Citing a need to pump new life into the Air Force men’s basketball program, athletic director Hans Mueh announced Wednesday that coach Jeff Reynolds was dismissed.
Reynolds’ top assistant, Dave Pilipovich, takes over the Falcons on an interim basis.
Air Force is 11-10 overall and 1-6 in the Mountain West.
Reynolds was in his fifth season and had a 63-82 record. Mueh said his decision to fire Reynolds wasn’t based entirely on Reynolds’ record.
“It wasn’t just a slide in wins and losses,” Mueh said. “It also was a slide in the look in the players’ eyes. They weren’t having fun playing this game anymore. And when it isn’t fun playing a game that you love, it’s time to make a change. I want the players to smile. I want them to jump up and give high-fives. I want them to give it their best shot, and whatever happens, happens.”
Reynolds issued a statement through the AFA sports information office. “While I’m saddened and disappointed with the decision, I do think our staff did many good things,” he said.
Senior forward Taylor Stewart said the players talked to Mueh on Tuesday night, in a meeting he initiated, about their unhappiness.
“It was ultimately his decision,” Stewart said. “But I think that we thought there needed to be a change. I think we kind of lost the fun of playing basketball.”
Mueh said there weren’t any specific occurrences that led to Reynolds’ firing. The Falcons have lost six consecutive conference games, including an 81-42 blowout by New Mexico on Jan. 31 that was their biggest losing margin ever at Clune Arena. In a 67-49 loss Saturday at Colorado State, Reynolds drew two technical fouls and was ejected.
Reynolds took over the program after four prominent seasons under coaches Joe Scott, Chris Mooney and Jeff Bzdelik. In the four-year span, the Falcons were 90-35, made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament and one appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. When Bzdelik left to coach at Colorado, Reynolds was a surprise hire. Reynolds already had announced he was joining Bzdelik’s staff at CU and had moved into an office there.
After a 16-14 first season, Reynolds wasn’t able to lead the Falcons back to prominence.
Air Force fans grew impatient with the pace of the program under Reynolds, who has two years left on his contract. His buyout will be about $800,000, according to The Gazette of Colorado Springs.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
