Editor’s note: In the past few weeks, five men’s Division I head basketball coaches have been hired at Front Range schools. For the third in a series of Q&As with the new coaches, The Denver Post sat down with Colorado State’s Tim Miles.
Denver Post: What was the biggest adjustment?
Tim Miles: To me, the most interesting thing was hiring a new staff. Now it’s finding out where are we with our team. Who’s in, who’s out. (Some departures are pending, in addition to Jason Smith, who is testing the NBA draft.)
DP: What is the biggest challenge facing this program?
TM: I think there have been times people look at CSU like we have limited resources. We don’t have things other teams have. But that’s why I’m here. We’ve always done more with less. Our greatest challenge is we’ve got more mountains than people. We have to do an extra-special job recruiting our region.
DP: What’s your coaching style? Do you work the referees for 40 minutes? Do you stomp up and down? Do you yank kids after one bad pass?
TM: I won’t yell at the refs as long as we are making shots. We have to establish our tone with our team early, our expectation whether it’s at practice or a game. There will be an adjustment period. There will be an acclimation. There will be an adjustment to contrasting coaching personalities. Some guys will get along with that. Some guys won’t.
DP: Do you have a mentor?
TM: I talk to a number of different guys on a regular basis. One is Mike Dunlap (a former Metro State head coach and current Nuggets assistant). My parents are always there for me. They are telling me who to play and who not to play. They are 81 and 78 years old, and Mom always wants us to rebound better.
DP: What’s your nonleague scheduling philosophy? Athletic director Paul Kowal-
czyk has said he wants to see the schedule upgraded. Will you pay to bring someone in for a home-and-home?
TM: I know where Paul wants to go. We’re not there today, but I expect to get there. As we move forward, our schedule will improve. Generally I’ll say I like marquee events. I also like having a certain amount of home games. You just have to be careful. We’re going to the Top of the World Tournament in Alaska, but I’m from Fargo, N.D.
DP: You would have rather come in for one of the Hawaii tournament years?
TM: Yes! But it’s a marquee event, and I’m looking forward to it.
DP: Have you had time to sit down with Jason Smith?
TM: We have here and there. He’s got work to do. He has 60 days to put himself in position to go there. He’s committed to the process, and I support that 100 percent. We’re going to have to play without Jason eventually. I’m prepared for that day. You don’t take a job or leave a job because of one player. Jason’s a great player.
DP: Can you go to mid-June without knowing (whether Smith will return)?
TM: I support him. That’s why I’m a coach. We still have to find a way to win.
DP: If he comes back, he’ll come back with a lot of feedback (from NBA coaches). How do you work further on his game?
TM: I plan to go down there (NBA predraft camp) with him. If he comes back, it will be great for Colorado State basketball. If he comes back, my job is to prepare him to be a higher pick.
DP: And if Jason doesn’t come back?
TM: No matter what, you are going to rely on those seniors like Stuart Creason and Tyler Smith. Those are the guys who have proven themselves.
DP: Do you recruit primarily out of high school or junior college?
TM: We take primarily high school or prep school and some jucos. We have to recruit the kid who can fit what we do. They will work their butts off.
DP: What has the reaction been in Fargo to your coming here?
TM: I hear from at least a dozen guys in Fargo who asked when we play at UNLV or want to come out to the Mountain West Tournament.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
