Skyforce Q&A: Getting to Know Mario Casamajor

Mario Casamajor knows how difficult it can be to face the Skyforce at the Sanford Pentagon. Now, he’s looking forward to having that home-court advantage on his side. The new head coach discusses the people and experiences that shaped him, how he approaches the changing demands of a G League season and the responsibility of representing Sioux Falls. He also shares why returning to the Midwest has him and his family excited for the move.

Who has had the biggest influence on the way you coach?

“Jeff Van Gundy. He’s had the biggest impact on the way I approach personnel and game planning to beat opponents. He’s had the greatest influence on my career.”

Your career has taken you through several roles in basketball. Which experience has prepared you most for this opportunity?

“Being the video coordinator and director of basketball operations in Iowa helped prepare me for this opportunity. Those roles exposed me to the different situations, personalities and egos you encounter in this league.”

What have your first conversations with the Skyforce staff and organization taught you about this team?

“The care factor. We care deeply about this team and want to leave it better than we found it. The organization is already in tremendous shape, so the question is how we make it even better.

“That care extends beyond success on the court. It’s about success in the community, too.”

What do you want players to feel when they walk into practice each day?

“Growth. I want them to feel they’re striving for something, even if they don’t know what’s on the other side of the door. None of us knows what’s ahead, but they can keep growing as players and as people for better days ahead.”

How do you build trust with a group whose roster can change throughout a G League season?

“It starts with understanding that changes are going to happen and accepting that reality. Then you approach each person with vulnerability and an understanding that this is a fluid situation. There’s constant movement. It can feel like four seasons within one in the G League.

“Everyone is chasing a dream, and those dreams are different. My job is to help everyone stay aligned around growth for that day and for the long term.”

How do you help players balance their individual goals with what the team needs to win?

“You take it day by day. Coaches can set goals and expectations up front, but life happens. Sometimes you have to approach it hour by hour.

“You look at what’s happening with the team and with that individual, then figure out how to bring those two things together to get a Skyforce win.”

What does it mean to you to represent Sioux Falls each time the team takes the court?

“I feel a great responsibility because of our legacy and our community. Sioux Falls is a special place, and we’re a professional team representing our city."

“We want to put a team on the court that represents the people of Sioux Falls. That responsibility carries weight, but we don’t shy away from it. We run toward it.”

What are you most looking forward to about meeting Skyforce fans at the Sanford Pentagon?

“Being on the right side of the roar and the cheers. For so many years, the Skyforce were my rivals. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy coming to Sioux Falls because I knew the Skyforce had a home-court advantage.

“Now I get to be on that side of it. I can’t wait to immerse myself in that atmosphere and be part of it.”

As you get settled in Sioux Falls, what are you hoping to explore or experience around the city?

“My wife and I are Chicagoans. We’re Midwesterners, and we can’t wait to get back to the cold and have winters again. We’re thrilled to be part of this community.

“We’ve loved our time in South Florida and always will. But we don’t look at moving to South Dakota as just a cold trip. We look at it as something that’s going to be a lot of fun.”

What’s something about you that Skyforce fans might be surprised to learn?

“I’m brutally honest, and I bring a lot of energy. I’m always going to keep it 100, but I’m also going to leave you with love and energy.”

Hear more from Coach Casamajor during his introductory press conference on Thursday, October 22 at 12:00 p.m. CT. Watch live on YouTube.