SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame men’s basketball head coach Micah Shrewsberry had a clear plan and a promise in mind as his team prepared for a 10-day tour of Spain in early August. However, despite his best intentions, Shrewsberry found himself unable to keep that promise.
The tour, which included three exhibition games against European teams featuring second- and third-level professional players, was approached by Shrewsberry much like an NBA summer league. He intended to step back and let his coaching staff take the lead.
Shrewsberry had coached the team intensely during the spring and summer. His plan for Spain was to let his associate head coach, Kyle Getter, and assistant coaches Mike Farrelly and Ryan Owens, take control during the games. He even joked about playing the role of a spectator, as his oldest son Braeden is a sophomore guard on the team. At one point, he even considered skipping the games entirely, opting to relax on a nearby beach and follow the action on his phone.
But in the end, Shrewsberry couldn’t resist his coaching instincts.
Each assistant coach took the helm for one game during the tour. Getter led the team to an 89-65 victory in Madrid, Farrelly coached a 78-60 win in Valencia, and Owens oversaw a 76-74 victory in Barcelona.
“I tried the best I could to let those guys do it,” Shrewsberry admitted. “They did a great job. It was awesome.”
Despite his efforts to step back, Shrewsberry found it difficult to remain passive. During each game, he sat at the end of the bench, trying to stay quiet but ultimately unable to resist the urge to coach. He was involved in substitutions, ensuring that fresh players were ready to take the court every five minutes.
As game situations arose, Shrewsberry gradually moved closer to the action. When the team faced a zone defense in Madrid, he offered suggestions. In Valencia, when the game grew tight, he couldn’t stay silent. And in Barcelona, with the team running on fumes and key player Markus Burton fouled out, Shrewsberry’s coaching instincts took over.
“I spent a lot of time getting up and walking down there toward the front,” he said. “I apologize for it. I’m sorry. I can’t just sit here and not do anything. I still gotta be me.”
Despite his promise to let his staff take charge, Shrewsberry’s passion for coaching proved too strong to contain.
