Fieldhouse Files: Scott Agness on the Indiana Pacers

When a Pacers player is dealing with discomfort or an injury, Josh Corbeil is who they contact. At practice or in a game, at home or in the middle of the night, Corbeil is essentially always on call.

Corbeil, officially the Senior Director Medical Operations and Head Athletic Trainer, joined the Pacers in 2004. He took over for legendary athletic trainer David Craig. Since then, he has worked with four different head coaches: Rick Carlisle, Jim O’Brien, Frank Vogel, and now Nate McMillan.

The Boston native holds a bacehlor’s degree in science, master’s in physical therapy, doctorate in physical therapy, and he is a licensed physical therapsist and athletic trainer.

Corbeil, Associate Head Athletic Trainer Carl Eaton, and Director of Sports Performance Shawn Windle have a daily meeting each morning about the 15-man roster and what is going on with each player.

One thing Corbeil and the training staff emphasize is prehab. That’s taking a focus in treating players daily in hopes of preventing an injury from happening in the first place. It’s prevention rather than reaction.

If you enjoy the behind the scenes of a professional team and what an individual’s job entails, as I do, I think you’ll really enjoy this podcast.

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I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* Why he chose to become an athletic trainer

* His offseason, and how there really isn’t an “offseason”

* Role in the draft & free agency, plus what goes into a physical

* The task of each individual on the medical staff

* Where he was and how he responded to Paul George’s injury with Team USA

* Learning from Dan Dyrek

* Why there was a member of the staff with Paul in Rio

VigilantSports.com caught up with George Hill Thursday night, his final evening in Indianapolis. The point guard, who was traded to the Jazz in June, is headed to Utah to prepare for the upcoming 2016-17 NBA season with his new team.

[As the Pacers move on from Hill, his love for Indy isn’t going anywhere.]

In a one-on-one interview with the “Hometown Hero,” Hill shares his feelings about leaving town, a fresh start, how he spent his offseason, and his growing family.

From July: George Hill discusses being traded, his relationship with Hayward, Lyles, and death to The Blonde Faze

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I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

He knows the X’s and O’s of all 30 NBA teams, is on the road over 200 days a year, and his work each season begins when the schedule is released, as it was on Aug. 11.

Right then, he begins mapping out his plan, where he needs to be and how he’s going to get there. The entire process will take him into September, the final month of the NBA offseason.

Jimmy Powell resides in Springfield, Massachusetts and he is entering his 19th season as the Pacers Advance Scout. He was originally hired by Donnie Walsh, his former coach, and it’s a job — breaking down every single opponent in the way each Pacers assistant coach prefers — that he is quite fond of.

“People don’t understand, but I do because I’ve been in this league over 20 years. It all starts with the owner,” he tells me on the podcast. “When you got good ownership, you know there’s going to be stability, they’re always going to give you a chance to win, and they’re going to create a good environment.”

The way in which he completes his job has changed and been streamlined with the advancement in technology. All 30 NBA teams employee an advance scout, who studies opponents’ playbook and learns all of their play calls. Attending games days ahead of the Pacers playing them, Powell then inputs their calls into FastDraw, a piece of software used by scouts across the league.

In his time with the Pacers, he’s worked for six different head coaches. Nate McMillan is No. 6.

“If it was another organization, I probably would have been somewhere else. But it’s Indiana, and it’s been great.”

Over the summer, I sat down with Powell for a conversation on his role as advance scout.

Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes.

I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* His long history with Pacers consultant Donnie Walsh

* Why working for a great owner is critical

* How he got — and has remained — in the NBA

* What it’s like to book his schedule, and to have millions of airline miles

* Why he has remained in his role for so long and not opted for a “normal” life

* What makes longtime assistant coach Dan Burke so special

Yogi Ferrell is ready to begin the next phase of his life, as a professional. After four seasons in Bloomington, the Park Tudor and Indiana University graduate will head to Brooklyn to prepare for training camp near the end of August, one month before camp opens.

Ferrell went through 16 pre-draft workouts but did not get drafted, although teams were interested in drafting and stashing him overseas. Instead, the 6-foot point guard elected to go the route of free agency.

Ultimately, he signed a one-year non-guaranteed deal with the Brooklyn Nets with $100,000 guaranteed, per sources.

It’s a good deal, and now he’ll work to prove worthy of a roster spot on a team that badly needs a spark to help propel the franchise up from the bottom of the standings.

Yogi joined me in studio for an extensive conversation on hoops, his career at IU, looking ahead to the NBA, and more.

[Yogi Ferrell has grown up and is leaving a lasting legacy at Indiana]

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I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* Preparing for his rookie season

* Living in hotels across the country for over a month prior to the draft

* Adding size and improving his 3-point shot

* His legacy in Bloomington, giving a senior speech, and flying charter

* Following the Olympics

* How he spends free time

CHICAGO, Ill. — Jalen Rose and two dozen students from the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy were in Chicago late last week for an experience of a lifetime. Jeep took care of their travel and then got them hooked up with tickets for Team USA’s exhibition game against Venezuela.

