Washington Huskies Basketball: Shapiro In; Fortier, Shaw Out

With the additions of Raphael Chillious and T.J. Otzelberger, Lorenzo Romar’s coaching staff had begun to look pretty full. The bench will be cramped no longer, as longtime assistants Paul Fortier and Jim Shaw will be leaving the program, GoHuskies.com announced Wednesday morning.

In addition to Chillious and Otzelberger, the Huskies also added Daniel Shapiro. The former Sacramento Kings’ strength and conditioning coach will assume the same position at UW. He spent eight years in Sacramento, but, unlike the Kings, that wasn’t enough to keep him there. Shapiro will step into the role Matt Ludwig had been in since 2008.

Isaiah Thomas gave Gregg Bell his word of approval on Shapiro, after spending his first two NBA seasons with him.

"“I love that guy,” Thomas told me recently, after days of filling Shapiro in on the Huskies’ program. “He and I have worked together a lot. I’ve put hard work in with that guy.“I’m sorry to see him go – but I’m glad he’s a Husky.”"

It’s always a little upsetting to see two such familiar names and faces leaving a program, but it shows progress. It hasn’t been announced where Shaw or Fortier is headed, but both leave expecting to accept jobs elsewhere. If they move up in the coaching ranks, good for them and good for Romar. If not, the Huskies upgraded, regardless.

As Bell’s article states, Otzelberger will be the Huskies’ recruiting coordinator, while working on defense in the backcourt. Chillious will continue to work with the guards in his second stint at UW, while being more involved in player development. Brad Jackson’s role will be the same as last season as the head of game planning and scouting. He’ll also continue to work with the front court.

While some were calling for Romar’s head, not much attention was paid to his staff. Maybe a staff shakeup is exactly what the doctor ordered, as the Huskies most successful seasons have come under the highest thought-of coaching staffs Romar has had.