MIAMI (April 21, 2020) - We're getting to know the FIU men's basketball staff, beginning with Zavier Anderson. 

Anderson joined head coach Jeremy Ballard's coaching staff as the assistant director of basketball operations in 2018 after previously serving as the director of basketball operations at UAB. He was promoted to video coordinator also in charge of player development during the 2019-20 campaign.

Q: What got you into coaching?
A: "After I finished up my playing career at Clemson, I knew I wanted to still be involved in basketball some kind of way. After talking with a couple of my assistant coaches at the time, they urged me to pursue college coaching by looking for graduate assistant positions. I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity at VCU under Shaka Smart as a GA."

Q: How was your transition from being a player at Clemson to working on a coaching staff?
A: "The biggest shock for me in the transition from player to coach was realizing the amount of time it takes to be a part of a successful program. As a player, you may have a one hour lift, two hour practice, and you may go back to the gym later for another hour to get extra shots up for a total of four hours out of the day. When I became a GA at VCU, guys lived in the gym getting extra shots up. So if they ever needed an extra rebounder, I was always there for them as they came to shoot at various times—often times for 3-plus hours straight. On top of that, we would still have our two hour practices during the season. And if I wasn't in the gym, I was back in the office with the coaching staff helping complete any tasks that I may have been assigned or helping the assistants with anything they needed help with. Needless to say, I had some extremely long days but I wouldn't change it at all."

Q: How is it being on Coach Ballard's staff?
A: "I love working with Coach Ballard and our staff. Coach Ballard is one of the most genuine, selfless people that I have ever met in my life. He always wants what's best for our players, our coaching staff, and our program as a whole. When you have a head coach and a staff that you know cares about you and has similar goals as you, it makes it so much easier to come in to "work" every day."

Q: What makes FIU special?
A: "I think the location is something that is tough to beat. Not many people would say they wouldn't enjoy living in Miami. But outside of the location, I would say the people. Like I stated in the previous question, I work on staff with some great people. And the players that we work with are also some really good guys—they are the reason this program has been as successful as it is over the two years that I have been here."

Q: What's been your favorite memory since joining the FIU staff?
A: "My favorite memory would be beating UAB this past season. I previously worked there so I still have great relationships with the staff and some of the players that were there at that time. So to be able to rub that in their face after a win and be able to talk a little trash to them felt pretty good!"

Q: What player has been the most fun to work with over your career?
A: "I would probably have to go with Troy Daniels who was a junior at VCU when I arrived there as a GA. I had just finished my playing career and he was still in college so we were pretty close in age. He and I instantly became really close when I arrived on campus at VCU, whether it was off the court playing video games or late nights in the gym. He and I spent so much time in the practice gym perfecting his shot. He became such a good shooter that we had to start creating random drills to challenge him. He really embraced the grind of getting better and it has paid off for him. He is in his seventh season in the NBA right now after starting the season with the Los Angeles Lakers and then being traded to the Denver Nuggets. It's an understatement of how proud I am of him watching him fulfill his dreams. But everything he's gotten is a product of the work he put in when no one was watching."

Q:In your opinion, which coach do you look up to or want to take after for your own philosophies?
A: "I look up to a lot of coaches. A lot of the things we do here under Coach Ballard on the defensive end are the same things I did when I was a player. So I've been fortunate enough to be around three head coaches (Oliver Purnell-Clemson, Shaka Smart-VCU, Jeremy Ballard-FIU) that have done this same type of pressing defense. So if I ever become a head coach, it is definitely something I would love to do with my team."

Q: If you could play 1v1 against anyone, past or present, who would you play and do you think you'd win?
A: "If I could play 1v1 against anyone, it would probably be Allen Iverson. He's my favorite player of all time. If we played, it would be a REALLY good game, but I think I would pull out the win. His only chance would be if I had an off shooting night and that rarely happens."

Q: If you weren't coaching basketball, what would you be doing or what other sport would you be coaching?
A: "If I wasn't coaching basketball, I have no clue what I would be doing! It would definitely be something that involves basketball or athletics in general."

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