Joe Mazzulla already has an opportunity to become an assistant coach.
How did Tuell know that Mazzulla was a good fit for his staff? The story is hard to believe (
via WVIllustrated):
It was a cold, rainy night in Danville, Illinois, Tuell begins his story. The veteran coach was in town for the National Junior College Division-II Championship and found himself driving around in search of a McDonald’s while listening to the WVU-Clemson game on the radio. He found his golden arches, parked his car and tuned in to hear the Mountaineers beat the Tigers. Then he heard the postgame interview with Mazzulla.
“I thought, ‘Wow, this guy is all into coaching and he’s a bright kid and he’s a tough guy, ‘” says Tuell. “All the things that I’d like to have as an assistant coach I thought Joe embodied, at least from the short time I could tell on the radio. It was just an inspirational thing.”
Tuell was inspired to call Hahn in Morgantown once the Mountaineers’ season had ended and ask him to confirm his own beliefs about Mazzulla that had formed from one interview after an second-round win in the NCAA tournament.
“[Hahn] said, ‘I’ll tell you the truth, Gary, I think he’s a coaching superstar waiting to happen, ‘” Tuell recalls. “That’s all I needed to hear, because Billy’s been around a long time.”
While Tuell hasn’t be able to officially offer the job to Mazzulla as the Nova Southeastern has yet to officially post the position, the point guard isn’t certain that he’ll accept. He still might want to pursue a playing career.
“It’s a pretty good opportunity, but I don’t know if I’m ready to retire just yet, he says. It’s tough, especially with the competitive nature that I have. No matter how hurt [I am] or what the scenario is, I always try to play more and stuff like that. It’s something that I’ve thought about here and there but I’m really kind of letting the visit and the atmosphere of the university really gauge whether I want to do it or not.”
Mazzulla, who has the ability to start a playing career overseas, said he is talking to former teammates who have played professionally and his family before making a decision.
If (or when) Mazzulla takes to the sidelines as a basketball coach, Tuell thinks it’s only a matter of time before he succeeds.
“I think the sooner he gets into it, the sooner he can start moving up that ladder, Tuell said. I’d sure love to be a part of that for him and I’d like to live long enough to see him be a head coach one day at a D-I school so I can go watch him in the Final Four.”
West Virginia Point Guard Already Has Assistant Coaching Offer
USA Today, Tim Gardner
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/05/joe-mazzulla-west-virginia-coaching-offer-nova-southeastern-gary-tuell/1
Joe Mazzulla’s basketball career at West Virginia University has been over just over a month. But before the school year is even finished, however, Mazzulla already has an opportunity for a job when school is out — as an assistant coach.
According to West Virginia Illustrated, Mazzulla has been contacted by Gary Tuell, the head coach at Nova Southeastern University, which competes in Division II, about a coaching position.
Joe Mazzulla already has an opportunity to become an assistant coach.
How did Tuell know that Mazzulla was a good fit for his staff? The story is hard to believe ( via WVIllustrated ):
It was a cold, rainy night in Danville, Illinois, Tuell begins his story. The veteran coach was in town for the National Junior College Division-II Championship and found himself driving around in search of a McDonald’s while listening to the WVU-Clemson game on the radio. He found his golden arches, parked his car and tuned in to hear the Mountaineers beat the Tigers. Then he heard the postgame interview with Mazzulla.
“I thought, ‘Wow, this guy is all into coaching and he’s a bright kid and he’s a tough guy, ‘” says Tuell. “All the things that I’d like to have as an assistant coach I thought Joe embodied, at least from the short time I could tell on the radio. It was just an inspirational thing.”
Tuell was inspired to call Hahn in Morgantown once the Mountaineers’ season had ended and ask him to confirm his own beliefs about Mazzulla that had formed from one interview after an second-round win in the NCAA tournament.
“[Hahn] said, ‘I’ll tell you the truth, Gary, I think he’s a coaching superstar waiting to happen, ‘” Tuell recalls. “That’s all I needed to hear, because Billy’s been around a long time.”
While Tuell hasn’t be able to officially offer the job to Mazzulla as the Nova Southeastern has yet to officially post the position, the point guard isn’t certain that he’ll accept. He still might want to pursue a playing career.
“It’s a pretty good opportunity, but I don’t know if I’m ready to retire just yet, he says. It’s tough, especially with the competitive nature that I have. No matter how hurt [I am] or what the scenario is, I always try to play more and stuff like that. It’s something that I’ve thought about here and there but I’m really kind of letting the visit and the atmosphere of the university really gauge whether I want to do it or not.”
Mazzulla, who has the ability to start a playing career overseas, said he is talking to former teammates who have played professionally and his family before making a decision.
If (or when) Mazzulla takes to the sidelines as a basketball coach, Tuell thinks it’s only a matter of time before he succeeds.
“I think the sooner he gets into it, the sooner he can start moving up that ladder, Tuell said. I’d sure love to be a part of that for him and I’d like to live long enough to see him be a head coach one day at a D-I school so I can go watch him in the Final Four.”
