SPECIAL. ISSUE The Inside Rider ·News • • • • • • Bannon leaves Rider A Scarlet wekome The News was there as Kevin Bannon was infro· duced ro the media as [he new men's basketball coach at Rutgers University. See Page 2 His accomplishments it ~;:t;~i~e< . '. _~ or Trenton ~ State. Kevin Bannon has -. already made ihis mark on the"college basketball scene. Check out~ his complete career' coaching scarisrics. See Page 2 At long last, Bannon takes the next step After reportedly gcning passed over by other high. profile programs time and time again. Kevin Bannon is finally rewarded with a' bigprime coaching job. But what took so long? See Page 3 Rider's foture is now ';. ': ~s;:~::h - Don Harnum is announced ~ as the new ~head coach of the Rider men's basketball team a;: a press conference scheduled [or noon raday. See Page 4 This special issue waS designed, edited and produced by: Brian J. Kelley Executive Editor CliffOisen Ma,naging Edffar on takes/Ru AJ Genovesi Photography Editor The FRIDAY, APRIL 4 PAGE 2 Rider News SPECIAL COVERACE, BANNON LEAVES RIDER Bannon accepts 'dream' job at Rutgers By CLIFF OLSEN Managing Editor BRIAN J," KELLEY Executive Editor It's over. yet it is juSt begin­ ning. The speculation and rumors as 10 where Rider's Kevin Bannon was going to end up stopped and his career as the head coach of the men's basketball program at RUigers University began. The former Bronc mentor was officially announced as the head coach of the Scarlet Knights at yesterday's 10 a. m. press confer­ ence held at Winants Hall on the New Brunswick campus of the State University. "This is truly a dream come true for me as a person, as a coach and as an individual who JUSt 10vC5 challenges," said the 39-year­ " Pho......,b by Brian J, Kdlcy old Bannon, who comt>iled a Former R.Ukr "",,'s lNuIu,b.JJ CiHUh Knill L,uum iUlJrasn tIu",eJis. "' W"..,.lJ" H.JJ on,he New record of 131-103 over an eight­ Bnuuwielr CImIP'" ofRuspn U"iflenity 1'InusJ.y ",.mu.s IU he fiNu formllily ;,,"'i;tl~tllU the SCArlet year span at Rider. "I am so excit­ K"ipts' nnll ,,",,'Dr_ . ed to be a part of this university and Fred Gruninger, athletic mer camps, shoe: connacrs and great guy. He seemed . very and the Big East Conference. director, agreed that Sannon was TV and radio. This should bring up&onr. All the players seemed to '" fed that we can hit the their man to take the Scarlet B-annon's annual income close to respond to him," said Scarlet ground running; we can improve Knights into the future. The deal $350,000 per year. Knighr sophomore guard .Geoff our ability on the court with the was finalized Wednesday evening Considering that Sou-th Billet. '" didn't know him previ­ current players and obviously get between the now former Bronc Carolina's Eddie Fogler, Texas' ously, but I think we'll get along right on the road and improve the coach and R.U. Tom Penders and Drexel's Bill fine ." talent here to get us more compet­ "We had an intensive discus­ Herrion had each rejected .R.U:s As far as Rider is concerned. itive in the Big East. H sion period over the lau two r.cspcctive offers, it was quire obvi­ the school lost more than jUst a Bannon has found the right days, n said. Lawrence at ous that Bannon was nOt R~tgers' head. basketball coach in Bannon, road in his (WO previous coaching Thursday's press c9nference. "I first choic·e ..to replace the dis­ but also someone who helped ete­ stops, rebuilding both the have said the success of ou~r pro­ missed Bob Wenzel as head coach ate another aspect of social aaivity Tremon State College, now The gram over time will be measured of the Scarlet Knights. But on campus. College of New Jersey, and Rider by winning on a consistent basis. Bannon said he did not feci slight­ "Sefore he came, there wasn't programs into respectability. "It is a. ~ery simple recipe to ed by rhe Stare University. much enthusiasm about the bas­ "As a guy who played high put out there, of course, I'm not "I was treared with dignity kerball team and he very quickly school baU, college ball and was a the coach." from everyone who dealt with me changed that," said Rider presi ~ Di"i5ion-1II coach, a Division-' Lawrence added that Rutgers' here," he said. "Not one thin;g dent Bart Luedeke. assistant, a Division-I mid-major view of winning docs not entirely that they said didn't come true in Athletic director Curt. Slake and now the Big East-all in the mean what happens on the court. a .!:eose that when I would get a said, "Rutgers has always had an state of New Jersey. You have to He said t.hat recruitment of stu­ 0011 bod<. 