Air Force Academy athletic director Hans Mueh said Saturday that University of Colorado officials have breached an agreement not to talk to coach Jeff Bzdelik about the CU job until after the Falcons have completed their season.
Mueh said he wasn’t sure if the contact came directly from Colorado AD Mike Bohn.
“I can’t verify who it was, but somebody on behalf of the University of Colorado contacted our basketball coach,” Mueh said. “I’m guessing a lot of universities use third parties or search committees.”
Bzdelik is in New York with his 26-8 team in preparation for its game Tuesday night against Clemson in the NIT semifinals. He didn’t return calls, but he has told the media on several occasions he has not been contacted by anyone and wasn’t open to contact until the season has ended.
“I’m disappointed they have contacted my coach while we’re still playing,” Mueh said. “That goes outside of the understanding I thought we had. I thought we had an agreement that they wouldn’t make contact until after the season.”
Mueh acknowledged more than a week ago that Bohn had contacted him for permission to talk to Bzdelik. Mueh agreed – as long as it was after the season.
Bohn said last week no formal interviews have been conducted with Bzdelik and said previously that none would be conducted until coaches complete their seasons.
With Denver and Colorado State having filled their basketball vacancies, CU fans are growing increasingly anxious about when CU’s turn might come.
Bohn says not to worry.
“The search is going fine,” Bohn said last week. “Everybody wants to put us on a timeline. We’re very comfortable with where we are in the process.
“Our alumni and fans have been more than patient. But we feel good where we are.”
In response to fans who wonder if CU has a Plan B in case the No. 1 candidate turns down an offer, Bohn said: “Obviously in any search you always have contingency plans because you never know what’s going to happen during any step of the way.”
CU fans can probably strike New Mexico State’s Reggie Theus off their list. He reportedly has a $550,000 buyout clause in his contract. And he has a talented roster returning next season, including top-20 prospect Herb Pope from Aliquippa, Pa.
