In a month when basketball fans turn to madness, Joe Scott has come to his senses.
The new University of Denver coach, who left Air Force for Princeton in 2004, said he had nightmares over the move and was thrilled to have an opportunity to return to Colorado.
Scott, 41, was introduced as the Pioneers’ new coach Wednesday at Magness Arena. He succeeds Terry Carroll, who was removed March 3 after a lengthy leave of absence.
“You live and you learn,” Scott said of his decision to coach Princeton, his alma mater, after leading Air Force to the 2004 NCAA Tournament in just his fourth season at the academy. “It’s your heart talking. That process happened so fast, and it was my alma mater, and Pete Carril, my (former) coach, and where I played. And then we figure out, we liked it in Colorado. What you find out is, every gym looks the same.”
Scott’s success with DU might dictate which gym the Pioneers play in – the 7,200-seat Magness Arena or the attached 1,600-seat practice gym at the Ritchie Center. DU, 4-25 overall (3-15 in the Sun Belt Conference) this season, averaged 1,472 fans in 14 home games. Five of the games were played at the smaller gym.
By hiring Scott, who three years ago was considered one of the best young coaches in the country, the Pioneers appear serious about turning things around. DU, a private school, doesn’t typically reveal a coach’s contract, but athletic director Peg Bradley-Doppes said Scott signed a five-year deal.
“We are committed to being the premier basketball program in the Rocky Mountain region,” said Bradley-Doppes, who immediately repeated that sentence to underline her seriousness. “Right now, I think there are 22 Division I programs looking for a coach (and) many programs are looking for the next Joe Scott. We’re pleased to bring the original. He’s here. He’s back home. And he’s a Pioneer.”
Princeton went 11-17 (2-12 in the Ivy League) this season and 38-45 (18-24) in Scott’s three years as the Tigers’ coach. But Scott said he has prepared Princeton to do great things next season.
Air Force finished 12-16 (3-11 Mountain West Conference) in 2002-03, Scott’s third season with the Falcons, then improved to 22-7 (12-2) with an MWC title in what was Scott’s last season. The Falcons, who defeated DePaul 52-51 on Wednesday night in the NIT quarterfinals, now head to New York City with some of the players Scott recruited.
“I spent a lot of time talking to Princeton legacies, Pete Carril,” Bradley-Doppes said. “When Princeton brought him back, it was to build the program, just like he did at Air Force. This is not going to be a quick fix.”
Bradley-Doppes said DU would remain in the far-flung Sun Belt at least until the Pioneers conquer it and prove they deserve better. That sounds fine to Scott, the 2004 MWC coach of the year.
“Good teams are good teams, doesn’t matter what conference,” Scott said. “You make yourself as good as you can make yourself, and ultimately that’s what we’re going to do here.
“We’re going to make Denver into the best we can be. That means we’re going to be good at Denver, and we’re going to be good in the Sun Belt Conference.”
Joe Scott unveiled
Age: 41
Family: Wife, Leah, and two sons, ages 5 and 3.
Personal: Earned a law degree from Notre Dame in 1990 and worked in a New Jersey law firm before becoming an assistant coach at Monmouth.
Playing days highlights: Three-year starting guard at Princeton. … Scored 11.9 points per game in 1986-87 and earned second-team All-Ivy honors.
Coaching highlights: Coached teams to the nation’s best scoring defense the past four seasons. … In 2004, led Air Force to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 42 years. … In 2003, got the Falcons to their most wins in 13 years.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
