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aztarheel · 01-12-2007, 09:55 PM

Steve Victory JOURNAL – Off-Season 2009

As Steve Victory made his rounds at the Final Four, it seemed the same old faces approached him about job opportunities. How many times does he have to say “no” to programs like Campbell, UNC-Greensboro and Florida A&M anyway? He’s surprised Central Florida doesn’t come after him yet again (the Golden Knights finished 12-18 this season).

Then, while checking e-mail as he waited for his flight back to South Carolina, Victory gets an intriguing message. The subject header says simply “Coaching Position.”

We have been following your performance at College of Charleston and would like to talk to you about considering a head coaching position at Alabama. We were 9 - 21 last season, while playing in the SEC. We feel that our university can offer you a fresh start and a chance to build a winning program from the ground up. We are looking towards the future and feel you are the coach that can take us to the next level.

Alabama A.D.

Victory is floored. He gets goose bumps right there in the airport coffee shop.

Alabama? The Crimson Tide? The place where Bear Bryant once stalked football sidelines? He’d never even really considered ‘Bama as a basketball school. Now, as he waits for his plane, the Crimson Tide is all he can think about.

This is it, Victory realizes. This is his big chance to jump into a major conference – the SEC, winners of two of the last three NCT titles. OK, Alabama’s program is in shambles right now and no where near Kentucky or Mississippi State (the Tide's prestige has dropped to the mid-30s - top programs like MSU and UK are in the 70s and 80s). But Victory’s 15-year plan, which seemed derailed a bit last season by the lack of quality job offers, is now ahead of schedule. Victory didn’t think he’d be in a major conference until years eight or nine of his career – or later. Or ever.

The coach doesn’t hesitate to reply to the Alabama A.D. He changes his flight itinerary right there in the airport and agrees to meet with ‘Bama school officials the following morning in Tuscaloosa.

By that afternoon, the deal is finalized, and the morning after that the 36-year-old is announced as the new head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Steve Victory is on the move again, thanking his lucky stars he didn’t take that job at UNC-Charlotte last season after all. And, of course, grateful for everything he’s learned and gained while at the College of Charleston...

01-12-2007, 09:55 PM	#48
aztarheel High School JV Join Date: Sep 2006	Steve Victory JOURNAL – Off-Season 2009 As Steve Victory made his rounds at the Final Four, it seemed the same old faces approached him about job opportunities. How many times does he have to say “no” to programs like Campbell, UNC-Greensboro and Florida A&M anyway? He’s surprised Central Florida doesn’t come after him yet again (the Golden Knights finished 12-18 this season). Then, while checking e-mail as he waited for his flight back to South Carolina, Victory gets an intriguing message. The subject header says simply “Coaching Position.” We have been following your performance at College of Charleston and would like to talk to you about considering a head coaching position at Alabama. We were 9 - 21 last season, while playing in the SEC. We feel that our university can offer you a fresh start and a chance to build a winning program from the ground up. We are looking towards the future and feel you are the coach that can take us to the next level. Alabama A.D. Victory is floored. He gets goose bumps right there in the airport coffee shop. Alabama? The Crimson Tide? The place where Bear Bryant once stalked football sidelines? He’d never even really considered ‘Bama as a basketball school. Now, as he waits for his plane, the Crimson Tide is all he can think about. This is it, Victory realizes. This is his big chance to jump into a major conference – the SEC, winners of two of the last three NCT titles. OK, Alabama’s program is in shambles right now and no where near Kentucky or Mississippi State (the Tide's prestige has dropped to the mid-30s - top programs like MSU and UK are in the 70s and 80s). But Victory’s 15-year plan, which seemed derailed a bit last season by the lack of quality job offers, is now ahead of schedule. Victory didn’t think he’d be in a major conference until years eight or nine of his career – or later. Or ever. The coach doesn’t hesitate to reply to the Alabama A.D. He changes his flight itinerary right there in the airport and agrees to meet with ‘Bama school officials the following morning in Tuscaloosa. By that afternoon, the deal is finalized, and the morning after that the 36-year-old is announced as the new head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Steve Victory is on the move again, thanking his lucky stars he didn’t take that job at UNC-Charlotte last season after all. And, of course, grateful for everything he’s learned and gained while at the College of Charleston...