Post by dex on Jun 19, 2014 11:25:25 GMT -5
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RIC tabs Byrnes as new coach
By KEVIN McNAMARA JOURNAL SPORTS WRITER
PROVIDENCE — After hearing for too long that he wasn’t ready to be a head college basketball coach, Mike Byrnes has found a home in Rhode Island.
On Wednesday, Byrnes was introduced as the next men’s coach at Rhode Island College. He will try to build on the success of former coach Bob Walsh, who left for a job at the University of Maine.
Byrnes spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach at Robert Morris. Before that, he had 16 years of head coaching experience at the prep school level, including 14 seasons at the Winchendon School in Winchendon, Mass.
“Being a head coach at the prep school level is great, but this is the next step,” Byrnes said. “So many jobs came open and people told me I didn’t have head coach experience. Now I do and I’m thrilled to have one of the top10 to 20 Division III jobs in the country.”
Under Walsh’s leadership, RIC made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last eight seasons. Byrnes said he only hopes to match his success. He also noted that most of the players on the roster hail from Rhode Island.
“If you can drive 20 minutes in any direction and get a roster that brings you to the NCAA Tournament eight years in a row, great,” he said. “I expect to take advantage of my contacts around the East and internationally, and I think that can only add to our roster.”
RIC tabs Byrnes as new coach
By KEVIN McNAMARA JOURNAL SPORTS WRITER
PROVIDENCE — After hearing for too long that he wasn’t ready to be a head college basketball coach, Mike Byrnes has found a home in Rhode Island.
On Wednesday, Byrnes was introduced as the next men’s coach at Rhode Island College. He will try to build on the success of former coach Bob Walsh, who left for a job at the University of Maine.
Byrnes spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach at Robert Morris. Before that, he had 16 years of head coaching experience at the prep school level, including 14 seasons at the Winchendon School in Winchendon, Mass.
“Being a head coach at the prep school level is great, but this is the next step,” Byrnes said. “So many jobs came open and people told me I didn’t have head coach experience. Now I do and I’m thrilled to have one of the top10 to 20 Division III jobs in the country.”
Under Walsh’s leadership, RIC made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last eight seasons. Byrnes said he only hopes to match his success. He also noted that most of the players on the roster hail from Rhode Island.
“If you can drive 20 minutes in any direction and get a roster that brings you to the NCAA Tournament eight years in a row, great,” he said. “I expect to take advantage of my contacts around the East and internationally, and I think that can only add to our roster.”