COACH ON THE COURT: Skye Ettin brings the ball up the court for Ivy Inn last Wednesday evening at the Community Park courts during opening night action in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Ettin, a former standout for Princeton High and The College of New Jersey and current assistant coach for the Princeton University men’s hoops program, scored a game-high 13 points to help Ivy Inn to a 41-37 win over Pediatric Therapy Solutions. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

As Skye Ettin took the court at Community Park for the Ivy Inn last Wednesday for opening night action in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, he was primed to apply lessons from his day job.

Ettin, a former standout for Princeton High and The College of New Jersey, worked the last year as the director of operations of the Princeton University men’s basketball program before being promoted earlier this month to assistant coach.

“I think I got a lot smarter; I see the game a ton better,” said Ettin. “It is just crazy now how things have changed when you are on the other side. I have learned a ton over the last year and I think that helped me a lot out here.”

Having not played in the summer league last season after competing in the league during high school and through his TCNJ career, Ettin was a little rusty in the early going last Wednesday as Ivy Inn battled Pediatric Therapy Solutions.

“I haven’t played as much as I did in college,” said Ettin, who led the University Radiology squad to a Summer League title in 2011.

“I wanted to get into the groove with these guys, they are all really smart players. It was great to be out here. It was a lot of fun, I try to play as much as I can.”

Displaying his court smarts and skill, Ettin ended up with a game-high 13 points as Ivy Inn pulled out a 41-37 victory over Pediatric Therapy Solutions.

“They shot well; I think it was a good first game for us to get our feet wet,” said Ettin. “But credit to them, they shot unbelievably, especially in the first half.”

Ettin has enjoyed getting his feet wet in coaching with the Princeton program under the tutelage of head coach Mitch Henderson.

“I learned a ton in the operations role, that is a really good role, especially getting started because you have your hand in everything. You are observing everything, you are watching everything.”

In Ettin’s view, everything is heading in the right direction for the Tigers. “I am really excited to keep going on with coach Henderson, this staff, and the team,” said Ettin, who is in the office by 8 a.m. on a daily basis and had calls to make after the Ivy Inn game with the recruiting trail heating up in July.

“We have got almost everybody coming back and we came so close last year. I am in a position where I can coach and try to help the guys develop as players and people.”

When he can get out of the office, Ettin is excited to take the court for Ivy Inn.

“I have known these guys a long time, it is a great group of guys,” said Ettin.

“Three of them, Bobby Davison, Shahid Abdul-Karim, and Mark Aziz, have all coached me at some point in my career at either TCNJ or PHS. It is a lot of fun to come out here and play with them.”