Jeff Reynolds cleaned out his desk as an assistant basketball coach at the Air Force Academy a couple of weeks ago, but he will move back in today, this time into the head coach’s office.
A source close to the coaching search to replace Jeff Bzdelik confirmed Monday that Reynolds will become Air Force’s seventh men’s basketball coach and fourth in five seasons.
The academy plans to make the official announcement this morning. Athletic director Hans Mueh did not return calls Monday night.
Reynolds, who wasn’t available Monday night for comment, has head coaching experience at Wingate University and North Carolina Wesleyan. In addition to Air Force, he has been an assistant at James Madison, Ran- dolph-Macon College, Winthrop College, UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Greensboro and Tulane.
Reynolds, 50, has been an assistant with the Falcons the past two seasons and provides Air Force the advantage of a coach who knows the Mountain West Conference and who is familiar with the basic offensive system the Falcons have used the past seven seasons.
With the loss of six seniors, including four starters, Reynolds faces a rebuilding job for the 2007-08 season.
Bzdelik said Monday he was close to completing his staff and “without question” had hoped to hire Reynolds.
However, Reynolds resurfaced at Air Force in somewhat of a surprise. Two other Air Force assistant coaches, Larry Mangino and A.J. Kuhle, were known to have applied, but Reynolds had not been mentioned.
Contacted Monday night, Kuhle said he was disappointed at not getting the job. He did not know Reynolds had applied.
“He’s a good coach and it’s time for Air Force to move on,” Kuhle said of Reynolds. “I’m interested in what’s best for the Air Force basketball program.”
Kuhle, an assistant for three seasons and a player at Air Force until graduating in 2004, said he had not talked to Reynolds.
Mangino, an Air Force assistant the past seven seasons, was considered a leading candidate. He said over the weekend he was hopeful of being selected.
“I want this job,” Mangino said of the AFA post.
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
