As the buzzer sounds on the final game of the season, and fans maneuver their way out of the loud arena while the players take one last walk back to the locker room for the season, everything is certain at the moment. Players know their season is over, and fans know this will be the last game they see until the following winter.
One thing that isn’t for certain, though, is something people can only predict: what the future holds.
Much uncertainty surrounds the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) men’s basketball team in their offseason. After posting an 11-17 record for the 2017-2018 season, Head coach Andy Shantz resigned, leaving an important coaching vacancy for CMU.
Shantz has served as the head coach since 2013 and compiled a 72-70 record during that span. The team will also lose senior CJ Davis, who averaged 11.4 points a game and started in all 28 games for the Mavericks. Although Shantz’ resignation isn’t official until June 30, 2018, CMU has ramped up their pursuit for a new head coach immediately.
The search for a new head coach opened on March 13 and will be open until the 13th of April. The selection committee is led by Assistant Athletic Director Austin Kaiser, chairing a nationwide search to find the right fit for the program.
Co-athletic directors Kris Mort and Bryan Rooks are awaiting word from the selection committee on potential candidates that could be brought in for potential interviews. Mort values patience as the process is important for CMU to find the perfect fit to lead the men’s program.
“We’re looking for coaches that can understand the mission and the future direction of not just the athletic department, but CMU in whole,” Mort said. “That doesn’t mean that what we had wasn’t good people. We’re looking for a change in direction that will put our men’s basketball program on the map and on par with where we feel like the direction of the whole university is going, and that’s positive growth.”
Bryan Rooks, a basketball alum, is currently running the basketball workouts for the players as the university awaits the new coach.
The Mavericks may have had a losing season, but they have returning talent that, along with a head coach with a great team philosophy and game plan, can return the team to their winning ways.
Conner Nichols, Emilio Acedo, Brandon Hoffer and Damon Dubots will be entering their senior season and should be key components in the rotation. Nichols led the Mavericks in scoring with 19.5 points per game, followed by Acedo with 16.4 points per game.
Hoffer led the Mavericks in assists by a wide margin, dishing out 6.2 assists per game, while Dubots did his work inside the paint, blocking 11 shots and pulling down 102 rebounds, third on the team.
The pieces are in place. This team flashed glimpses of greatness they could eventually suffice to. Finding a coach that can put this team together in a fluid system is no easy task as there could possibly be multiple candidates CMU is attracted to.
As Nichols prepares for his senior season, he hopes the university can bring in a great basketball mind that will not only challenge him but challenge the team as a whole.
“Individually, I would love someone that can challenge me on and off the court and bring the best out of me,” Nichols said. “As a team, I want someone who can come in with a ton of energy and believe that this program is a top twenty-five kind of program.”
The Mavericks have fallen short of the RMAC tournament the past two seasons, compiling a 19-37 record over that span. But with so many returning players that played pivotal roles in the rotation over those two years, this program should have the opportunity to make an RMAC title push next season, especially with a great coaching hire.
“I think that we have a great group returning,” Nichols said. “We all have to completely buy into the new system, and if we do that, we will have a chance to be as good as anyone.”
