Published: November 09, 2009 11:30 pm      

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Bill Beilein makes NCCC debut tonight

SANBORN — John Beilein began his college basketball coaching career at Erie Community College in 1978. Years later, he took four different teams to the NCAA tournament. Now his nephew is getting his first head coaching job at Niagara County Community College.

But before Bill Beilein can become another John Beilein, he’ll have to be the next Matt Clingersmith.

Taking over an irreleveant baseball program in 2007, Clingersmith had the Trailblazers playing for a national championship by the end of his third year. Last spring, he was the first coach to be given a full-time position at the college, and along with that title came the responsibility of assisting the basketball program.

Clingersmith, who played basketball under coach Pat Monti at Niagara Catholic, initially relied on Canadian imports to make the baseball team competitive, then used that credibility to convince local standouts to stay home and play for NCCC.

Beilein didn’t get the basketball job until the end of May, and didn’t have much time to make a recruiting impact. His first team consists mostly of local reclamation projects, the type of players Frank Rotundo relied on while winning 59 games over the past eight seasons.

With a team of mostly freshman, the Trailblazers went 9-18 in Rotundo’s final season, a five-win improvement from the year before. Late in the season, Rotundo said athletics director Lee Wallace gave him a private vote of confidence, and encouraged him to continue recruiting players. Wallace did not publicly acknowledge why he decided to change coaches after the season, but he hinted at a reason during last week’s media luncheon.

Wallace said Beilein “brings a different kind of approach than the coaches we’ve had in the past. He demands a lot more of the players.”

“Our main goal is to improve skill development, so we can move our athletes on to four-year colleges,” Beilein said.

That’s what’s motivating Robby Seyler, Lewiston-Porter’s all-time leading scorer. After averaging more than 30 points per game as a senior, the 6-foot-2 guard got some recruiting interest from Division III programs, but not scholarship offers.

“I feel like I got looked over a bit in high school,” Seyler said. “So I’m here to prove myself.”

Same goes for A.J. Roberts, who spent a year at prep school in North Carolina after averaging 14.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists in his senior season at Niagara Catholic.

“As we mature our relationship and learn to trust one another, the sky is the limit for this player,” Beilein said of the 6-4 forward. “He’s a tremendous asset for us.”

Following a three-game suspension for fighting, Roberts’ former Niagara Catholic teammate, Dyrell Dolson will join the lineup. The 6-6 forward averaged a double-double as a freshman, and was named third-team all-region.

Point guard Armando Rosario has returned to NCCC after a year off. The 5-foot-6 Harlem product was the team’s best player two years ago.

“He’s quick and his first reaction is pass,” Roberts said. “With him, you always have to have your hands ready. He’s almost like the Energizer Bunny. You just wind him up and tag along with him.”

Beilein spent last season as an assistant at Medaille, which went 21-7 and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament. Before that, he assisted at Bennett High School, the University of Mobile, and SUNY New Paltz, and helped to run the Harbor Hoops AAU program.

“Billy worked for me, and I worked for his uncle John (at Canisius),” Medaille coach Mike MacDonald said. “And there are some similarities. The ability to teach, to connect with people. Billy’s got a tremendous amount of energy, a tremendous amount of passion for basketball and a zest for life.”

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.



SEASON PRIMER

NCCC men’s basketball

• COACH: Bill Beilein, first year

• LAST SEASON: 9-18, 5-9 WNYAC

• KEY RETURNERS: F Dyrell Dolson (Niagara Catholic), G Armando Rosario

• KEY ADDITIONS: F A.J. Roberts (Niagara Catholic), G Robby Seyler (Lew-Port)

Home Schedule

• TODAY: Finger Lakes, 7:30 p.m.

• SATURDAY: Corning, 2 p.m.

• DEC. 10: Pitt-Titusville, 7:30 p.m.

• DEC. 12: Tompkins-Cortland, 3 p.m.

• JAN. 14: Jamestown-Olean, 7 p.m.

• JAN. 19: Erie, 7:30 p.m.

• JAN. 21: Monroe, 6:30 p.m.

• JAN. 26: Jamestown, 7:30

• FEB. 9: Mercyhurst NE, 7:30 p.m.

• FEB. 16: Genesee, 7:30 p.m.

• FEB. 20: Alfred State, 3 p.m.