Stability bridges AFA, new coach

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 24, 2005 | by DAN WOLKEN THE GAZETTE

Over the past 28 years, Jeff Bzdelik has learned to accept the realities of the coaching business. Here today, gone tomorrow isn't a clich when it's a way of life.

Last December, it was a reality Bzdelik had to face when he was fired after a disappointing start with the Denver Nuggets.

Just a 30-minute drive south of Bzdelik's house in suburban Denver, the Air Force men's basketball program was learning the same lesson, but from the opposite angle. On May 5, the Falcons began looking for their third coach in 13 months after Chris Mooney left unexpectedly for Richmond.

Both searching for stability, Bzdelik and Air Force found each other. At least that was the theme Monday at Bzdelik's first news conference as Falcons coach, five days after agreeing to a five- year contract.

"I don't want to go anywhere unless they throw me out of here," Bzdelik, 52, said. "Anybody who knows me knows my family is so important to me. This is a very important time in their lives and we're going to stay here."

The idea that Bzdelik, an NBA Coach of the Year candidate two seasons ago, would be a match for Air Force, a moribund program until 2003-04, might not seem obvious. Even senior associate athletic director Mike Saks said jokingly that when Bzdelik called, he figured it was to recommend somebody else for the job.

But beneath the surface, Bzdelik, who hasn't coached a college game in 17 years, said there was a bigger consideration than getting a job in the NBA. Even after getting fired from the Nuggets, Bzdelik was trying to figure out how he could get another job without moving his children.

"I've had great admiration for this place for a long, long time. I have so much respect for the academies and in particular this one," Bzdelik said. "My children are 13 and 16. They don't have to move. They can continue with their high school. To me it's also a great environment for the family. What Joe (Scott) and Chris (Mooney) have started, they put a foundation here in place that we feel we can build on. To me it's just a wonderful opportunity and I'm very grateful and thankful."

Now that Bzdelik has achieved continuity in his personal life, his attention will turn to maintaining Air Force's progress.

That will encompass not only guiding a team that will be a favorite to win the Mountain West Conference next season but also recruiting, something he hasn't done since 1988, when he was at Maryland-Baltimore County.

"I think I've done a great job of making sure I've never lost contact (with the recruiting world) even though it's been 18 years with those various coaches," Bzdelik said. "I love to talk basketball and when we'd go to play Seattle, for instance, I always made sure I picked up the phone and called people. Now there are high school players entering the draft so... it's not separated as much as you would think. I don't think I'll be that out of touch and my staff will be able to open a lot of doors for me."

Bzdelik's staff could come together as early as today. He hinted that assistant Larry Mangino would be retained. Major Jon Jordan, who is retiring from Air Force, has been extended an offer to remain, but Bzdelik wasn't optimistic Jordan would take it. Metro State assistant Derrick Clark confirmed he'll be joining the staff.

Former assistants Mike McKee and Kevin Mcgeehan have joined Mooney's staff in Richmond.

Meanwhile, Bzdelik is meeting individually with players, which he already had some familiarity with from attending some practices and games this past winter.

"He wants us to be in great shape, to be in the best shape of our life and to get stronger," forward Nick Welch said. "He stressed being physical, being tough, getting into guys and to do that it's going to take an unbelievable effort during the summer to get in shape and to be strong physically."

Bzdelik said one of his priorities will be improving the defense, which has ranked highly in points allowed but not in defensive field goal percentage. He said he doesn't plan on tinkering too much with the offense, which is a Princeton-style system.

"Whether or not it's pure Princeton offense or Air Force offense didn't matter to us because it was Jeff Bzdelik," athletic director Hans Mueh said. "He has a great history of preparing teams for any kind of competition and doing the legwork on accessing talent and scouting that we thought we can't pass this up. It was too good an opportunity."

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0258 or dwolken@gazette.com

THE BZDELIK FILE

1978-80: Assistant, Davidson

1980-86: Assistant, Northwestern

1986-88: Coach, Maryland-Baltimore County (25-31 record)

1988-94: Assistant, Washington Bullets (top assistant, 1993-94)

1994-95: Lead scout, New York Knicks

1995-2001: Assistant, Miami Heat (also director of scouting, 1999- 2001)

2001-02: Scout, Denver Nuggets

2002-04: Coach, Denver Nuggets (73-119 record)

2005: Hired at Air Force