Jeff Bzdelik will continue to work at improving the Air Force men’s basketball team and won’t be rejoining the Nuggets.
AFA athletic director Hans Mueh confirmed Tuesday night that Nuggets coach George Karl had asked for permission to talk to Bzdelik about an assistant’s position. The coaches met Tuesday in Denver. But Mueh said Bzdelik told the Nuggets he is committed to staying at Air Force.
“Jeff told me that he told the Nuggets to not even get into discussions about money,” Mueh said. “He told them that he was staying here. I think our basketball is on solid ground.”
In his first season, Bzdelik led the Falcons to a 24-7 record and an NCAA Tournament berth. Bzdelik was the Nuggets’ coach from 2002-03 to midway through the 2004-05 season before being fired. He was 60-104 with the Nuggets.
Mueh said Bzdelik was given what amounted to about a 10 percent raise after last season. Mueh was notified of the Nuggets’ interest while on vacation, but academy officials kept him informed.
“He (Bzdelik) has built something here that will last, and I think he wants to hang around and see how it works out,” Mueh said. “No one has worked harder in recruiting and with the players he is bringing in and the players we have back from last season. We have an awesome future in basketball.”
