Warriors coach Steve Kerr paid a visit to the reigning Super Bowl champions in July to meet with Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll in preparation for his first NBA season.
Kerr spent a couple days at the Seahawks’ training camp in Renton, Washington, to “soak in Carroll’s coaching philosophy,” and even took part in some shooting contests with the players, Carroll said.
"As a young coach I just like to see people at work," Kerr told Seahawks.com. "And Pete obviously is one of the best. He's one of the most intriguing people that I've met and that I've sort of watched over the years as a football fan.”
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When the Seahawks came to the Bay Area to face the Raiders in an exhibition game in August, Carroll visited with Kerr.
“It was great to keep the relationship going,” Carroll said Wednesday on a conference call with reporters who cover the 49ers. “What an amazing start they’re off to, and he’s got to think this coaching stuff is easy. (I’m) really fired up for him. He’s a fantastic guy and a great competitor. And it’s great to see that they’re doing well.”
Carroll said he closely follows the Warriors. He accurately stated the Warriors' record of 18-2, entering Wednesday’s game against the Houston Rockets.
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“We talked a lot about working with people,” Carroll said of his conversations with Kerr. “We got a real simple thought: We’re trying to help people be the best they can be. And when you’re really committed to that, there’s a lot of return that comes out of that. It’s a big endeavor. It’s not just coaching X’s and O’s, and getting guys going, it’s trying to help people find their way at being the best they can be.
“And when you do that, we’ve created an atmosphere and a culture to kind of raise our guys in and support them, that needs a lot of flexibility and a lot of care and understanding and stuff, as well as the hard work and the push. So we try to mix all of that together. It made sense to Steve on some levels, and I was mostly just supporting him to be himself, find his voice and be the way he felt strongest and most confident, and that would be his best way. So whatever he’s done, it’s working out great.”
