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Although the Sacramento Monarchs were battling it out with San Antonio right in front of him at a boisterous ARCO Arena, seated in his courtside seat, Eric Musselman was primarily focused on a sheet of paper in his hand. Nearly five months before his debut as the Sacramento Kings head coach, Musselman already is displaying his familiar game face, intently mapping out preparation for the upcoming summer league.

Welcome to a portrait of your new Kings coach, who judging from his past, leaves nothing to chance when it involves his profession. Musselman has the reputation for being all things basketball, which is one of the reasons he stood out in a strong field of candidates to replace Rick Adelman.

“He wowed us in the interview process,” admitted Kings owner Gavin Maloof. “It’s amazing to see his commitment and passion for the game. He doesn’t play golf, he doesn’t play tennis, and he doesn’t fish. All he cares about is basketball and winning.”

In a city enamored with its team, Musselman appears to be a good fit. An hour after concluding his inaugural press conference, Musselman was mingling easily with a large crowd of Kings fans at Arden Mall. He was posing for pictures, joking about his new team and telling anyone who would listen how happy he was to receive his first up-close glimpse of Kings mania.

“The passion of the fans here is second to none,” Musselman said. “It’s an amazing environment to be a part of as an opposing team. I certainly look forward to being a part of it on the other side of the sideline.”

So do the Kings. Along with his trademark intensity, the son of famed college and NBA head coach Bill Musselman brings along a solid resume, as well. Eric became the youngest head coach in the NBA at age 37 when he took over the Golden State Warriors in July 2002.

In his first season, the Warriors improved by an NBA-best 17 wins, posting a 38-44 record, which had Musselman finishing second in the Coach of the Year honors. Despite losing Warrior cornerstones Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison to free agency, the next year Musselman guided Golden State to a nearly identical record (37-45). Yet a change in management led to Musselman’s departure as head coach.

Recognized for his bright mind and energetic demeanor, Musselman resurfaced the last year and a half as an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies, a team run by Mike Fratello, who is acknowledged as one of the NBA’s most cerebral coaches. In typical fashion, Musselman was in Memphis soaking up more knowledge from Fratello and general manager Jerry West.

“There’s no question I’m a better coach today than I was in the first go around with Golden State,” said Musselman, who played in two NCAA tournaments with the University of San Diego and was drafted 58th in the 1987 CBA draft.

Before becoming a regular in NBA arenas, Musselman paid his dues in the CBA, setting a record for being the league’s youngest head coach ever at age 23. His 270-122 record (.688 winning percentage) during seven years with the Florida Beach Dogs is the second highest in league history behind George Karl. During those seven years, he had 24 of his players called up to NBA rosters, the highest total of any team during that period.

President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie has no doubt Musselman will have plenty to offer to a Kings team that peaked late in the season after the Ron Artest trade and made a good showing in the opening round of the playoffs before eventually losing to defending champion San Antonio.

“When you think about younger coaches in the NBA he’s certainly among the best and brightest,” Petrie said. “He has impressed all of us with his organization, knowledge, preparation and commitment to the game.”

It’s a game Musselman has been around since birth. A career coach, Bill Musselman spent more than 30 years guiding teams in college and four pro leagues (NBA, CBA, WBA, ABA). Known as a fierce competitor who made a name for himself as a defensive-minded coach, he despised losing. He was quoted as saying, “Defeat is worse than death because you have to live with defeat.”

The younger Musselman quickly became enamored with the game. Just like his dad, Eric’s life revolved around basketball.

“When I woke up and was getting ready for school in fifth and sixth grade I wasn’t turning on the TV and watching cartoons, I was watching game tape,” he recalled. “When I came home from school I dropped my back pack and said, ‘Mom, take me to practice.’ I would sit and watch (my Dad’s team) practice. Any time you grow up in a household of a coach it’s in your blood, that’s what I knew.”

The two Musselmans, the only father-son combination to ever become head coaches in the NBA, spent the 1990-91 season together in the infancy of the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was Eric’s first NBA coaching experience, working for his father, who passed away in 2001. “My father was one of the best defensive coaches ever, so obviously I take a lot of his philosophies that way,” Eric said.

That’s good news for the Kings, who with the acquisition of Artest in January began adopting a more strict defensive philosophy. Musselman feels he learned a great deal from his father and also Fratello. But that doesn’t mean the Kings will drift totally away from being an up-tempo team.

“Eric comes with a defensive mindset, but he’s not afraid to juice his offense, either,” Petrie said. “When we look at going forward and trying to improve our team, both are important.” With a summer of preparation and a preseason to get the team steeped in his philosophy, the new-look Kings under Musselman might be cranking up the noise level at ARCO Arena even higher this season.

“I think we got one of the brilliant young minds in basketball with Eric Musselman,” Kings owner Joe Maloof said. “His preparation and attention to detail is something this organization needs. He brings a great attitude with the type of intensity and passion towards the game that we like. We’re extremely lucky to have him. I think the city will embrace him.”

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