Willis Wilson/Rice

[50's PONY]

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HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Sports

July 7, 2004, 1:25AM



Get while the getting's good, Willis
By JOHN P. LOPEZ
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
He certainly doesn't carry the basketball legend of a Mike Krzyzewski, but in most every other way — integrity, class, respect — the similarities are striking.


That's why it has been more than curious the way Rice administrators have not exactly been screaming from the highest bell tower in support of basketball coach Willis Wilson.

Compared to Krzyzewski's wooing by the Los Angeles Lakers, Wilson's place among the favorites to replace Jim O'Brien at Ohio State has flown so low under the radar that Wilson's heels are essentially clipping treetops.

This tells us a couple of things, neither of which Wilson, a fine man who runs a clean and proficient program, should forget.

If he doesn't get this job, Wilson should run like heck to the next opening that suits him.

And if he doesn't win again next season, he should watch his back.


Uphill battle at Rice
Clearly, the Owls' success in baseball and the so-called minor sports on the conference and national level has some believing the basketball program should be a perennial national contender as well.

There's nothing wrong with great expectations, of course. Rice athletic director Bobby May has done a nice job elevating prospects on most fronts, and Wilson has those hopes as much as anyone over on University Drive.

He just doesn't have the means. Wilson's is perhaps the toughest of all jobs within the Rice athletic department. He operates a flagship program in an antiquated field house with comparable recruiting disadvantages.

There are, of course, the usual academic requirements, which most graduation-rate studies — including the recent McKinsey report on Rice athletics — say are traditionally tougher for basketball recruits to meet than other athletes.

Wilson also faces recruiting battles against many more in- and out-of-state schools than coaches in other sports.


Promises, promises
In football, Ken Hatfield has carved out competitive teams and a comfortable existence by culling the best available recruits in the state's most popular and recruiting-rich men's sport. In baseball, Wayne Graham has built a monster, thanks to his coaching talents and a beautiful facility in Reckling Park.

Wilson, a Rice alumnus, has merely pieced together a good program despite being dealt a bad hand that has become only marginally better during his 12-year tenure. Last season, the Owls finished 22-11 and earned a National Invitation Tournament bid. The year before, Wilson's Owls won 19 games.

Rice administrators have promised a much-needed all-purpose facility on campus in the wake of the Owls' recent renewed commitment to sports, but that doesn't guarantee anything for Wilson.

Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger, who met with Wilson last week about the vacant Buckeyes job, has recognized what Wilson has done despite it all. Like most of Wilson's coaching peers, Geiger views Wilson as a quality teacher operating in the equivalent of an outdated schoolhouse.

On Tuesday, Wilson flew to Ohio for a second interview with Geiger and is apparently a finalist for the job with Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings.

Just imagine, Geiger is thinking, what Wilson could do with Ohio State's facilities, recruiting prospects and Big Ten lure. Sure, the Buckeyes are facing NCAA sanctions after O'Brien's alleged payments to a recruit and academic fraud charges, but that might only help Wilson's cause.

Wilson is widely respected for having a clean NCAA record, posting nice graduation rates and making the most of talent. Just last season, the Owls were a tough opponent despite physical shortcomings. They often used three guards on the floor, playing the 6-4 Jason McKrieth at small forward, and also used the undersized Michael Harris (6-6) at power forward.

In comparison to the Buckeyes' opinion of what Wilson could do for their program, the best May could muster when OSU granted Wilson his first interview was a halfhearted commitment to keeping him.

"If somebody has an interest in your coach," May told the Chronicle last week, "I'm not sure if you can stop them if you wanted to."

Wilson was not commenting Tuesday on the Ohio State job or May's response to the Buckeyes' interest, but a source close to Wilson said he was not exactly reassured by May's words.

Another source said May already has his eye on Sam Houston State coach Bob Marlin as Wilson's replacement. That doesn't exactly sound as if the Owls are willing to go the extra mile to keep their man.

It sounds more like the Owls see in Wilson a coach who has had a long time to lift a program to greatness but fallen short despite excellence in every other facet of the department.

What Ohio State sees is a talented coach who has done a lot with a little.

It's all more than just a little curious, especially at a university that prides itself on producing alumni exactly like Wilson — part of the family, professional, successful and a man of great integrity.

Wilson might not get the Buckeyes' gig, but he should get the message. Get out. As quickly as possible.


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john.lopez@chron.com


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HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Sports
This article is: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2666623

[EP Pony Fan]

The WAC (and then CUSA) will be better off if Coach Wilson stays at Rice. He's a very good coach and a class act all the way. I met him at a Rice/UTEP game a few years ago, and he's a very impressive man. I'm sure the Xavier guy is a good coach, but Ohio State might regret not going harder after Wilson. Good man, good coach.

[Dirty Bird]

Yeah, and a guy who's still 3 games under .500 for his career, and hasn't averaged more than 13 wins a season.
Ohio State would've rued the day.
He makes Dement look like John Wooden.