The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

April 26, 2008

Big-time job doesn’t interest coach Bolen

By Dave Morrison

When Duquesne coach Ron Everhart, a Fairmont native, lost two assistants earlier this month, the wheels started turning.

I wondered if he would tab Mountain State coach Bob Bolen, one of his friends in the business, to take one of those jobs?

It made sense.

After all, Bolen has been ultra-successful at Mountain State, putting together a 15-year mark of 373-104, with an NAIA national title and three title game appearances.

At some point it seemed like Bolen would make the move to the next level.

Folks often wondered why he hadn’t left yet. Why a bigger program hadn’t cast bait and lured the coach to the next level.

So I called Everhart and asked him if he was interested in luring Bolen from Beckley to Pittsburgh.

“I would be thrilled to get coach Bolen on my coaching staff any time, anywhere, any day,” the Duquesne coach said. “There aren’t too many guys like coach Bolen, with how hard he works. The problem is, I haven’t been able to talk him into leaving Beckley. I will confirm that he is one of the first guys I always contact.”

Bolen is traditionally tight-lipped on the subject of other jobs, though it is generally known he has been approached about several other opportunities. He usually never lets it get as far as an offer.

Everhart is a little different, though.

He’s a friend.

So I called Bolen and asked him directly about his interest in an assistant’s job at Duquesne.

“Ron Everhart is one of my best friends in the business,” Bolen said. “I’d love to be on his coaching staff. I’ve always enjoyed working for our president (Dr. Charles Polk). He’s been tremendous to me for 15 years. And I really enjoy our coaching staff.

“I have young kids and both sets of grandparents live in Beckley. It’s just not the right time. Like I said, I’d love being on coach Everhart’s coaching staff. Basketball Times listed him as one of the top up-and-comers in the U.S., as far as mid-major coaches ready to move up. He’s listed in every publication as one of the top mid-major coaches ready to take over a huge job.”

Why Bolen hasn’t left Mountain State seems to be as simple as this: He likes his job.

“I don’t really have those aspirations of being a big-time, Division I coach,” he said. “Being at Mountain State and Beckley, that’s good enough for me. My family is comfortable here. I’ve lived here my whole life. I enjoy it here.

“I just don’t really worry about (moving onward and upward). Honestly, I think I could have had (a small Division I job) in the last month. There has been contact from other schools (in the past). I just don’t ever let it get as far as an offer. It’s not one of my goals. I’m happy here.”

Pretty simple, really.

“I don’t have a $4 million buyout in my contract. If I leave some day, I want to be able to come back and cheer on the Cougars,” Bolen said. “If I ever leave, it would be for a person like Ron Everhart or (WVU basketball coach) Bob Huggins. Right now, it’s not one of my goals.”

It just doesn’t happen, but in a profession where change — forced or otherwise — is inevitable, Bolen seems to have found job security at Mountain State. It’s rare. And it’s not a bad thing.

— E-mail:

demorrison@register-herald.com

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