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Dave Pilipovich will be a candidate for the Air Force Falcons' head coaching position. He is currently the interim head coach.
The Air Force Falcons have fired Jeff Reynolds, the basketball team's head coach, on Wednesday. Dave Pilipovich will take over as interim coach. The school held a press conference to announce the decision, during which Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh made numerous comments about the move.
Frank Schwab of the Colorado Springs Gazette has been reporting from the presser. Mueh reportedly said that players were no longer having fun, which explains his firing, and they were "elated" to hear that the move had been made. The AD said that Reynolds was "too overbearing and intense" and he wanted the players to enjoy their last few games.
The players' lack of enjoyment, and the school's discontent with Reynolds, likely could also be somewhat explained by the team's struggles.
After beginning the season by winning 11 of their first 15 games, the Falcons have lost six consecutive games to stumble to 11-10 on the season. The final two losses in the losing streak, a 81-42 pounding against New Mexico and a 67-49 loss against Colorado State, were particularly rough.
Schwab noted that we should keep our eyes on three men that could potentially replace Reynolds: Denver assistant A.J. Kuhle, SMU assistant Larry Mangino and Columbia head coach Kyle Smith. Mueh also added that Pilipovich would get a chance to win the job, too.
For more on the Falcons, stick with SB Nation Denver and Mountain West Connection. Head over to SB Nation NCAA Basketball for more news and notes around the college hoops scene.
Despite an 11-10 record, the Air Force Falcons have dropped its last six games and are in seventh place in the Mountain West. Head coach Jeff Reynolds will be fired as the Falcons head coach, according to Frank Schwab of the Colorado Springs Gazette. A press conference will come at 2:00 p.m. MT to announce the move. Dave Pilipovich will be named the interim coach.
The Falcons failed to break into the 50-point range in its last two losses, but took the UNLV Rebels to overtime on Jan. 31, but ultimately lost, 65-63. The Falcons are off until Saturday when they host the Boise St. Broncos.
Reynolds had only one winning season before this campaign got underway. His first year, 2007-08, saw the Falcons finish 16-14. The team went 10-21 in each of the following two season and was 16-16 during the 2010-11 season.
For more on the Falcons, stick with SB Nation Denver and Mountain West Connection. Head over to SB Nation NCAA Basketball for more news and notes around the college hoops scene.
Air Force Will Consider Dave Pilipovich For Head Coach Position
Interim Air Force Falcons head coach Dave Pilipovich will have a chance to win himself the full-time job in the next seven games, according to Air Force AD Hans Mueh. Mueh said that he is delaying the school's search for a new basketball coach until the end of the season, and will consider Pilipovich as well as outside candidates at that time.
Pilipovich took over the Falcons when previous head coach Jeff Reynolds was fired on February 8 after a six game losing streak that brought Air Force's 2011-2012 record to 11-10. In his four full seasons at Air Force, the Falcons finished with a winning record only once. In Pilipovich's first game as coach, the Falcons fell to the Boise State Broncos 72-61.
For more on the Falcons, stick with SB Nation Denver and Mountain West Connection. Head over to SB Nation NCAA Basketball for more news and notes around the college hoops scene.
Feb 15 10:29a by Jordan Sargent