Rutgers University found their new Head Basketball Coach in
current Los Angeles Laker’s assistant Eddie Jordan. He replaces Mike Rice who
was fired on April 4th after video surfaced of Rice cursing, using
gay slurs and throwing basketballs at players during practice.
Jordan has had three different Head Coaching stints in the
NBA with the Kings, Wizards and most recently the 76er’s. His career record is
only 257-343, as Jordan has had more success as an assistant coach.
The Eddie Jordan signing has led to mixed reactions
throughout campus. Current Rutgers Senior, Tim Colangelo doesn’t see Jordan as
the answer. “He hasn’t really had any success in the NBA, and this is his first
chance in college. He’s just not proven at all.”
Colangelo is a huge sports fan and has attended almost all
of the football and basketball home games during his time at school. “The
football program has obviously had more success but basketball games are a lot
of fun. The crowd gets really into the game and has an effect. In all honesty,
I thought Coach Rice had this program going in the right direction. Eddie
Jordan has lost everywhere he’s gone.”
Mike Rice was known for having great success as the Head
Coach of Robert Morris before being hired by Rutgers. In his three years at
Rutgers, Rice hovered around the .500 mark.
“I just thought it was weird how all of his current players
defended him. It’s a three minute terrible video of Mike Rice after hundreds of
hours of practice,” said Colangelo. “If he was that terrible all the time, why
did all his players defend him during the allegations?”
When the video first surfaced, former Rutgers Athletic
Director Tim Pernetti had fined Rice $50,000 and suspended him for three games.
Colangelo found this to be a fair punishment. It wasn’t until the video went
public that more drastic measures occurred.
Rutgers graduate and current High School teacher/coach
Anthony Brocco thought it was a fair punishment. “People have mixed feelings
because it’s not nearly as bad as what went on at Penn State or now what they
are saying about Auburn’s football program changing grades. No matter what
though, when something goes public like that you don’t leave the people
upstairs with much of an option.”
Brocco continued by saying, “A year ago Rutgers had a
student commit suicide after being made fun of for his sexual preferences. Now,
the Head Basketball Coach is shown using the same hurtful slurs. That’s not the
kind of person to have leading a program.”
Rutgers hired Rice before the 2010 season even though he was
known to have anger problems while at Robert Morris. However, the university
decided that his success with wins and losses were worth the risk.
Eddie Jordan seems to be a much safer option. He’s used to
being in front of the camera as an NBA head coach and shouldn’t have any
problem with the local media coverage at the college level. His Princeton Style
Offense didn’t work out well in the NBA but has proven to be successful at the
college level. However, this will be his first attempt at recruiting high
school players.
“It isn’t like Jordan is coming in to replace Phil Jackson.
Mike Rice never made any NCAA tournament appearances and had most of his
success at Robert Morris. If Jordan can start to turn this thing around, people
will forget about Rice quickly,” said Brocco.
Only time will tell if Eddie Jordan can transition and be a
success at the college level.
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