Christian elevated to role as assistant NBA coach

After leading the Capital City Go-Go to a 25-25 record in its inaugural season, New Kent native Jarell Christian has been elevated to the position of assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. The announcement came as part of an Aug. 1 press release from the organization.

Christian, who has been coaching for 10 years, spent stints coaching at the collegiate level and NBA Development/G League. Stops for the 2004 graduate of New Kent High School include Emory and Henry University as both a player and a coach, Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Oklahoma City as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue, and Washington D.C. as the head coach of Capital City Go-Go.

An Aug. 1 interview with Christian provided advice to both student-athletes and those who seek jobs in any profession that they desire.

“The biggest thing that I think can help people is the understanding of the ‘be patient’ phrase as it relates to the professional world,” he said in the Thursday night interview. “While you’re being patient, you still have to work at your craft and you still have to grow both personally and professionally.

“As long as you are getting better each year, really focusing on improving yourself and those around you, good opportunities will find you,” Christian continued. “When people find passion in what they are doing, the final product is usually something special. I always encourage my players to embrace the challenges and adversities of life.

“Don’t get discouraged, but yet find ways to persevere and be better as a result of those challenges,” he concluded.