West Virginia’s rise in the national ranks of college basketball has been unorthodox, to say the least.

It took a relatively unknown coach from Richmond, three of his committed recruits following him to Morgantown, a transfer from the dismantled St. Bonaventure program and a tattoo-covered, funny-named big man to vault the Mountaineers into the national spotlight, resulting in an Elite Eight appearance last season.

Even more inconceivable is that this all happened at West Virginia, traditionally a football-first school. The ascension of West Virginia’s basketball program is just part of a national trend of football schools with successful basketball teams.

The No. 11 Mountaineers visit the Orange tonight for a Big Monday date in the Carrier Dome at 7 p.m.

‘It has always been a goal of ours to increase the exposure of the basketball program,’ WVU Deputy Athletic Director Mike Parsons said. ‘Once we made some investments that were long overdue, we found success.’

Parsons indicated the additional funds dedicated to the basketball program went toward higher salaries for personnel as well as physical changes, including new practice facilities.

However, Parsons believes the most important change was not a financial measure, but hiring John Beilein in April 2002 to replace Gale Catlett, who retired after compiling a 439-276 record over 24 years at WVU.

‘Beilein was a shot in the arm in recruiting,’ Parsons said. ‘The program needed new blood, and John has done a great job of bringing in new talent.’

Beilein was set to enter the 2002-2003 campaign at Richmond, a member of the Atlantic 10, with three freshmen recruits: Jarmon Durisseau-Collins, Joe Herber and his son Patrick Beilein. Once West Virginia anointed John Beilein as its 20th head coach, the three recruits followed him to Morgantown to join West Virginia native Kevin Pittsnogle and form a freshman class that had an effect on the Mountaineers from day one.

The investment in the relatively unknown Beilein, who at one time coached Division II Le Moyne College in Syracuse, has paid off.

Since Beilein took the reins at Morgantown, he guided the Mountaineers to a 73-47 record. Last season, West Virginia made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998, also the last time WVU posted more than 20 wins before 2004-05. The 2005 tournament run was the furthest the Mountaineers traveled in March Madness since 1959, the days of Jerry West.

Last March, after the tournament run, West Virginia locked up Beilein through the 2011-12 season with a contract extension.

As far as Parsons is concerned, the Elite Eight appearance was just the beginning.

The national media exposure WVU experienced on its Cinderella run brought in additional revenue to the program and notoriety for the university.

It has also put people in the stands.

Since 2000, attendance at the Coliseum, an on-campus facility with a seating capacity of 14,000, has more than doubled. Last year WVU underwent the eighth-largest average attendance increase (1,439) in Division I men’s basketball from the previous year. This season, the Mountaineers are averaging 9,903 fans and drew a season-high 14,683 Saturday against Connecticut.

Parsons believes that along with the increase in revenue from attendance, being a member of the Big East is an enormous advantage for the future of the basketball program, which allows the school to continue similar scheduling.

This year, WVU scheduled non-conference games against Kentucky, LSU, UCLA, Oklahoma and Texas.

Schools like Oklahoma and Texas are undergoing the same two-sport success that West Virginia has encountered. Throw in Florida, Tennessee and Ohio State and it is no coincidence that many football schools are reevaluating their investments in time and money.

Dave Telep, national editor of Scout.com’s men’s basketball recruiting coverage, understands the recent trend of football schools like WVU finding success in basketball.

‘It has been a combination of two components for these programs to succeed: recruiting and coaching,’ Telep said. ‘You have to look at the coaches at these programs. They are some of the best game coaches around.

‘Recruiting is a byproduct of these coaches. Beilein has put his coaching stamp on this program; his coaching ability is immeasurable.’

For example, a team that burst onto the scene this year, Florida, did not surprise Telep at all. From 2000-2004, Florida, led by head coach Billy Donovan, has signed more top 100 recruits than any other program in the nation, Telep said.

‘I don’t see why the trend cannot continue,’ Telep said. ‘No one ever thought it could succeed at Florida.’

With the luxury of a newfound national profile, West Virginia has recruited with increased success. Beilein has signed players from Florida, New Jersey and Illinois, not typical stomping grounds for WVU basketball.

One Beilein recruit, junior forward Frank Young of Tallahassee, Fla., committed to West Virginia in his first true recruiting class.

Despite living near the Florida State campus and growing up an Atlantic Coast Conference fan, Young made the move from Florida to West Virginia.

‘I really enjoyed myself at my visit with Beilein,’ said Young. ‘The football program at the school never distracted me from committing.’

Florida State, along with two other southern schools recruited Young, but he preferred to join a school north in the Big East.

‘The Big East has a huge impact on recruits,’ said Young. ‘Add the recent success the school has had and it gives you the opportunity to recruit well.’

Telep applauds the recruiting job that Beilein has done, but admitted that the recent success of West Virginia is not due to good scouting, rather great coaching.

‘(Beilein) has gotten the very last ounce of talent out of players like Mike Gansey and Pittsnogle,’ Telep said. ‘I don’t think many coaches can make similar claims.’

With the recent success of basketball programs at football schools, Telep understands a program can only succeed so much in a football-driven athletic department. However, he sees no reason why similar schools should not capitalize on the trend.

‘Make no mistake, these schools will always be driven by their football programs,’ Telep said. ‘But if the commitment is made by the schools, they can eventually have two successful programs.’

Published on February 19, 2006 at 12:00 pm