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Newly hired NC State assistant coach Takayo Siddle has had some great opportunities already in his young coaching career.
The 30-year-old Siddle was a standout at Eden (N.C.) Morehead High and then spent a post-graduate year at Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military Academy in 2004-2005 that forever changed the trajectory of his life. Kevin Keatts was his head coach at Hargrave and later hired him as an assistant coach at the prep school after Siddle's Gardner-Webb playing days (2005-2009) were over.
Siddle returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2010, working for another soon-to-be-famous coach — current Butler head man Chris Holtmann. After Holtmann left to become an assistant coach at Butler — which led to him being named Butler's interim head coach and eventually permanent coach — Siddle reunited with Keatts in the summer of 2014 at UNC Wilmington.
By then, Keatts was fresh off spending three years as an assistant coach at Louisville under head coach Rick Pitino. The Cardinals won the 2013 NCAA national championship and reached the Final Four twice. Keatts impressively rebuilt UNCW quickly, winning three straight CAA regular-season titles and two conference tournaments, which led to a pair of NCAA Tournament trips. Keatts became a hot name on the coaching carousel, and he was swiftly hired by NC State to replace Mark Gottfried.
Siddle was in contention to slide over one seat with the Seahawks, but eventually took his name out of the running and has joined Keatts in Raleigh. He said it was an easy decision to join his former coach at their third location together, due to their comfort level with each other.
“I feel fortunate,” Siddle said. “Any time you can work for a guy for a long period of time, and a guy you know and trust, and you know it is reciprocated on your end. He’s going to allow you to be yourself and not micro-manage.”
Siddle’s ability to anticipate Keatts’ reactions is a valuable trait.
“What I can bring to the table in different aspects is we're in a game and we come into halftime — whether we are up or down — I know pretty much what he’s going to say,” Siddle said. “If we are down, I can prep them to get them ready for him being angry and that he’ll yell at them, and what he is going to talk about.”
Siddle’s ability to be a “gatekeeper” of sorts on the recruiting trail will also pay off because he knows the kinds of traits Keatts is looking for in players.
“I know what kind of kids and players he wants at each position,” Siddle said. “I know what he is looking for and what he doesn’t like. If I’m out with other assistants and they are recruiting a kid, I’ll know if he isn’t going to like them.
“He wants toughness, skill in terms of shooting, passing and handling the basketball. He wants guys that compete and are high-motor guys, and guys that are all about the team versus themselves.”
Siddle started off in player development at Hargrave and loved getting guys better. He has grown in the other areas of coaching to where he can “do it all.”
He was able to learn new aspects of coaching under Holtmann, who went 44-54 in three years at Gardner-Webb, including an impressive final campaign that resulted in a 21-13 overall mark — the program had 23 wins total in his first two years — 11-5 in the Big South and a CIT berth, in 2012-2013. He knew that Holtmann had that “it” factor about him.
“Coach Holtmann’s biggest thing is being together and connected as a group,” Siddle said. “He always preaches team, team, team over me. He always talked about toughness. His attention to detail over everything in the program is something I took with me.”
Siddle was able to become comfortable in any kind of situation and not feel overwhelmed during the stint at his alma mater. That helped him become a well-rounded assistant coach at UNCW. While Siddle was learning new things and getting to know the various processes of being a college assistant coach, so was his mentor.
Siddle could see the changes in Keatts’ coaching arsenal after working at Louisville when they began their journey at UNC Wilmington. He knew Keatts had improved in scouting, player development and recruiting while with the Cardinals.
“I saw him really grow in those areas, even though he was really good in those areas,” Siddle said.
Growing up in Eden helped foster Siddle's love for the ACC. He is excited about the possibilities that working at NC State presents.
“That is all we know is the ACC,” Siddle said. “Growing up as a kid in high school, I was thinking about how much I loved the ACC and how unbelievable the situation at NC State was. I was like, ‘Man, I don’t want to miss out on this experience and being with Coach again and Wolfpack Nation.'
“I want to win championships with Coach and bring a program back to life. That is something I wanted to be a part of.”
Siddle knows the next few months will be exciting while trying to stabilize the roster for next year and going to various tournaments and camps in the red and white.
“We have a unique style of play, and you don’t see a lot of teams across the country play the way we do,” Siddle said. “I think that will attract kids coming to NC State. Also, playing under a guy who will motivate you and allow you to have an unbelievable amount of freedom.”
More of The Wolfpacker’s coverage on the hiring of Keatts:
• Kevin Keatts hires his first assistant, James Johnson
• Kevin Keatts expected to bring in talented recruits
• Lorenzo Brown happy for Kevin Keatts' opportunity
• Column: NC State basketball gets high grade for Kevin Keatts hire
• Podcast: Breaking down the hire with 1983 NCAA Champion Ernie Myers
• Reflecting back on the coaching search
• Recruiting analyst Eric Bossi praises NC State’s hire of Keatts
• Photo gallery of the introductory press conference
• Kevin Keatts has been winning for decades
• NC State basketball players are excited about Kevin Keatts
• Video reel: Kevin Keatts’ introductory press conference
• Audio: New NC State basketball coach Kevin Keatts introductory PC
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