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Beck hired as WNCC coach
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By: Jeff Fielder, Sports Editor
Russ Beck doesn’t have any previous junior college head men’s basketball coaching experience.
That’s not a bit of a concern, however, to Western Nebraska Community College Athletic Director Jennifer Pedersen, who likes what Beck has to offer in terms of his recruiting skills, knowledge of the game, and passion to succeed.
Pedersen also likes the fact that Beck has spent the last few years serving as an assistant junior college coach at some of the nation’s top programs.
Because of that, Pedersen believes Beck is ready to be the next head coach at WNCC. Beck joins the Cougars after spending one season at the College of Southern Idaho, where he helped the Golden Eagles achieve a 22-9 record and third-place finish in the Scenic West Athletic Conference.
Beck replaces Brian Joyce, who resigned last month to take the assistant coaching position at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
“I think as a department this was a good step for us to take,” Pedersen said. “After looking at the programs he’s been with, he’s only been an assistant coach, but he’s been with some of the top programs in the country. So, even though he doesn’t have any head coaching experience, he’s definitely been with some tremendous coaches, and I think he’ll bring that knowledge to us.”
Before taking the assistant job at CSI, Beck was an assistant coach at Salt Lake Community College for one year. The Bruins that season earned a second-place finish in the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament at Hutchinson, Kan. Salt Lake Community College was the national champions this past season.
Beck also served a one-year assistant coaching stint at Southern Utah University, and before that he was an assistant at Dixie State College, where he helped the Rebels post a 40-24 record, a No. 1 national ranking, and two runner-up finishes in Region I8.
Pedersen said Beck has a number of quality traits that should help him make up for his lack of head coaching experience.
“He’s been a great recruiter the last four years as an assistant coach,” she said. “He does have some [junior college coaching] experience, and he understands the role that recruiting plays in junior college athletics.”
Pedersen said Beck has a reputation for bringing in top-notch student-athletes.
“I think recruiting is one of his best attributes,” Pedersen said. “He’s got a lot of ties regionally, nationally, and internationally. He has a bunch of people that he’s been working with the last four years, so I think that’s tremendous for us. Also, he comes from some clean programs, which is big. He’s not coming from a program that’s been in trouble.”
Beck, who will also teach classes at WNCC, takes over a Cougar men’s basketball program that returns four athletes – Saul Torres, Sedrick McBounds, Francisco Cruz, and Scott Bamforth – who received playing time on last season’s 25-7 squad.
In a press release issued through the College of Southern Idaho, Beck said he’ elated to land a head coaching job at WNCC. Beck has already started his duties with the Cougars, even picking up his first WNCC recruit – a point guard – within the last few days.
“I’m grateful for the open arms and how I was treated in my short time at CSI,” Beck said. “I feel this opportunity wouldn’t have come along for me if it wasn’t for [CSI head coach Steve Gosar], President [Jerry] Beck, and athletic director Joel Bate. I want to thank all the fans and everyone associated with Golden Eagle athletics for making my time here special. It was a very hard decision for me and my wife because we loved everything about the community and school. The opportunity to be a head coach at such a prestigious college and basketball tradition was just too hard to pass up.”
Pedersen said Beck will likely need to recruit at least one more big man for the upcoming season. If he does that, Pedersen thinks the Cougars could have another strong season.
“He just needs to put the pieces together, and then I think we’ll be right in the competition like we were last year,” Pedersen said.
Beck and his wife, Charity, have three children – Leilani, Briana and Ryker.
That’s not a bit of a concern, however, to Western Nebraska Community College Athletic Director Jennifer Pedersen, who likes what Beck has to offer in terms of his recruiting skills, knowledge of the game, and passion to succeed.
Pedersen also likes the fact that Beck has spent the last few years serving as an assistant junior college coach at some of the nation’s top programs.
Because of that, Pedersen believes Beck is ready to be the next head coach at WNCC. Beck joins the Cougars after spending one season at the College of Southern Idaho, where he helped the Golden Eagles achieve a 22-9 record and third-place finish in the Scenic West Athletic Conference.
Beck replaces Brian Joyce, who resigned last month to take the assistant coaching position at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
“I think as a department this was a good step for us to take,” Pedersen said. “After looking at the programs he’s been with, he’s only been an assistant coach, but he’s been with some of the top programs in the country. So, even though he doesn’t have any head coaching experience, he’s definitely been with some tremendous coaches, and I think he’ll bring that knowledge to us.”
Before taking the assistant job at CSI, Beck was an assistant coach at Salt Lake Community College for one year. The Bruins that season earned a second-place finish in the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament at Hutchinson, Kan. Salt Lake Community College was the national champions this past season.
Beck also served a one-year assistant coaching stint at Southern Utah University, and before that he was an assistant at Dixie State College, where he helped the Rebels post a 40-24 record, a No. 1 national ranking, and two runner-up finishes in Region I8.
Pedersen said Beck has a number of quality traits that should help him make up for his lack of head coaching experience.
“He’s been a great recruiter the last four years as an assistant coach,” she said. “He does have some [junior college coaching] experience, and he understands the role that recruiting plays in junior college athletics.”
Pedersen said Beck has a reputation for bringing in top-notch student-athletes.
“I think recruiting is one of his best attributes,” Pedersen said. “He’s got a lot of ties regionally, nationally, and internationally. He has a bunch of people that he’s been working with the last four years, so I think that’s tremendous for us. Also, he comes from some clean programs, which is big. He’s not coming from a program that’s been in trouble.”
Beck, who will also teach classes at WNCC, takes over a Cougar men’s basketball program that returns four athletes – Saul Torres, Sedrick McBounds, Francisco Cruz, and Scott Bamforth – who received playing time on last season’s 25-7 squad.
In a press release issued through the College of Southern Idaho, Beck said he’ elated to land a head coaching job at WNCC. Beck has already started his duties with the Cougars, even picking up his first WNCC recruit – a point guard – within the last few days.
“I’m grateful for the open arms and how I was treated in my short time at CSI,” Beck said. “I feel this opportunity wouldn’t have come along for me if it wasn’t for [CSI head coach Steve Gosar], President [Jerry] Beck, and athletic director Joel Bate. I want to thank all the fans and everyone associated with Golden Eagle athletics for making my time here special. It was a very hard decision for me and my wife because we loved everything about the community and school. The opportunity to be a head coach at such a prestigious college and basketball tradition was just too hard to pass up.”
Pedersen said Beck will likely need to recruit at least one more big man for the upcoming season. If he does that, Pedersen thinks the Cougars could have another strong season.
“He just needs to put the pieces together, and then I think we’ll be right in the competition like we were last year,” Pedersen said.
Beck and his wife, Charity, have three children – Leilani, Briana and Ryker.
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