Former NBA coach Barry Hecker, who has taught the game of basketball for more than four decades, brings a philosophy of “Skill leads to Confidence, Confidence leads to Success and Success leads to Self Esteem” to the gym. The Utah native continues to teach young players and is hosting a camp for boys and girls in third through ninth grades on Dec. 26-28 from 12-2 p.m. at the Holladay Lions Recreation Center, located at 1661 E. Murray Holladay Road in Millcreek. 

“These camps are all about the basic fundamentals of basketball,” Hecker said. “We focus on quality fundamental instruction, we work hard with a lot of discipline and structure and we have a lot of fun. When these kids walk out of there, they know they’ve been taught and improved. And these fundamentals last a lifetime.”

The cost of the camp sponsored by Lake City Dental, Pho Saigon Noodle House, Ameriprise Financial, Tebbs Brother Insurance Group, Ford and Crown Jewelers and Pawn is $90. To register, call the Holladay Lions Rec Center at 385-468-1700. A T-shirt is included with registration.

The veteran coach, who lives in Murray, said the values he has learned from his basketball coaching journey – beginning at Maryland’s Oxon Hill High School and spanning through Salt Lake Community College and stints with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies – are invaluable. He loves nothing more than being able to share those principles of hard work, teamwork, unselfishness and persistence, along with the physical skills of the game itself, with others.

“I don’t care who I coach or when I coach,” Hecker said, who has worked with current Jazz players Mike Conley and Rudy Gay, said. “I simply enjoy teaching the game. It’s great to see a smile on someone’s face as they experience success. If you help somebody, you’ll be somebody.”

Hecker has conducted clinics all over the world for more than 40 years, including many since his retirement from coaching in the NBA. He said he particularly enjoys working with the youth. 

“If you teach skills, that leads to confidence and that confidence can allow anyone to do anything they want,” he said. “I have more fun with young kids than with the pros. In the NBA, you have guys who are making millions and they don’t listen. These kids are making nothing and they’ll listen to you.”