National : In 30th year, Sacred Heart’s Bike has 1st Tourney in sight
Hardcore Syracuse fans know that Jim Boeheim currently holds the longest tenure in the nation of any coach at his alma mater.
But fans in Fairfield, Conn., know who is in second.
It’s Dave Bike, the 30-year head coach at Sacred Heart, and his resume looks remarkably similar to Boeheim’s: coaching at his alma mater for more than 25 years with a national title under his belt (but his is in Division II).
Bike has become the face of the Sacred Heart program and has stayed loyal to his home school.
‘It’s been home,’ said Bike, a native of Fairfield County. ‘My wife (Judi) always said if you find a job you like, you never have to work a day in your life. I was brought up that way, to do something you enjoy doing rather than have the almighty buck be the driving force. I found a job I like, a place I like, and so I enjoyed it. It’s been a really fast 30 years.’
This season might shape up to be a special one for Bike and crew, as the Pioneers are first in the Northeast Conference. Winning the league tournament would give Bike his first shot at coaching in the NCAA Division-I Tournament. Sacred Heart moved up from D-II in 1999.
Bike started as the head coach of Sacred Heart in 1978 and led his alma mater to the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1986 with a 93-87 win over Southeast Missouri. Bike said thinking of the game and all the players involved in the game brings a smile to his face.
Yet, during this time, Bike never tried to move up the coaching ladder. While other coaches may see Sacred Heart as a stepping stone to a job in a more prolific conference, Bike has never seen it that way.
‘I was never really aggressive in pursing other opportunities,’ Bike said. ‘Sacred Heart wasn’t something that I ever looked like it was a nice little something to move on from.’
Transitioning to the top level of college athletics meant some tough initial years for Bike. After winning a national title, Bike suddenly had to endure several single-digit wins at the early going.
To Sacred Heart Director of Athletics Donald Cook, there was never the question whether Bike would remain the head coach for the Pioneers.
‘It never crossed my mind (to let Bike go),’ Cook said. ‘(Dave) is a very bright guy, and he knew what exactly he had to do, and he had to do it differently. You have to use different methods to get the job done, and with some patience and items, we’re getting the job done now.’
Cook’s faith in his coach is part of the reason why Bike only has a one-year contract. He explained that Bike is the coach of Sacred Heart until he wants to leave, so rather than do long-term contracts with stipulations, the school and Bike work out a deal from year to year.
Bike’s goal now is now trying to lead the team to its first appearance in the Division-I Tournament. SHU came close last season, with its first winning season on the Division-I level, but fell in the NEC championship game to Central Connecticut State
This season, the Pioneers are again putting themselves in a situation to go dancing. Despite starting off 0-6, SHU has rallied to win 13 of its last 17 games and stands in first place in the NEC with a 10-2 conference record. If the Pioneers are able to win the league, there would not be a shortage of people excited to see one of the most loyal coaches in the nation get to coach in the biggest tournament of them all.
‘There isn’t another coach more deserving than him,’ Sacred Heart senior guard Drew Shubik said in an e-mail. ‘He stayed with the program through all the extremely tough years and all the critics saying it was time for him to retire. He kept his confidence in assistants, players, the university and himself. It would be special for everyone (to make it to the tournament this season). It would be really special for Coach Bike because of how long it has taken him to finally get there.’
Even rival coaches in the league feel the same way. St. Francis (NY) head coach Brian Nash, who served as an assistant coach under Bike, said the coaches in the NEC would not be mad were Bike to win the league because of all the time he has put in at the school.
‘We (coaches) are all competitive, and we’re all trying to win, but I don’t think anybody in our league could ever say a bad word about Dave, and I think people would be very happy for him if he did make it,’ Nash said.
Bike’s loyalty to the Sacred Heart program is something few can challenge. Bike has seen the program during its best times and its worst. Although Bike said he doesn’t think a lot about making it to the big dance and winning the conference, that does not mean Bike wouldn’t like to add one piece to his resume.
‘I’ve been going to the Final Four for 30 years now,’ Bike said. ‘The thing that I dream about is when you get to the championship games, the finals, the semifinals, they have the banners of the schools that participated in the tournament. That’s something I would like to see, Sacred Heart’s name up there one of these days.’
No. 4 Kansas at No. 12 Texas
Monday, 9:00, ESPN
Despite losing the national player of the year last season, Kevin Durant, Texas has returned as one of the top teams in college basketball team. Texas head coach Rick Barnes is one of the most underrated coaches in the nation. On the other hand, Kansas is in the conversation as the best team in the nation. The Jayhawks know how to score, and they do it early and often.
Although Kansas is the better team on paper and in the standings, Texas is the type of team that can pull the upset. Home court goes a long way in games of big magnitude, and this game is no exception.
Texas 87, Kansas 84
Published on February 6, 2008 at 12:00 pm
