ERIC SCHMOLDT Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Thursday, July 3, 2008 12:00 am
Joel Davidson has left Sheridan before, but he's always gone back.
He's not necessarily anxious to leave again, but if Casper College calls, he wants the move to be permanent.
At least that's what he told a group of fans and boosters on campus when he interviewed for the open men's basketball coaching position Wednesday.
"I don't have a bad job now; I have a really good job," said Davidson, currently the head coach at Sheridan College. "It's just, Casper has the chance to be the premier job in the region and it's something that I have to look at.
"I'm not trying to leave Sheridan. There's not a lot of jobs, and I haven't applied for them. But Casper has the chance to be the premier job and it would take that to leave. I wouldn't leave for many other jobs."
Davidson was the second of three finalists to interview for the position that was left vacant when Gary Becker resigned last month. Former Northwest College coach Andy Jensen was in Casper on Tuesday and University of Wyoming assistant Shaun Vandiver will interview today.
Davidson, who has called Sheridan home since elementary school, left the city a few times, but has always been drawn back. He has been the head coach for five seasons at the community college after four as an assistant and now wants the opportunity to take the Thunderbirds back to national prominence.
"Coach Becker has done a good job the last couple years, turning things around," Davidson said. "Now I think it's ready to take the next step, and I think I can do that.
"And with all the resources in place already … there's a lot of great things to offer."
Davidson's already shown what he can do with the resources he's got in Sheridan.
He helped lead the Generals to the NJCAA Tournament in 2006 and was part of a 60-game home-court winning streak that ended in January of 2004. Davidson can't remember losing more than four games at home during his nine-year tenure.
"We've got great support in Sheridan, too, but Casper's a place you always are jealous of when you come here and see the support and see all the people volunteering," Davidson said. "We look forward to coming here all the time to play because it's a good environment.
"The thought of being able to make that grow is appealing."
And he wants to do that with the same up-tempo style that has worked for the Generals.
"Our style of play is hard to play against," Davidson said. "If you've been sitting on a bus for six or eight hours and you get off and the team you're playing is pressing you for 40 minutes and guarding you really hard, it's hard to adjust to."
It might even be harder than the adjustments involved with leaving Sheridan again.
But - if he beats out the other finalists - at least he won't be far from home.
Contact sports reporter Eric Schmoldt at (307) 266-0578 or eric.schmoldt@trib.com
COACHING TRACKER
n WEDNESDAY: Joel Davidson, current head coach at Sheridan College, was the second of three finalists to interview for the vacant men's basketball coaching position at Casper College.
n TRACK RECORD: Davidson, who has spent the majority of his life in Sheridan, led the Generals to the national tournament in 2006 and said he's lost just four home games during his tenure.
n HE SAID IT: "I think (Casper College is) ready to take the next step and I think I can do that." - Davidson.
n A FOURTH CANDIDATE?: A group of Casper College boosters has circulated a petition this week in attempt to help former T-Bird coach Pat Rafferty get an interview for the position. See PAGE D5 for more.
n UP NEXT: Former Northwest College coach Andy Jensen interviewed on Tuesday and Wyoming assistant Shaun Vandiver will speak to boosters and fans today at noon in the T-Bird Gymnasium lobby.