Son’s big numbers ease Creighton coach’s stress

“You never know how a guy is going to transition into that freshman year,” Jacobson said. “Physically, Doug is going to get stronger as the years go by. He’s been around the game forever, he’s got some length, great timing. He’s a great player.”

Greg said he had no reservations about coaching his son.

“I was more curious than anything about what it would be like,” he said. “As college coaches, we don’t have the opportunity to coach Little League baseball and AAU basketball because we’re recruiting during those times of the year. It was a first for me and a first for Doug.”

To get an idea of what he was in for, Greg spoke with, among others, Dick Bennett, who coached son Tony at Wisconsin-Green Bay; John Beilein, who coached son Patrick at West Virginia; and Pat Knight, the Texas Tech coach who played for his father, Bob, at Indiana.

Greg said he made a pact with himself and Doug that he would treat Doug the same as any other player when it came to meetings, practices and games.

There are challenges, however. Greg said it’s difficult sometimes to shed his father’s role and deal with Doug solely as his coach.

“And then there also are some of the things that may take place in the locker room or away from basketball when Doug is with his teammates,” he said with a chuckle. “Maybe there are conversations going on about his dad, some of which Doug may agree with.”

Everyone who offered advice about coaching his son told him that their years together at Creighton would be rewarding.

“As much as it means to Doug and me now,” the coach said, “I think 10 years from now it will probably mean even more.”

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