Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 15, 1994 TAG: 9404150034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The symptoms include sweaty palms, shaky knees and, generally, trouble speaking. But don't tell that to Bart Bellairs.
Bellairs liked his interview at VMI, and the interviewers must have liked him, because he landed the job as the institute's head basketball coach.
"I felt very comfortable with the interview and I enjoyed it tremendously," Bellairs said Thursday after being formally introduced as the Keydets' 27th head coach.
"I've loved it here from the first moment I stepped Bellairs on campus. It was a good fit and I knew it. I wanted this job very badly."
Bellairs, an assistant at James Madison the past six seasons, inherits a team that went 10-45 the past two seasons under Joe Cantafio. After eight seasons as head coach, Cantafio left in March to take over at Southern Conference rival Furman.
Bellairs, 37, said his first order of business was to watch videotapes to evaluate the Keydets' strengths and weaknesses, then hit the recruiting trail. VMI has four scholarships available for the spring signing period that began Wednesday, although Bellairs said he may not use them all.
The Keydets are deepest at guard, where Cantafio brought in three freshmen last season, but could use height. Jonathan Goodman, VMI's top rebounder, has completed his eligibility.
"I'm going to evaluate the team and go from there," Bellairs said. " . . . Recruiting is going to be a challenge right away, but I'm going to get on the road right away. I've already talked to some kids who are interested. We have a list of about 20 players."
In an effort to become competitive immediately in the Southern Conference, Bellairs said he plans to institute a more up-tempo style of play.
"It's the style of the '90s and I think it's an exciting offense," he said. "I think you have to work with the players you have now, but with recruiting and in our philosophies move more toward that style."
Bryan Woolsey, a junior guard who was involved in the interview process, said the team found the new style - and Bellairs - exciting.
"We liked everything he had to say to us. He had good points, like playing an up-tempo style, which better suits our team," Woolsey said. "He's also very intense and I feel he could bring that to each player. . . . He's a good communicator, and when we sat in and talked to him it felt like he was one of the guys. He understands the importance of the player-coach relationship."
Warren Johnson, one of the freshman guards, agreed.
"He's easy to talk to and someone who I think could be a friend, also," he said. "And I think he has some great ideas about bringing more people to the games."
Davis Babb, VMI's athletic director, said Bellairs symbolized a fresh start for the program.
"He has the school behind him," Babb said. "We're going to support him in everything he does. We were very impressed with his presentation and just knew he would be a good match."
Babb said Bellairs had not signed a contract but they were "on the same wavelength," and would do so soon.
Bellairs played at Warren Wilson (N.C.) and was a graduate assistant at Western Illinois before becoming the head coach at Division III Wilkes (Pa.) College for two seasons.
"The fact that I've been a head coach and had to make decisions has prepared me well," said Bellairs, who coached under JMU coach Lefty Driesell at Maryland during the 1985-86 season.
Bellairs then spent two seasons as an assistant at Massachusetts before rejoining Driesell in Harrisonburg in 1988.
Bellairs said he would retain Ramon Williams, a former William Fleming High School and VMI standout, as an assistant. Williams was a first-year assistant at VMI this season along with Ed Conroy, who joined Cantafio's staff at Furman.
Bellairs said he had not made a decision on the other full-time position, but he did mention JMU assistant Kenny Brooks as a likely candidate.
by CNB