‘Our translator’: Quincy Acy enjoys transition from player to coach at Wichita State

In his first year in the college coaching realm, Wichita State assistant Quincy Acy has enjoyed the challenge of viewing basketball through a different lens.

The 33-year-old who last played in the NBA in 2019 still looks like he could suit up for a team with his chiseled, 6-foot-7 frame. He still has the mindset of a player but is finding a new use for the fiery passion that gave him his edge on the court.

That’s what has made Acy a valuable addition to Paul Mills’ first coaching staff at Wichita State.

“Every day is a new learning experience here,” Acy said. “Learning what it takes film-wise, how many hours you’ve got to pour into not just watching the games, but watching other teams and how they do things. It’s fun because it’s new to me. And I’m already hooked.”

Acy, who retired from his playing career in 2022, isn’t entirely new to coaching. After seven years in the NBA, Acy spent last year as a player development coach for the Texas Legends in the G-League.

When Mills was hired at WSU last spring, his mind instantly raced to the prospect of adding Acy, who played his college career at Baylor when Mills was an assistant coach under Scott Drew.

What Acy lacked in experience, Mills believed he would more than make up for with his passion for the game and the ability to relate to college players with his age and NBA reputation. Acy provides the valuable perspective of a player, which Mills has leaned on during this season to help with terminology to use with the WSU players.

“I’d almost call him like our translator,” Mills said. “Before we present things to the players, he’ll say, ‘Well, I don’t think they’ll understand that.’ And he’ll come up with something that the guys will better understand. That has helped us immensely in regards to our communication. He helps get us all on the same page, using the same terminology.”

Acy has been credited for the rapid development of WSU big man Quincy Ballard, who has enjoyed a historic breakout season. The 6-foot-11 junior is averaging 7.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. His 71.4% field-goal percentage is on pace to shatter the school record.

While most coaches have to show film or describe what they want to see from players, Acy has the ability to take the court and show the players exactly what he wants during a drill or set. Ballard has said Acy’s hands-on approach and passion have helped him take off this season.

“He’s like the Drake lyric, ‘0 to 100 real quick.’ That’s him,” Mills said with a laugh. “He can get to 100 real quick and he can still get out there and handle his own. But there are times where we have to try to dial back some of his competitiveness. He’s got children now that we need to be mindful of.”

That competitive fire sometimes gets the best of him, like when Acy was whistled for a technical foul in Sunday’s loss to Temple, but it is also what endeared him to his coaches.

Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang, another former Baylor assistant, raved about Acy’s potential as a coach due to his leadership.

“He’s arguably the best leader I’ve ever been around,” Tang said. “He led by example for us, then he also learned how to say the right things at the right times. I’ll always remember being down 14 in the second half at Texas and him huddling our guys together and looking at them and saying, ‘Fellas, we’re getting pushed around out there. I know we’re not soft. We’ve worked too hard. We’ve got to go out there and be who we are.’

“And then Quincy proceeded to grab every rebound, score every bucket and make every free throw. He did everything we needed to do to win that game.”

Acy, who finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds in that 77-72 win over Texas, cracked a smile when relayed Tang pinpointed that game as an example of his leadership. That senior year shaped the leader he has become.

“I made up my mind at the beginning of that year,” Acy said. “I was going to lift weights, shoot in the gym after practice, go to church on Sundays and no going out. I stayed true to my goals and it paid dividends. When you’re the one guy who is relentless in everything he’s doing, it becomes contagious.”

The biggest learning curve for Acy in his transition from player to coach has been to understand not everyone is wired the same way as him.

It’s been a challenging season, as WSU finds itself tied for last place in the American Athletic Conference entering Wednesday’s 7 p.m. game at UAB.

“Kevin Garnett has talked about it before, once he realized this guy I’m working out with doesn’t want it as bad as I do, it’s hard for me to understand,” Acy said. “But you’ve got to check your ego. My time is over. How can I figure out a way to reach these guys? It’s in each and every one of them. We can beat a good team like SMU, there’s no reason we should be losing to bottom teams like Temple. It’s in us, we’ve just got to find a way to pry it out of these guys.”

Wichita State at UAB basketball preview

Records: WSU 11-17, 3-12 AAC; UAB 18-19, 10-4 AAC

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Bartow Arena, Birmingham, Ala.

How to watch: ESPN+

Radio: KEYN, 103.7-FM (Mike Kennedy with Bob Hull)

KenPom says: UAB 77, WSU 70

Series history: WSU leads 4-0 (1-0 in Birmingham)