AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Saying he had not considered another candidate, Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh elevated Dave Pilipovich to the permanent position of head coach of the men’s basketball program Saturday before the Falcons played Colorado State in the regular-season finale.
“I know I haven’t made a mistake,” Mueh said “I’ve watched him work, and I’ve seen how our players have responded to him.”
The financial part isn’t yet finalized, but it will be a three-year contract for Pilipovich, who took the reins Feb. 8 after Jeff Reynolds was fired while working in his fifth season. Pilipovich had been an assistant on Reynolds’ staff all five years. The Falcons were 2-4 in Pilipovich’s term as interim head coach before losing 75-65 Saturday to CSU.
Mueh said a major factor in his decision was the makeup of Air Force’s 2011-12 team. Only two seniors were suited up Saturday, but neither played more than five minutes. Mueh explained he didn’t want to start over with a new coaching staff with the number of young players returning next year. After Reynolds was dismissed, Mueh said he received a large number of inquiries about the vacancy but had not talked to any of them.
“I’m not a shopper,” Mueh said. “I didn’t want to go through a coaching search. We have the right coach.”
Pilipovich said he was surprised that the decision was made before the season was completed.
“We were just doing our job and hoping we’d be back,” Pilipovich said.
Pilipovich has been in coaching for 25 years. He’s entering his first assignment as a head coach.
