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 Tuesday, this time into the head coach’s office.
A source close to the coaching search to replace Jeff Bzdelik confirmed today 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 tonight.
Reynolds has head coaching experience at Wingate University and North Carolina Wesleyan. In addition to Air Force, he has been an assistant at James Madison, Randolph-Macon College, Winthrop College, UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Greensboro and Tulane.
Reynolds, 50, an assistant with the Falcons the past two seasons, 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 resigned after a 50-16 record in two seasons to become the coach at the University of Colorado.
Once thought to be on his way to CU to join Bzdelik’s new coaching staff, 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.
Reynolds was at Bzdelik’s first practice at CU, but had not officially joined the staff.
Reynolds wasn’t available tonight for comment.
Bzdelik said today that he was close to completing his staff and “without question” had hoped to have Reynolds on his staff.
Mangino, an Air Force assistant the past seven seasons, was considered a leading candidate. He said over the weekend he was hopeful to be selected.
“I want this job,” Mangino said of the AFA post.
Kuhle has been an assistant for three seasons and a player at Air Force until graduating in 2004.
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
