Overcoming Adversity: Former Baylor Star Isaiah Austin Takes on Assistant Coaching Role at FAU
Isaiah Austin had no intention of becoming a coach. He now perceives it as his vocation.
The former Baylor big, whose aspirations to play in the NBA were dashed after learning he had Marfan syndrome in 2014, made his debut on Friday as an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic under new head coach John Jakus.
For the 7-foot-1 Austin, who has been working for the NBA instead of playing in the league for the past few years, this is his first true coaching opportunity. Since he and Jakus had been friends since their Baylor days, he was unable to decline the invitation to join the staff.
“I have a passion for giving and not receiving,” Austin said. “And this will give me an opportunity to give back to the game what it’s given to me. It’s kind of like a silver lining for my life right now.”
Austin is the third assistant that FAU has brought in to support Jakus, who was brought in last month to take over for Dusty May, who departed the Owls for Michigan after six years. Jordan Fee was recruited earlier this week, and Todd Abernethy was kept on for a sixth season. After spending seven seasons at Division II power Nova Southeastern, which is only a few miles south of FAU, Fee returned to South Florida and finished 32-3 this season at Gannon.
Similar to Austin, Fee claimed that Jakus made turning down the offer impossible.
“Coach Jakus is one of the best human beings I know, in addition to being a phenomenal basketball coach,” Fee said.
Jakus shares a similar opinion on Austin as well because he has a track record of overcoming obstacles. Despite being blind in his right eye from a dunk injury sustained in middle school, he was able to play collegiate basketball despite the fact that repeated surgeries were unable to repair the detached retina and preserve his vision. The Marfan diagnosis prevented him from being selected by an NBA team, but he eventually made a comeback to the court.
Austin was chosen by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to join the organization. After Austin retired from international competition in 2016, he actually took him up on that. Austin was cleared to play again in 2016. He intends to play in Ice Cube’s BIG3 league this year. He still does.
“It was an honor for me to be with him as a player when I was on staff at Baylor,” Jakus said. “He was every bit a lottery pick, but for health reasons, it didn’t work out. Through that process, he became more than a player for me. One of the most important people in my career. He spent the last few years working with Adam Silver and the NBA. It is a complete honor for him to join our staff.”
If any Owls want to test their mettle against a guy who could have been making millions in the NBA, Austin is still in good enough shape to play. He claims he has leaned on his faith, his wife, and his family to get through difficult times, therefore he is not upset about how things ended out.
Jakus was also heavily involved in that.Austin said.
“He’s just been a man who’s constantly been there for me,” Austin said. “Highs and lows. It doesn’t matter. It’s not basketball. He cares about me as a human and as a man. He always encourages me to be a great husband, to be a great father, be a great friend, a great son. So, it was an emotional day when he called me to ask me to come join him out here.”