‘Hinkie disciple’ Falk pursuing another career path at Barrack
RADNOR » Two months ago, Sports Illustrated published an online profile of Ben Falk, calling him, “a (Sam) Hinkie disciple, a 29-year-old basketball savant, an observant Orthodox Jew and the creator of one of the best basketball sites on the Internet.”
Then this in the story: “Is he content being the smartest man outside the NBA?”
Apparently not, as Falk recently was appointed the head boys basketball coach at Barrack Hebrew Academy.
Falk, who worked for the Portland Trail Blazers as basketball analytics manager from 2010 to 2014, then served as Vice President of Basketball Strategy under Sam Hinkie with the 76ers from 2014-2016, is looking forward to his new challenge at the Radnor school.
“I’ve told some of my former NBA colleagues that this might be the best high school coaching job to have,” Falk said. “You’ve got a bunch of kids who want to learn, and there’s no college recruiting and no pressure to ‘win run out of town.’”
Falk had served as a volunteer assistant coach to Barrack Hebrew head coach Jeremy Treatman in the past before devoting his full-time attention to developing his NBA websit, CleaningTheGlass. com, which lists thousands of subscribers including NBA front office personal and basketball coaches at all levels.
Treatman suggested Barrack Hebrew hire Falk as the Cougars’ boys hoops head coach, with Treatman moving over to the assistant spot.
“Ben has great ideas about implementing strategies and drills into practice, to go along with advanced professional film study that I would like to see incorporated in our team activities this year,” Treatman said. “I think he is terrific and the kids like him and he will make us better while first and foremost help foster a great experience for the kids. He made his mark in the NBA and he will do the same at Barrack.”
Falk, a native of Potomac, Md., has dual passions for numbers and basketball. He did not play basketball or get for his high school team. After trying out for the varsity as a senior at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, Falk was told by his coach that he was good enough for the team, but only as one of the last players on the bench.
This did not cool his passion for basketball, an affection so strong that as a ninth-grade student Falk designed, programmed and launched his own fantasy basketball game, building in rewards for defense and teamwork.
“When I was growing up, my favorite NBA player was Steve Blake,” Falk said. “I wanted to play like him, and want my teams to play like him: smart, tough, and team-first. Steve was actually on the Blazers when I first started with the team, so it was great that I got to root for him when I worked for a team as well.”
As a freshman at the University of Maryland in 2006, Falk worked as a volunteer for Dean Oliver, then the director of quantitative analysis for the Nuggets. Falk’s duties involved charting defensive plays; Oliver was impressed and recommended Falk when the Blazers called him asking about potential analytics hires.
Upon graduation from Maryland with a degree in economics, Falk joined the Blazers full time, as their basketball analytics manager, building internal scouting databases, managing statistics and presenting research and suggestions to head coach Terry Stotts.
Four years later, Hinkie hired Falk into the basketball strategy executive position.
“My most memorable experience during my time with the Sixers would probably be winning the lottery for Ben Simmons,” Falk said. “We felt pretty good at that point that we had the two foundational stars we were looking for.”
Falk, who lives in Philadelphia, is well-acquainted with local sports fans now.
“The passion of Sixers fans is incredible,” he said. “When I first came to Philly I talked with lifelong Philadelphia fans and they told me: wait until you see this city rooting for a good team. It’s like nothing else. And they’re right. I’m glad I get to see it now with the Sixers, but we saw it through the entire rebuild as fans stuck with us and were even enthusiastic about the plan we were following.”
A few months after Hinkie was dismissed from his position with the 76ers in 2016, Falk also departed and began to work on his website, which is billed as, “Working towards a clearer view of basketball decisions.”
A subscriber gets access to exclusive articles that are based on film breakdowns, evaluations of team transactions and scouting reports; an advanced statistics site with player and team profiles, in-depth game stats, and other tools; and a discussion forum with Falk and other subscribers.
As for Barrack Hebrew, the school is getting a head coach passionate about all facets, numerical and otherwise, about the game. And someone passionate about players, too.
“What I know Ben and Jeremy will bring to the table is the fact that they will take a vested interest in the growth of each team member,” Barrack Hebrew athletic director Justin Cooper said. “They will recognize individual worth and encourage personal and team goals. They will help develop not only basketball skills but life skills that build resilience.”