FALCONS SUFFER BIG LOSS

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Dec 8, 2007 | by JAKE SCHALLER

The first home-cooked meal Air Force men's basketball coach Jeff Reynolds ate upon arriving in Colorado Springs in 2005 was prepared by Donna Head.

Reynolds, who had been hired as an assistant by thencoach Jeff Bzdelik, had made the trip to the area from New Orleans, where he had been an assistant at Tulane. Reynolds' wife, Janet, had yet to move, so Head and her husband, Brig. Gen. James Head, invited Reynolds to their home.

"They knew I was going through a transitional time, and they reached out and provided me with a sense of friendship and made the transition very easy for my wife and I," Reynolds said. "And I'll never forget that."

Reynolds fought back tears Thursday while talking about Donna Head, 65, who died Monday morning after being struck by a car in a hit-andrun incident on academy grounds.

Players and coaches attended a service at the academy cemetery Friday. The players wrote a card to Gen. Head. And prior to this afternoon's game against Prairie View A&M at 4, there will be a moment of silence.

Jim Head was the Air Force basketball team's officer representative from 1999 through 2006, when he retired from teaching physics at the academy. But he has remained an integral part of the program as a key member of the Friends of Air Force Basketball booster group. His wife was considered one of the Falcons' biggest supporters.

The Heads often hosted the basketball team at their house for dinners and traveled to many of the road games -- including this year's preseason games in Canada.

"You look around on the road, and there she would be at the games," Reynolds said. "Win or lose, she was always there for us."

Air Force senior Adam Hood said, "We all knew and loved Mrs. Head," and senior Tim Anderson said Head "always had something encouraging and uplifting to say."

The tragedy has made oncourt struggles appear trivial. After winning their first five games of the season, the Falcons have lost four straight, their longest nonconference losing streak since the 2000-01 season.

"We lose a basketball game, and we think it's the end of the world," Reynolds said. "Gosh, what (Jim Head) is dealing with right now.. .. It certainly puts life in perspective."

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