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Air Force should hire A.J. Kuhle to replace Reynolds
February 8th, 2012, 3:14 pm · 27 Comments · posted by david ramsey
A. J. Kuhle should replace Jeff Reynolds as Air Force’s basketball coach. Kuhle, currently an assistant at the University of Denver, arrived at the academy in 2000 when the basketball program ranked among the worst in the nation.
When he departed in 2004, the Falcons were the reigning regular-season champs of the Mountain West and had delivered a severe scare to North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. Kuhle understands the work required to rescue a program from the depths.
And that’s where the Falcons again dwell. Air Force is 1-6 in the Mountain West this season and losers of 47 of its last 56 conference games. During Kuhle’s senior season, Clune Arena was a happy, loud, jammed destination. Now, Clune is quiet and empty. A devoted core of 1,500 fans have refused to quit on the Falcons, but most of those who traveled to Clune during the Falcons glory days of 2003-2007 have found other things to do on winter nights.
Reynolds never fit at Air Force. He was too focused on the restrictions and limitations. He couldn’t accept transfers. He couldn’t recruit international players. He had to find quality basketball players who were quality students. Oh, and by the way, these players also had to want to serve in the military.
Reynolds had his moments. He recruited Michael Lyons, one of the most gifted athletes in academy history. He lifted his team last season after the Falcons lost to crosstown rival Colorado College. This defeat was a catastrophe, and it seemed to doom Reynolds. He willed the Falcons to a 6-10 record in the Mountain West. It was his finest hour.
But he couldn’t sustain the momentum. This season’s Falcons are unfocused and playing well below the level of their talent.
The program needs someone who embraces the challenges. The program needs someone who understands how to overcome the restrictions. The program needs someone who believes a winner can be constructed despite all the reasons for doubt.
Kuhle, 29, is in the middle of another renovation project at Denver, and there’s no doubt the job is going well. When Kuhle arrived with former Air Force coach Joe Scott in 2007, the Pioneers were stumbling around in college basketball’s basement. DU had finished 4-25 the season before. It was ugly scenario, much as the Air Force scenario had been ugly in 2000.
On Saturday, DU defeated Middle Tennessee State at Magness Arena. Middle Tennessee had defeated UCLA (at UCLA) and boasted a 10-0 record in the Sun Belt Conference.
The victory pushed DU to a 17-7 record. A snoozing program has been awakened.
Here’s my favorite Kuhle moment from his Air Force career. It says everything about his approach to the game. During Kuhle’s senior season at Air Force, the Falcons traveled to Salt Lake to play Utah. The Utes had finished 115-26 in conference play over the previous decade. Air Force had finished 28-113 during the same time.
Kuhle made three straight 3-pointers to erase a 10-point Utah lead. He dropped these 3s while listening to the howling disapproval of Utah fans.
But it got better.
Late in the second half, Utah went inside to 6-foot-10 center Tim Frost, who rose for what at first seemed an uncontested dunk.
Kuhle swooped into the scene. Kuhle stands 6-foot-4, maybe.
Didn’t matter.
He blocked Frost’s dunk. Kuhle was flying above rim level as he saved Air Force’s victory, one of the biggest in the history of the program.
The next day, Kuhle acted as if the dunk was no big deal. That’s his style. He doesn’t get very excited about anything.
“I ultimately jumped higher than him,” he said of the block.
On that play, Kuhle trampled the odds. There was no way he could block Frost’s dunk, only he did.
Kuhle is the right choice. He understands the culture of the academy. He understands the challenges.
And he has a history of defeating all challenges.
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The current assistant coaches should be the ones to lead the team to the future. They recruited these players, know them, love them and survived the wrath of Coach Reynolds with the. They have EARNED the opportunity to guide these young men to success. They have been victims just as the players. No need to bring in a young guy who will just have to start at the bottom. Experience is what this team needs.
DITTO! A.J. is the PERFECT fit at this critical hour. Someone who knows what it takes to WIN with undersized players with a different offense – bring back “The Princeton”…It’ll be interesting to see how the players respond this Saturday on a nationally televised game…and how many extra fans will show up? WOW -
I’d love to see A.J. come back. I think he would consider it a dream job. Only problem is, dream jobs aren’t always what we hope. A.J. only has to look at Joe Scott’s return to Princeton to see that.
I think it is a good idea for the AFA to take its time and get the best coach possible, not the one David Ramsey likes.
AGREE!
YES to AJ!!!!
