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Woelk: Bzdelik stays firm to CU commitment
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Jeff Bzdelik isn't actively looking for another job. In the wake of rumors out of Chicago this week that his name is on the Bulls' wish list of coaching candidates, CU's hoops boss issued this statement Wednesday night:
"I am honored that one of the premier organizations in all of sport, the Chicago Bulls, would consider me as a candidate for their head coaching position. However, my staff and I remain deeply committed to re-establishing Colorado basketball as a consistent winner."
Good news for CU hoops fans, and no surprise, from all angles.
First, no one should wonder why the Bulls should have some interest in Bzdelik. He's a proven NBA coach, he knows the game and he knows the league. Remember -- Bzdelik took the Nuggets as far in the playoffs as George Karl has done since, and Bzdelik did it without Allen Iverson and Kenyon Martin.
Neither should anyone be surprised that Bzdelik appears to be remaining firm to his commitment to Colorado. Those who know him know that's the kind of man he is. When Bzdelik accepts a challenge -- and folks, building a winner at CU is as big as they come -- he's the type of guy who will likely see it through.
Since Day One, Bzdelik has displayed nothing but a firm resolution to building CU hoops. He's reiterated that commitment time and again,and CU has done its part to make sure the program is getting the support it needs.
New locker rooms and a new operations center have been completed. A new weight room is on the way, and a new floor has just been installed in the Coors Events Center. Meanwhile, plans for a dedicated basketball practice facility are ahead of schedule.
Bzdelik has seen that progress and knows that CU is holding up its end of the bargain.
Meanwhile, if you think money alone will lure Bzdelik away, here's something you need to know: On the very day he agreed to become CU's coach in 2007, the athletic director at another Division I school called.
That A.D. told Bzdelik that whatever Colorado was paying, he'd double it -- but he needed him to show up the next day for a press conference introducing him as that school's new coach.
Bzdelik said thanks but no thanks.
That being said, no one should be stunned -- or upset -- if the Bulls don't coax Bzdelik into at least listening if they are indeed interested.
You couldn't blame him.
Bzdelik is a Chicago guy. He was a ball-boy for the Bulls.
And, unlike other coaches who have recently made inquiries about greener pastures, it would not be a lateral move.
The Bulls position, quite simply, is one of the top 10 hoops jobs in the world. Storied franchise, major market and at least three times the salary Bzdelik is making today at CU.
How could you not listen?
But the bet here is that Bzdelik will be on the Coors Events Center floor when CU opens its season next fall.
Fact is, CU fans better get used to other programs and franchises showing an interest in Buff personnel.
It's not a bad thing.
CU has good people. When a program has good coaches and good administrators, other schools and franchises naturally become interested when they have an opening.
It's a far better alternative than having folks no one else wants, an issue that's been a problem far too often for CU in past years.
Dan Hawkins? At the end of last season, at least one high-profile BCS program checked to see if Hawk might not be interested in making a move -- and that wasn't the first school to check Hawk's availability.
Mike Bohn? Two high-level BCS conference schools have made direct inquiries concerning his interest level in the last six months.
But both men said no, even though the moves would have been considered a step up, both in salary and prestige.
Their reasoning? Both said they have an unfinished job in Boulder, and the mere process of even interviewing for another position would be a distraction that would only be a detriment to Colorado.
Those are the kind of people CU needs.
The fact that other people want them is a compliment.
The fact that they are still at CU is an indication of better days ahead.
Posted by shoulder2shoulder on May 29, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tallisal- "Dan Hawkins? At the end of last season, at least one high-profile BCS program checked to see if Hawk might not be interested in making a move -- and that wasn't the first school to check Hawk's availability."
Posted by GoBuffs07 on May 29, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't buy it. If the bulls offer him the job he's as good as gone
Posted by NJBuff on May 29, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Doug Collins will be the next coach of the Bulls.
CU fooball and hoops are on the rise and both coaches will be sought after - see Neill's article above. If we want success, we better get used to it.
Posted by SEColoBuffFan on May 29, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Doug Collins is the new coach...and Avery Johnson probably would have been offered next. Bzdelik can continue the process of getting CU hoops turned around.
Posted by ChicagoBuffsFan on May 29, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's Doug Collins, again.
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/977280...
Posted by baBUFF on May 29, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It was Nebraska, but Hawk declined so they went with Bo. His explanation was that the worst day as a Buff was still better than the best day as a Husker - ouch!
Posted by flabuff227 on May 29, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yea tal im sure hes just making that up.we all know that u would commit suicide if it were in fact true.
Posted by shoulder2shoulder on May 30, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tall- Both Nebraska and UCLA had a strong interest in Hawk!
Posted by JBuff on May 30, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Bugeaters suffered a 62-36 loss and a 65-51 loss to CU and they must have our coachs. We gave them Watson and now they want Hawk. Who do they want next year after we smoke them again?
Posted by BEL on May 30, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do so many people think that it is only about money or prestige. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Hawkins and Bzdelik are well compensated, and both of their families enjoy living in Colorado. Will making more money really increase their happiness? Eventually, one reaches a point where there are diminishing returns in the happiness quotient for every additional dollar earned. What I like about Hawkins and Bzdelik is that they seem to be motivated primarily by the challenge of rebuilding the CU football and basketball programs. I would be very surprised if either one voluntarily left CU before the job has been completed.
Posted by baBUFF on May 30, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The trend in college sports is to hire alums or coaches with a previous affiliation with the school in an effort to avoid having good coaches jump to a dream job at their alma mater or a bigger name program (e.g. Bob Huggins to WVU after 1 year at KSU, and Bo to Lincoln).
Bzdelik has history in Colorado, Bohn is from Boulder, and Hawk is a UC Davis alum (don't see him talking that job any time soon). I think CU has done a good job in it's hiring, but we should get used to other programs looking at our guys when they prove they are winners
Posted by baBUFF on May 30, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No source quoted, really? Quote Neill: "At the end of last season, at least one high-profile BCS program checked to see if Hawk might not be interested in making a move - and that wasn't the first school to check Hawk's availability." It's in this very article genius. He doesn't need a source if he has first-hand knowledge.
Or are you suggesting Neill made this up? What's more likely, that the story is fabricated or that you just can't handle the truth?
Posted by baBUFF on May 30, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So if it wasn't a headline story on ESPN then it didn't happen? When a coaching position opens up a school "checks" into many coaching candidates but they don't all end up splashed all over the news. If they did, we would know all the coaching candidates of every opening every year, but it just doesn't happen that way.
It's very possible to keep contact quiet if the parties prefer, I just think Stoops loves hearing his name mentioned for every position because it feeds his ego. Strange though that for as often as Stoops is mentioned for other jobs, no one ever hires the guy, wonder why that is?
tap, tap, tap...
Posted by extrapoint on June 2, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Speaking od Stoops....and nepotism.....how is that working out at AZ?
Gotta second BEL. I could double my income by leaving Colorado to another location where my kind of specialization is needed. I wouldnt go there if they tripled it. Location, location, location.
Why do you think Katie is full of all that bitterness and stress? The football team is just a symptom.
Tall
try wearing a steel cup next time and start thinking about finding a confidential battered husband's shelter.
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