EP95: THE MAKING (and re-making) OF LARRY JOHNSON PART 4 with Dennis Helms, Former Odessa College Head Coach and NJCAA Hall of Famer

Becoming UnDone

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About the Guest

Dennis Helms is a distinguished figure in the world of basketball coaching, having served as the head coach at Odessa College from 1986 to 1996. A member of both the NJCAA Basketball Hall of Fame and the Upper Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame, Helms has coached ten players who went on to play in the NBA. Among these notable athletes is Larry Johnson, the most successful of his protégés. Helms's contributions to the sport and his impact on his players' careers have left a lasting legacy in the realm of junior college basketball.

Episode Summary

In this fun episode of "Becoming UnDone," host Toby Brooks delves into the intertwined stories of college football controversies and the illustrious career of Larry Johnson, with insights from his former coach, Dennis Helms. The episode opens with a critical look at how narratives of villainy, featuring figures like Craig James, have shaped sports history and altered the futures of programs and players. Brooks sets the stage with retellings of significant events involving SMU's scandalous past and its ripple effects on college basketball recruitment, leading to the fascinating detour in Larry Johnson’s path.

Brooks meticulously unravels the tale of how Craig James's involvement at SMU and Texas Tech drew widespread condemnation and comparisons to iconic villains from fiction. Through detailed storytelling, listeners discover how James's actions in the 1980s influenced Larry Johnson's forced detour from SMU to Odessa College. The second half of the episode pivots to an interview with Dennis Helms, who shares his experiences coaching Johnson at Odessa College. Helms highlights Johnson's extraordinary work ethic, academic strides, and significant contributions on and off the basketball court—a testament to how initial setbacks can fuel later triumphs.

Key Takeaways

• The Villainy Narrative: The episode explores how figures like Craig James have been portrayed as villains in college sports, drawing parallels to fictional antagonists.
• Impact on Larry Johnson: Insight into how SMU’s scandal and tightened academic scrutiny led to Larry Johnson’s unexpected journey through junior college before achieving stardom at UNLV.
• Coach Dennis Helms’s Perspective: Coach Helms recalls Johnson’s relentless work ethic and leadership at Odessa College, underscoring his academic and athletic development.
• Larry Johnson’s Legacy: Highlighting Johnson’s continued impact, including philanthropic efforts such as the Larry Johnson Recreation Center, and his personal generosity and concern for those who supported him.
• Educational Journey: Johnson’s advancement from a 7th to a 12th-grade reading level in a year demonstrates the critical role of academic support in athletes’ lives.

Notable Quotes:

1. Lincoln Riley: "He has an unbelievable sense of entitlement because of who his father is, one that hurts himself and the people around him."
2. Toby Brooks: “Leach chose silence in a three-way standoff between James, Leach, and Hance.”
3. Dennis Helms: "He was like a show in himself. When coaches and different people would come in and watch us, we did outdoor conditioning."

Support the show

Becoming Undone is a NiTROHype Creative production. Written and produced by me, Toby Brooks. If you or someone you know has a story of resilience and victory to share for Becoming Undone, contact me at undonepodcast.com. Follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at becomingundonepod and follow me at TobyJBrooks. Listen, subscribe, and leave us a review Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.