Jeff Bzdelik is taking over the head coaching duties at the Air Force Academy, and the Falcons’ players hope the former Nuggets coach will give the men’s basketball program a fresh start.
Bzdelik, 52, agreed to a five-year contract to replace Chris Mooney, who left the academy for a job with the University of Richmond after one year as head coach.
“We’re excited about this because we think Jeff Bzdelik is a great fit for our program,” said Brad DeAustin, vice athletic director. “Jeff is a person who comes here with a lot of pluses on his résumé. We received very high recommendations from various people on his work ethic.”
Neither Bzdelik nor athletic director Hans Mueh was available for comment, but both are expected to attend a news conference Monday at Air Force. Mueh is attending an NCAA sports function, and Bzdelik has been tending to a family illness.
“He really has had to concentrate on things that are more important than basketball,” DeAustin said of Bzdelik’s absence.
Warren LeGarie, Bzdelik’s agent, said his client’s desire to stay in the Denver area was a major factor in his decision.
“Jeff had (NBA) lead assistant offers weighing in,” LeGarie said. “It was something he labored over, but at this point in his life and with his family circumstances, he and his wife felt it was the best thing to do.”
Air Force players are hoping for a fresh approach and some stability. Just a year ago, coach Joe Scott resigned after four seasons to take the head coaching job at Princeton. And Mooney stayed for just one season. Scott and Mooney have strong ties to the Princeton basketball program and had built Air Force’s program around the Princeton offense.
Scott’s last Falcons team was 22-7, won the Mountain West Conference regular-season title and earned an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time in 42 years. Mooney’s team this past season was 18-12, but failed to land a postseason berth.
“We had two coaches leave us in a year,” junior forward Antoine Hood said. “Best wishes to coach Mooney, but I support our administration for going outside of the Princeton family that we have known.”
DeAustin said Bzdelik had indicated he would retain the Princeton offense as well as continue the emphasis on strong defensive play.
“We hear that he wants to push us harder than we’ve been pushed before and take us to the next level,” junior center Nick Welch said. “We don’t have any animosity for coach Mooney, but we’d like to do some things next season to let him know what he left behind.”
With Hood and Welch among the leaders, Air Force is expected to be one of the top teams in the Mountain West. However, even with good records the past two years, the Falcons have yet to advance past the first round in the MWC Tournament.
Bzdelik joins the program after leading the Nuggets to one of the NBA’s most impressive turnarounds. Hired as head coach in 2002, Bzdelik’s Nuggets won just 17 games with an undertalented roster. After the addition of Carmelo Anthony, Bzdelik led the team to a 43-39 record and a playoff berth in 2003-04. He was fired Dec. 28 when the team started the season 13-15.
Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe issued a statement of support.
“He has a passion for working with young players and will be a great fit for Air Force,” Vandeweghe said.
DeAustin said Bzdelik wanted to talk with current Air Force assistant coaches Mike McKee, Larry Mangino and Kevin McGeehan in hopes of maintaining continuity.
However, Mooney said Wednesday that McKee and McGeehan would be joining him in Richmond.
Mangino, who came to the academy on Scott’s second staff, said he would like to stay at Air Force.
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
