NSU Horizons Spring 2018

BY WALTER VILLA Nothing but Net for New Coach ATHLETICS During a game, Jim Crutchfield is fidgety. Mostly, he stands. Or kneels. If he sits, it’s only for a moment. Then he stands again. Anything to get a better view. Anything to get closer to the players. Crutchfield is not a superfan. The 61-year-old is the first-year coach of NSU’s men’s basketball team, and he is completely tuned in to his squad. “I’m emotionally tied to the game,” said Crutchfield, M.S. “After a loss, I feel miserable. I can’t sleep. On the positive side, it’s nice to have something you care so much about. That’s what makes life great. I care an awful lot about the players and the game.” Crutchfield’s caring about his team has paid off—and it’s doubtful he has lost too much sleep. The Sharks started the 2017–2018 season 6-0, cracking the top 25 in the national rankings. NSU won just six games during the entire previous season, so it’s been an impressive turnaround. Under the coach’s leadership, the Sharks are playing much faster than in recent years. Gone is the “hybrid Princeton” offense. Gone are all the ponderous half-court sets, the back-door cuts, and the methodical approach to the game. “I don’t think this system enables you to win more than any other. But I think this system is more exciting to watch, more fan-friendly,” Crutchfield said. Biology major Dwayne Gibson, a 6'5" junior guard/for- ward, put it another way: “We try to impose our will on the other team. The zone (used last season) slowed the game down, and it didn’t let us apply pressure on opponents. This changes the speed of the game. That’s to our advantage, because we have a lot of athleticism. We have more fluidity.” Another key for Crutchfield is his bond with his players. “He’s a big-brother, father-figure type of coach who will do anything for his players,” said David Dennis, a junior majoring in sports management. Crutchfield’s approach to the game and his players was honed during his time at NCAA Division II West Liberty University, where he spent 28 years. At West Liberty, he had amassed an incredible .855 winning percentage during his 13 years as head coach. Leaving West Liberty was a diffi- cult choice, but Crutchfield said he wanted a new challenge. “NSU is growing, and I wanted to be part of that,” he said. FULL-COURT PRESS Even with a new coach, the Sharks have maintained a level of continuity this season. Although Crutchfield has insti- tuted a radically different system, the implementation has been made easier because of three people who were already familiar with the coach. That list includes Dennis; graduate assistant Devin Hoehn, B.S.; and assistant coach Jordan Fee, M.S., all of whom played for Crutchfield at West Liberty. Fee now acts as the liaison between Crutchfield and the players inherited from the previous staff. “Playing for [Crutchfield] was the greatest thing I’ve ever done,” said Fee, who has been at NSU for two years. “I feel very fortunate to have been reunited with him. Just having been down here the past two years and knowing these players, I had a head start. I was able to tell Coach, ‘I think this guy can fit the system; this guy might struggle a little bit, but he needs to change.’ Having that insight has been crucial.” Proof of the smooth transition can be seen in the numbers. Dennis leads the Sunshine State Conference with 8.1 assists per game, and freshman Malik Hardy, averaging 20.2 points, leads the nation’s freshmen in scoring. NSU leads the league in team scoring (99.3), and the best could be yet to come. Fee has done more local recruiting, establishing relationships with the community of high- school coaches and players. LEADERSHIP CHANGE BRINGS IMPRESSIVE RESULTS FOR MEN’S BASKETBALL.