Thursday afternoon, Rose was a man of the people — out at the Navy Pier for an event with Jeep. He later shot hoops while standing in the back of a Wrangler, competed against Pacers star and USA Basketball team member Paul George, and he certainly ensured that the kids and visitors had a good time.

[Click here for a photo gallery]

Prior to George arriving, I spent some time in Jalen’s green room where we talked about a number of subjects. Rose, who played five and a half seasons with the Pacers, is now a studio analyst for ESPN/ABC‘s coverage of the NBA. He also co-hosts a daily show on ESPN Radio.

The @JRLADetroit Basketball Teams enjoying Chi-town from Willis Tower Sky Deck thanks to our amazing partner @Jeep! pic.twitter.com/YDADcYbFrC— JRLADetroit (@JRLADetroit) July 29, 2016

At Navy Pier celebrating the summer of @Jeep w/ Paul George & @JalenRose pic.twitter.com/n3CWT0VT1s— JRLADetroit (@JRLADetroit) July 30, 2016

Many thanks @Jeep for this amazing experience… Go TEAM USA @usabasketball! pic.twitter.com/YdSEuOxcLB— JRLADetroit (@JRLADetroit) July 30, 2016

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I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* The Jalen Rose Leadership Academy

* Professional athletes using their platform to speak out

* Larry Bird’s makeover of the Pacers

* Writing a book

* Paul George in the conversation for NBA MVP?

The annual Knox Indy Pro Am is set for another season of games, running Tuesday, July 26 through Sunday, August 7. The Indianapolis-based Pro Am typically goes on for several weeks but this year it will  be held on seven dates over a two-week period.

Carlos Knox is the man behind the idea. A former pro overseas and standout at IUPUI — he’s in the IUPUI Athletics Hall of Fame — Knox created the Pro Am to give elite players an opportunity to compete with similar talent during the slow part of the year: The Offseason.

The Knox Indy Pro Am is sanctioned by both the NCAA and the NBA, meaning athletes from both levels are eligible to compete. Three games will be held each night — 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 p.m. — and tickets are free.

For the first time, it will be held at the new Jonathan Byrd Fieldhouse at Grand Park in Westfield. It’s a new, $8.1 million fieldhouse that is part of an estimated $50 million massive complex. The Fieldhouse alone has eight indoor basketball courts.

Knox has already received commitments from local NBA players — Utah’s Trey Lyles (Tech) and Indiana’s Glenn Robinson III (Lake Central) for July 26 and 28, respectively.

[Ep. 30: Glenn Robinson III]

I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* Why he started a Pro Am some seven years ago

* How players, coaches, and officials all benefit

* The new Jonathan Byrd Fieldhouse

* NBA players involved and how interested players can sign up

* How the Indiana-Purdue alumni game has become the fan favorite

* George Hill’s impact locally and Jeff Teague stepping in

Full rosters and schedule:

ORLANDO, Fla. — After the Pacers played two Summer League games, they had the Fourth of July to themselves. Before relaxing and hanging out with friends, Glenn Robinson III met me in the hotel lobby to record this episode of the Vigilant Sports Pacers Podcast.

The Pacers signed Robinson III last season to a three-year deal with only a little more than one season guaranteed. The Gary, Indiana native and Michigan product has the athleticism and skill to be a rotational guy in the NBA, and for the 22-year-old it’s about becoming a well-rounded player.

In the middle of the podcast, Kevin Durant announced his intention to sign with the Golden State Warriors — which allowed for a fun, live reaction from both Glenn and I.

See Also: Glenn Robinson III coming into his own

In this podcast, you’ll learn more about who he is, what makes him tick … and what he enjoys doing away from basketball. Thanks again to Glenn for joining the podcast.

Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes.

I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email.

Topics Discussed:

* His purpose in Summer League

* Being in his first fashion show, style, and love for his Jeep

* On hosting not one, but two days of camp at his high school

* How Purdue never offered him a scholarship

* Finding stability and routine in the NBA

* Having a Monmouth-like benchmob with Solomon Hill

Indiana’s own Jeff Teague returned home, officially introduced as a member of his hometown team Monday afternoon. A 2007 graduate of Pike High School, Teague is fired up to play home in Indianapolis.

“I’ve always wanted to play for the Pacers,” Teague, 28, said at a press conference held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Listen to the 11-minute press conference, plus a nine-minute breakout session with a few other reporters below:

Three new Pacers sat at the table on the dais Friday afternoon, their first day in an official capacity with their new team.

The Pacers acquired Thad Young in a draft-day trade with Brooklyn, signed Al Jefferson to a three-year deal in free agency, and then received Jeremy Evans in a trade with Dallas.

[More on Jefferson with Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer]

In addition to posing for photos with their new jerseys, the newest Pacers talked with the local media for the first time. Listen below to that press conference.

Pacers President Larry Bird and head coach Nate McMillan spoke with reporters Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

During the 23-minute press conference, the two discussed their offseason moves, the construction of the team, new pieces, and how they feel about the group going into the 2016-17 season.