Boulder – Jeff Bzdelik was announced as the Colorado men’s basketball head coach this morning at a news conference here, ending the Buffaloes’ five-month search for a coach to replace Ricardo Patton.
Bzdelik, 54, left the Air Force program after two seasons and two postseason tournaments. The Buffaloes went 7-20 last season and had nine freshmen on the roster.
Bzdelik’s schedule today includes throwing out the first pitch at the Rockies game and then a pep rally at Smiley Middle School in Denver.
Bzdelik’s decision late Tuesday night capped a roller-coaster day during which he met with Air Force officials and players at the academy while pondering whether to accept CU’s offer.
Air Force called an afternoon news conference to discuss its plans for its third coaching search in four years.
Bzdelik, who signed a five-year AFA extension after last season, was making $331,000 in base salary and $425,000 total with bonuses. CU paid Patton $750,000 last season. Patton announced Oct. 25 he would not return to coach after this past season.
Mueh said Bzdelik’s contract at Air Force has a buyout clause of $270,000.
Bzdelik went 50-16 in two seasons at Air Force, including a trip to the NCAA Tournament last year and advancing to the semifinals of the NIT last week.
Before coming to Air Force, Bzdelik coached the Nuggets for nearly 2-1/2 seasons before being fired 28 games into the 2004-05 season. He was 73-119 with the Nuggets.
