Spring Break
The Daily OrangeNational | In 30th year, Sacred Heart's Bike has 1st Tourney in sight
By Matt Ehalt
Posted: 2/7/08, 12:44 AM EST Section: Sports
To Sacred Heart Director of Athletics Donald Cook, there was never the question whether Bike would remain the head coach for the Pioneers.
"It never crossed my mind (to let Bike go)," Cook said. "(Dave) is a very bright guy, and he knew what exactly he had to do, and he had to do it differently. You have to use different methods to get the job done, and with some patience and items, we're getting the job done now."
Cook's faith in his coach is part of the reason why Bike only has a one-year contract. He explained that Bike is the coach of Sacred Heart until he wants to leave, so rather than do long-term contracts with stipulations, the school and Bike work out a deal from year to year.
Bike's goal now is now trying to lead the team to its first appearance in the Division-I Tournament. SHU came close last season, with its first winning season on the Division-I level, but fell in the NEC championship game to Central Connecticut State
This season, the Pioneers are again putting themselves in a situation to go dancing. Despite starting off 0-6, SHU has rallied to win 13 of its last 17 games and stands in first place in the NEC with a 10-2 conference record. If the Pioneers are able to win the league, there would not be a shortage of people excited to see one of the most loyal coaches in the nation get to coach in the biggest tournament of them all.
"There isn't another coach more deserving than him," Sacred Heart senior guard Drew Shubik said in an e-mail. "He stayed with the program through all the extremely tough years and all the critics saying it was time for him to retire. He kept his confidence in assistants, players, the university and himself. It would be special for everyone (to make it to the tournament this season). It would be really special for Coach Bike because of how long it has taken him to finally get there."
Even rival coaches in the league feel the same way. St. Francis (NY) head coach Brian Nash, who served as an assistant coach under Bike, said the coaches in the NEC would not be mad were Bike to win the league because of all the time he has put in at the school.
"It never crossed my mind (to let Bike go)," Cook said. "(Dave) is a very bright guy, and he knew what exactly he had to do, and he had to do it differently. You have to use different methods to get the job done, and with some patience and items, we're getting the job done now."
Cook's faith in his coach is part of the reason why Bike only has a one-year contract. He explained that Bike is the coach of Sacred Heart until he wants to leave, so rather than do long-term contracts with stipulations, the school and Bike work out a deal from year to year.
Bike's goal now is now trying to lead the team to its first appearance in the Division-I Tournament. SHU came close last season, with its first winning season on the Division-I level, but fell in the NEC championship game to Central Connecticut State
This season, the Pioneers are again putting themselves in a situation to go dancing. Despite starting off 0-6, SHU has rallied to win 13 of its last 17 games and stands in first place in the NEC with a 10-2 conference record. If the Pioneers are able to win the league, there would not be a shortage of people excited to see one of the most loyal coaches in the nation get to coach in the biggest tournament of them all.
"There isn't another coach more deserving than him," Sacred Heart senior guard Drew Shubik said in an e-mail. "He stayed with the program through all the extremely tough years and all the critics saying it was time for him to retire. He kept his confidence in assistants, players, the university and himself. It would be special for everyone (to make it to the tournament this season). It would be really special for Coach Bike because of how long it has taken him to finally get there."
Even rival coaches in the league feel the same way. St. Francis (NY) head coach Brian Nash, who served as an assistant coach under Bike, said the coaches in the NEC would not be mad were Bike to win the league because of all the time he has put in at the school.
Be the first to comment on this story