 1998,
Coach Monarch helped lead the Panthers to the NCAA
national championship.
Though his contributions at the D-II level are many, Coach
Monarch has earned a solid reputation for his ability to
recruit premier talent and help players transition into
D-I caliber prospects. There are a plethora of reasons why
some ball players end up at JUCO’s. More often than not, a
player has performed poorly in the classroom or on the
Standardized Test (SAT). In other instances, a player’s
body might need that extra year or two to develop into
what is needed to face the daily physical demands of
Division I play. Either way, many players come to JUCO’s
to develop both on the court and in the classroom, with
hopes of acquiring a D-I scholarship. While certainly most
of the responsibility falls on that individual player to
perform, it is also true that JUCO colleges must “market”
their players along the way. In this regard, Scott
Monarch’s resume is among the best. He has helped
forty-two players sign D-I scholarships, including twenty
who later become All-Conference performers. Furthermore,
Coach Monarch has coached a total of twenty-five players
who went on to play professionally at some level. If that
alone did not attest to his recruiting, coaching, and
player development ability, he also coached Omar Thomas,
the all-time scoring holder in JUCO history.
The majority of Coach Monarch’s coaching career was spent
at Panola College in Texas. He had an incredible career in
Waco, including the prestigious 2003 National Junior
College Athletic Association Coach of the Year award. A
contributing factor to Coach Monarch’s success while at
Panola was his signature “Full Court Express” fast-break
offense. The beauty of this quick offense is that it can
be triggered by either an opponent’s missed or made shot.
Either way, the Point Guard (“1 man”) receives a quick
outlet pass from either the rebounder (from a missed shot)
or the Center (from a made shot). The point guard receives
the basketball on the right side of the floor, foul line
extended, and breaks quickly towards the opposite basket.
Primarily, the point guard’s role is to push the ball and
force the defense to stop his forward motion. Meanwhile,
both wing players run the floor as well (on opposite
sides), with the Power Forward (“4 man)” breaking down the
middle of the court to either post-up or to be in position
for an early offensive-rebound.
The philosophy of the Full Court Express has many
advantages. First, the continuous offensive pressure that
it creates tends to wear down an opponent’s stamina.
Second, it provides many opportunities for a quick lay-up
or easy basket if a defense is lulled to sleep or doesn’t
react quickly. Finally, the offense’s core philosophy is
that the more total possessions in a game, the better. For
Monarch, the Full Court Express offense paid its
dividends, as Scott Monarch eventually left Panola College
as the Ponies all time winningest coach.
The Marquette Golden Eagles are playing some exceptionally
good basketball as of late. With a 20-2 record, they are
not only working towards the NCAA tournament, but the
possibly of a run to the Final Four. Scott Monarch’s
relationship with head coach Buzz Williams has flourished
due to Scott’s tireless work ethic and influence on the
Golden Eagles both on and off the court. “His character is
another superb example that our players will be able to
see on a daily basis, and that is the most important thing
to me,” said Coach Williams. Scott Monarch’s effect on
this year’s team is clearly evident, and l look forward to
seeing the Marquette program continue to have lots of
success under the leadership of Buzz, Scott and one of the
best coaching staffs in college basketball.