Whether it’s AJ or not, the next coaching staff needs to understand the strengths and challenges of being a cadet. Learn from your most successful coaches, and look for the same traits. It certainly helps to be a grad (Calhoun), but it’s not 100% necessary (Serratore).
Maybe AJ is the man. He is a former player, has been successful, knows the program, and understands cadet athletes. I think that a former player brings much toward leading the AFA Basketball Program. Look at Coach Calhoun and watch Coach K with the AFA baseball team this year! For the remainder of this year I hope that Dave P remembers a couple of things; our players need to have fun again and enjoy playing and they don’t need or deserve to be beat over the head and fussed at all the time. A good “pat on the butt” goes a long way. Sure, our Freshmen and even Juniors make mistakes, but it is not from the lack of trying!!!! Good luck Dave P; you have our support. GO FALCONS!!!!
Curtis – I, too, think it is a good idea for Air Force to take its time and get the best coach possible.
That’s why I suggested A.J.
Because he’s the best coach possible.
Falconlover- Do the assistant coaches escape all the blame for the team’s collapse in the past four seasons?
I say no. The assistants help construct this mess. They haven’t EARNED anything.
Falconlover, are you by any chance related to any of those assistants? Just wondering.
When Reynolds got his second “T” last Saturday in Fort Collins, who jumped out of their coaches chair and took over the team without hesitation? That’s right. Nobody did!! After a few very awkward minutes, it appeared Dave Pilipovich was willing to be the guy but that group of assistants clearly was unprepared for the situation thrust upon them. I say let them coach out the rest of the season, but the stench of this program’s demise needs to be powerwashed top to bottom. A new head coach deserves to hire his own staff and that’s what will happen in my opinion. Should that new coach choose to retain any of the current staff, so be it.
AJ Kuhle is conveniently located 50 miles North on I-25 but this program deserves a national search. Had AF not done that post Reggie Minton and hired an AF grad from his staff like say Dean Christian, we never would have heard of a guy named Joe Scott who proved the naysayers wrong by showing that the Air Force Academy can not only compete, but that it can win in men’s D-1 basketball.
David,
Yes, the assistant coaches share the blame here. Assistant coaches always do. Time will tell if Dave P and the remaining assistants can get this program back on track. I believe the players are up to the challenge they also face. This is a talented group of players. The game Saturday night will be interesting and there will be lots to be gathered from it. Hopefully, Dave P and the other assistant coaches will hear “loud and clear” what the players told Mueh abd coach accordingly!
If A.J. does not want to come coach under Hans’ “leadership” then perhaps a more seasoned coach — my pick would be Steve McClain the former Wyoming coach who is now the top assistant at the resurgent University of Indiana program.
Ultimately, Hans is responsible for this situation because he didn’t want to assert himself and conduct a real search when Jeff B left for Wake Forest. He passed over A.J. then w/o even an interview and McClain was available then as well. I thought that the technicals were the first sign of life from JR…after too many seasons of making us wonder if he even wanted to be here…
I might add that Jeff Bzdelik will likely be available at the end of the season — Wake is down by 30 to UVA tonight — so maybe Hans could just bring him back…it would probably be easier than conducting a real search. On the other hand, if Gen Gould went out to find a coach — I bet he’d be able to attract a very capable person to be a part of the already very impressive AFA team of coaches.
Al – Would be shocked – shocked! – to see Bzdelik back at Air Force. Don’t think he would want to come back. Don’t think Air Force would take him back.
Bzdelik’s exit from the academy was full of deception and deceit.
I don’t hear many positive words about Bzdelik at the academy.
Come to think of it, I don’t hear any positive words about Bzdelik.
:Ain’t” no way Bzdelik would be asked back. How soon we forget the cloud that he left under! Unfortunately he has been a loser ever since he left Lacks leadership and coaching is nothing more than leadership. Leaders take what they have and guide, develop, lead by example, show respect, help, develop pride, and get the team to buy in (and on and on)! This did not happen with Reynolds. Win and loss record did not cause Reynolds’ firing. Lack of the leadership qualities required of a coach of a major sport at the AFA were the downfall of Reynolds.
Bzdelik is a mercenary and a supreme opportunist.
Reynolds was a career assistant and his first foray as a head coach at the D-1 level was a dismal failure. Ineffective leader, poor communicator, terrible program manager, and even a poor “X’s and O’s” guy too.
Dave et al – I was joking about Bzdelik being asked back…however, I do think he’ll be available. Talk about ruining a strong program.
With that said, I don’t expect much from Hans in regard to finding a good replacement…someone else should lead the search…for instance, General Gould.
