Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Ryan Schmidt has been making waves in the NBA with his impressive defensive transformation of the team. Under his guidance, the Hawks have improved their defensive rating from 19th to 9th in the league. This is a significant achievement, considering the team's roster transformation, which included the trade of guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. Despite this, the Hawks have managed to maintain a strong defense, with Jalen Johnson emerging as a star-level player. Schmidt's defensive scheme has been instrumental in this success, and he has been actively recruited by Hawks head coach Quin Snyder to join his coaching staff. Schmidt's experience as an assistant coach on Jerry Stackhouse's successful Raptors 905 coaching staff has also been beneficial in his role with the Hawks. He has been the primary player development coach for young players like Zaccharie Risacher, who has struggled in his first two NBA seasons. While Schmidt's track record on player development is debatable, his experience as a head coach in the NBA G-League has given him valuable insight into developing young players. The Hawks' defensive transformation is a testament to Schmidt's skills as a coach, and he is likely to continue playing a key role in the team's success.