Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 25, 1994 TAG: 9403250159
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The institute tapped the U.S. Air Force Academy in December, when it hired Falcons assistant Bill Stewart as head football coach. However, VMI athletic director Davis Babb said Thursday he was not ruling out any candidates yet for the basketball vacancy created this week when Joe Cantafio was hired by Furman.
"Primarily, we're looking for an individual who will accept and support the military school environment and always be looking for positives," Babb said. "Also, we'd like someone with a proven track record in recruiting because that's so important here."
Emmett Davis, an assistant to former Virginia Tech coach Don DeVoe at the U.S. Naval Academy, appears to fit that mold perfectly. Davis has been at Navy for eight years as a full-time assistant and serves as the school's recruiting coordinator.
Davis said he was not interested in discussing the VMI opening, but a source close to the situation confirmed he had formally applied.
"My professional inclination is to not comment on the position one way or another," Davis said. "I would rather not confirm or deny."
Davis, 34, played at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York under former Navy and Pitt coach Paul Evans and was a Saints assistant for four years.
One coach who admitted he was pursuing the VMI job is Jim Casciano, the head coach at Valley Forge (Pa.) Military Academy.
"I've spoken to Mr. Babb and sent him my materials for his review," said Casciano, who was an assistant at Washington and Lee from 1978-80 before joining the staff at Old Dominion for two seasons, along with current Monarchs head coach Oliver Purnell.
Casciano also was an assistant at Temple for three years and spent one season (1989-90) as an aide to Purnell at Radford. Casciano has been a head coach at Division III Castleton State and Division II St. Michael's, both in Vermont. He said his specialty is repairing wounded programs.
"I evaluate a situation, roll up my sleeves and turn things around," said Casciano, whose Trojans went 16-7 this season. "I feel comfortable in a military setting and I believe in it."
Randy Nesbit, who coached at The Citadel for eight seasons, also has expressed interest in the VMI job. Nesbit just completed hissecond year as head coach at Roane State (Tenn.) Community College.
Among the players Nesbit coached at Furman was Ed Conroy, an assistant to Cantafio at VMI and now at Furman.
"I'm interested in finding out which direction the program is going," said Nesbit, who had one winning season for the Bulldogs and an overall record of 75-121. "Even though I was at The Citadel several years, I can't really say I know the ins and outs of VMI."
Also "interested in the direction" of the Keydets' program is Bobby Stevens, a graduate of and former assistant at Virginia Tech.
"I have not been in telephone contact with Mr. Babb, but I have sent a resume," said Stevens, an assistant at Winthrop (S.C.). "It's an outstanding opportunity, and I'm interested in talking with them if they're interested in me."
Stevens has been at Winthrop for four years and also has been an assistant at Tennessee and Florida.
Gary Edwards and Dick Bender also have been linked to the opening, along with former VMI assistants Dave Manzer and Pete Strickland.
"I talked to Joe Cantafio, who is a friend of mine, to congratulate him on the Furman job," said Edwards, the head coach at Charleston Southern. "We didn't really talk about the opening, but I am interested in looking into it."
Bender, a Radford assistant the past three seasons, said: "I'd like to [be involved]. I want to talk to them and get a feel for what they want. From what I've read in the papers, I don't know how much of a chance I'd have, but I'm interested."
Babb said he was not limiting the selection process to current head coaches or assistants at major programs.
"[Experience at a military school] would be a big help, but it's not absolutely necessary. Obviously, it would give someone a special understanding of us," Babb said.
"We want someone who will stress academics, stress the whole student-athlete and commitment to the corps. We also want someone who plans to be here for a while, build the program and leave his mark."
by CNB