1 d;d, attractiveness for Bannon and I know how proud of a moment '"The way I look at it is that sec it as a professional opportunity this is for me," said the (Wo-time dent-athletes and building ,! team that can win in rhe classroom also (the search committee) dated a for him. NEC Coach of the Year. played 3 part in the decision. few individuals, but they married "He leaves here certainly with After a 2B-day search that saw According to Lawrence, me. And I'm pretty happy about my fondest wishes and best wishes at least three of the coaching can­ Bannon's c:onlract is for six years t.har." for success at his new position. He didates interviewed shy away from and he will be paid a base salary of His new players seem happy was hired here to do a job and he taking the Rutgers job, Francis $150,000 and supplements along about the move. as well. not only did it, he did it very Lawrence, university president, with revenue from basketball sum- "I think he's a grear coach, a welL" Coach K also headed to New Brunswick By CLIFF OLSEN with Co.ach Bannon, have some Jabaar Jones, Kevin Mc Peck and . rion and physical education. This Managing Editor success, which' know we are Dimitri Charles. They arc guys' year, he received a master's degree There is a Coach K (Mike going to h.aye, and hopefuJly from that will go with me the rest of in educ.ational administration Ktzyzewski) at Duke University; there create some opportunities my life, that's for sure." from Rider. but there is also another one on for myself." Prior to joining the Broncs, "I'm C'xuem~ly excited for the move from Ric!er to Rutgers. Coach K JUSt wrappccl up his Kowalczyk served as an assistant at Kni.n Sannon and myself profes­ Former Bronc assistant coach fourth season as member of the the University of Miunesota- sionally, but sad ro say goodbye to T od Kowalc7.yk, known to his Broncs' staff. The 31 year oid Duluth, which he is a gr.aduate a group of players that you get players as Coach K, is making the served as the director of scouting from, the Univeristy of New very close with. jump to the Big Easl with Kevin and the film exchange program. Hampshire and most recently at '"J am in this bUsiness to move Bannon. Kowalcz.y k fills one of He also assisted in recruiting, aca­ St. Anselm College. ahead, but I am not in it at this [he two full-time as.9istant coach­ demic advising and NCAA com­ At Minneso!.a-Duluth, point in time, finaneiilJly. l .am ing vacancies at the State pliance; he also worked (0 develop Kowalczyk led his team to four more in ir bcc.ausc I really enjoy University. rhe inside players. conse..:utive NCAA Division-II working with guys in our pro­ "This gives me a chance to ful­ '" am extremely grareful to Tournament appearances, earning gram. fiJI my dream," said the De Pere Coach Bannon-first of all, for twO mest valuable player awards ~I feci very good about the Wisconsin native. "My dream is bringing me aboard four and a and twO a1I-conference and all-dis- four years I've spent here. It has to become a mid-major Division-I half years ago, and giving me the triet selections. Off the COUrt he been extremely rewarding to me hc.ad basket baH coach. chance to work with some great earned Academic All-American on a personal. as well as a profcs. "For me to be able to do that, 1 guys as players. honors and rect:ived a bacJy.Jor of sionallevel." need IO get to the highcst level "I had the chance to work with applied science in heallh .educ.a- The Rider News FRIDAY, APRIL 4 PAGE 3 SPECIAL COVERAGE, BANNON LEAVES RIDER ~ Finally, Bannon's tillle has come By BRIAN J. KEllEY .owly was not R.U.'s first choice. Executive Editor But Bannon wanted this job. He has For 28 days. Rutgers University searChed wanted it for awhile. Sure, he loved being at long_and hard for fired men's baSketball Rider. but when you arc a coach of coach Bob Wenzel's replacement. Bannon's caliber, the need to move on is Fiisr, South Carolina head coach &laic strong. Who could blame him for desiring Fogler ~pressed an inu~res[ in bc~ming to take the step to the ncxt k-vcl? the Scarl ~ t Knights' new mentor and .