First- it would be great to see the community come together fir Sat Nights contest.
The pool of replacements should be asked two questions,
A) Will you complain every year how tough the MWC is to Coach in?
B) Will you devote your entire passion to promoting your players vs. Demoralizing and minimizing their talents by surpressing the play on the court?
I see these two answers as critical to the success of this program, as FG% and Defense. AJ obviously has the most ties to this Institution. But, come years end the pool will become much more clear for an opportunity of an Asst. Coach to Accept this unique position of loyal and structured athletes.
My problem with the current staff is they do not appear to improve player skills overtime. IE. I know Evan Washington could have improved as a perimeter shooter under the correct instruction, the same player came out of AF that came in. We need a Staff to focus on player development after they arrive. Please don’t confuse my example as a knock on Evan…its an example that these current coaches DO NOT make the players better. They had their chance. The program needs refreshment, similar to Angela with the Womens program. I think with AJ the fans and the players could rally behind the team again. Clune arena needs filled, we cannot expect to get fan base back without proper and COMPLETE flushing of the current system and Coaches. With that said, I could not be more excited for these young Men as they have endured much disappointment under JR. No need to rush this one…pick 10 Applicants and start the due diligence, that Mueh failed to execute in Vetting JR. Never Again….
Al – Sorry about that. Should have known you were kidding.
Ah, Buzzy. Such a con.
They definitely need to make a national search for their potential head coach. Not knocking AJ – he was a great player and may someday be able to coach at the Div I level as the head coach; but not sure he has the experience to do it at this time (I don’t know what he did during his 5 year military service, but he’s only 29 – so has probably only had a few years of coaching experience as an asst). AJ’s timing may not be right – and he’s learning from a good one at DU…Air Force owes it to their kids to bring in a proven guy w/ experience -
Some notes on comments above…
At CSU (I was there behind the bench)..Coach Pilipovich did stand up immediately and talk to the players…don’t know what you saw.
Careful what you wish for.. the Lady Falcons are still struggling with 9-22 last year and currently 5-18 (0-8) this year after injuries and loss of top guard at beginning of year who ‘didn’t want to play’ on this team anymore…I hope they continue to improve and next year should be a senior laden team.
Right now I am hoping for this team to come out with Coach P as the HC on Saturday and with the team firing on all cylinders. We will need to do a complete search for our new coach, whether it’s Coach P or another, but for right now we need to play ball, beat BSU and yell GO FALCONS.
I too am a little concerned about a 29 year old coach at the AFA with little coaching experience. AJ is a fine young man but think perhaps needs a little more “seasoning” before takes over a Division 1 MWC team. Gould/Mueh need to do a thorough/nationwide search for a BB coach here. Include Dave P and AJ in the list! We got to get it right this time! Right man/right staff/right stuff! I too am a little concerned about the women’s team. Too many turnovers and too many “blowout losses”. FPC makes a very valid point about men’s BB player development the past five years. Evan Washington is a prime example. A fine young man but not much improvement from Freshmen to Senior year in my opinion in BB skills and talent.
Thanks David for allowing us the opportunity to express/vent here ! Bottom Line, GO FALCONS!!
I just want Jim Arthur to quit asking, “What do you think the boys
learned from the loss tonight?” First off, you can learn when winning
as well. Second, ask, “What did you as a coach learn from the game
tonight?” Get a coach who will honestly address the game. I favor AJ,
but what about Mangino; is he a possibility? As to the assistants, we need to remember that Reynolds was on the bench and chosen for
the job. It doesn’t always work out, as we’ve seen. Having said that, let’s give our interim coach a chance.
Who is this Frederick Pamp who is responding to your other article? Sounds like a little dictator who thinks that all Air Force Academy cadets should be just be brought to attention when they first arrive, force taught nothing but military tactics for four years, and then go to war! Fortunately no one will listen to his nonsense and we will continue to develop well rounded Air Force leaders of tomorrow!
It’s very hard to win at the Academy in basketball, what have we done the last 50 years? Our only winning sport is football. Hockey doesn’t count they play D-III competition, argue with me all you want, its true look at their schedule. The Mountain West is a legit mid-major conference. I say you have to hire a new coach from outside the current staff to be competitive again, but its hard look at all of our other Mountain West teams. But I’m hopeful for a better future.
Agree 100% w/Ramsey – AJ is the best Candidate. Age is not an issue. to a 17-18 yr old kid a 30 yr old is ancient…might as well be 50…no difference to the kids.
I like your thinking!