AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Maybe Jeff Reynolds should have taped his exit speech when he thought he was leaving the Air Force Academy to be an assistant coach on Jeff Bzdelik’s staff at Colorado.
It might come in handy as an entry speech if he ever applies for another coaching job.
Reynolds recalled this week that he and athletic director Hans Mueh were wishing each other well when Mueh asked him what kind of coach the academy should look for.
“I already was wearing black and gold and was just turning in some of the equipment at Air Force,” Reynolds said. “It was kind of on the fly, but I said the most important thing was to get a coach who wanted to be at Air Force.”
Reynolds didn’t think about it, but he was describing himself. Five days later, he was offered his first head-coaching job after 25 years in the business.
As expected, the Falcons have dipped this season but have stayed above .500 and are 13-12 going into Saturday’s game at Colorado State. A split in the final four regular- season games would clinch a winning record for the fifth consecutive season.
“I’m not sure that having a winning season would make our season a success,” Reynolds said. “I think people in the community had expectations that we’d win 20 games.”
Reynolds believes his team has maintained the competitive level of those from the past four years. But inconsistency has let several games slip away.
However, each time the Falcons seem to be fading, they’ve been able to regroup.
“It has been a balancing act for us,” Reynolds said. “I’ve told our players not to get too high or too low, but just stay the course. There have been losses when we all have been really down, but they find a way to rejuvenate. They rejuvenate me, too.”
Junior Andrew Henke, who averaged 13.7 minutes in 33 games last year, said Reynolds wasn’t on the players’ minds when they awaited word about their new coach.
“It surprised us a little bit, but we’ve bought into it,” said Henke, who has not started this season but is the second- leading scorer (10.7). “Coach Reynolds works hard and he brings a lot of energy to our team. There’s an adjusting period to everything, but there’s an advantage to adjusting to different styles of coaching.”
Reynolds entered the season with an inexperienced group, except for guard Tim Anderson. Anderson was a starter last season on a team that featured four seniors: Jacob Burtschi, Dan Nwaelele, Matt McCraw and Nick Welch. Those starters averaged 31.4 minutes in a school- best 26-9 season.
Anderson is leading the team this season, with team highs in scoring (14.5), assists (67) and steals (48). Reynolds has used the same starting lineup in every game, but all 15 players have made it onto the court this season.
“I knew there was going to be a dip in our record no matter whether (John) Wooden or (Dean) Smith was coaching,” Reynolds said. “I work out of fear of failure. And I knew the expectations of the academy and our fans were going to be high.”
Reynolds has no regrets about coming back through the door at Air Force.
“This is the second-best place I’ve ever lived,” Reynolds said. “I’m a beach person, so I liked Wilmington, N.C. I like the weather, the cleanliness and the friendliness of the community.”
He’s a typical coach. After filling his day off Sunday by watching tape of three games and taking a 4-mile run, Reynolds took his wife, Janet, out for a Valentine Day’s dinner . . . three days late.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
