Kevin Loughery: Upbeat on and Off the Court : Bullets’ Coach Is Happy for Right Now, but Real Test Is Still Ahead of Him

Through the smoky haze of a monstrous cigar, Kevin Loughery gives his standard salutation: “Hey buddy, how’s it goin’?” The greeting, given repeatedly at the National Basketball Assn. meetings that recently ended here, is more statement than query, and the breezy manner in which it is given leaves the unmistakable impression that the new coach of the Washington Bullets is doing quite well.

As he should be. The Bullets, revamped and with as good a record as the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets at this point, were one of the hot topics of conversation in Orlando, with some executives going as far as to say Washington could contend with those elite squads in the upcoming season.

But that’s not the sole reason for Loughery’s cheery demeanor. More to the point is the fact that he’s back in the NBA. A string of more than two decades of pro basketball, first as a player, then as a coach in New Jersey, Atlanta and Chicago, was broken in July 1985 when the Bulls fired him. For most of the 1985-86 season, Loughery puttered around the fringes of the game, serving as a color commentator on a number of Detroit Pistons telecasts.

In March, the Bullets, stagnant and in desperate need of shaking up, fired Gene Shue with 13 games remaining in the regular season and hired Loughery. Using a more uptempo style, the Bullets won seven of those games and put a scare into the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs, falling in the fifth and decisive game.

Five months later, Loughery is acting as if he belongs here.

“It’s a tough business we’re in as far as the ups and downs,” he said. “I don’t mean it’s a tough life, but the emotional part is. But I’ve been in it so long you get used to it--it’s natural.”

From all indications it would appear that the feeling on the part of the Bullets’ front offfice is mutual. Owner Abe Pollin picked Loughery out of deference to his years playing with the team. General Manager Bob Ferry was delighted with the choice because it united him with a kindred spirit.

“We’ve both got a little crazy in us,” said Ferry, intending a compliment to Loughery.

The chemistry was not the same between Shue and Ferry, and one reason is the men’s differing personalities. Shue is a devout health enthusiast who, during his five years with the Bullets, grew more and more fastidious. Ferry, on the other hand, is one of the more boisterous men in the league.

But Ferry knows it’s too early to be certain he and Loughery will mesh perfectly. “Right now it’s like a new marriage. We haven’t faced adversity yet,” Ferry said. “I haven’t been with him when things aren’t going well. I’m sure our relationship will be tested.”

Especially if the Bullets--with Moses Malone, Jay Vincent, Jeff Malone, et al.--don’t approach the heightened expectations. And the responsibilty for living up to those expectations will fall on Loughery, 46, who coached a championship team in the American Basketball Assn. but has struggled to a 291-444 mark in 11 seasons as an NBA coach.

When Loughery was hired, many felt he wasn’t much of a change from Shue. But, according to New Jersey Coach Dave Wohl, the choice of Loughery was a sound one.

“Owners and GMs look for a guy who can make his teams play hard night in and night out. Kevin’s teams have always done that, even when they haven’t won,” said Wohl, who once served as an assistant to Loughery with the Nets. “And he’s never had overly talented teams in the NBA--that’s one thing people have to remember with his record. When I was his assistant we started five guys and the only one who would’ve started on another team was Bernard King. Everyone else would have struggled to make anyone else’s roster and we made the playoffs with them.”

Loughery has said he’s a different person than he was earlier in his career. Gone is the ranter who habitually led the league in technical fouls. Gone is the strategist who, like Shue, seemed inclined to stop a three-on-one fast break to call a set play.

“I think the time I was away was really a blessing in disguise,” he said. “You watch situations from a different angle and you can really see what it takes to win in this league. Right now, we’re in a position where the biggest thing is getting talent. Guys have strengths coaching offense or defense or this or that, but the best one you can have now is putting together a team.

“Offenses and defenses everywhere are pretty similar. The scouting is thorough everywhere. You’ve got to put the people out there and I’ve never seen (more) positive moves made to put together a good team.”

But is Loughery a good coach?

“In some situations you can’t be judged by your won and lost record,” Ferry said. “There are times when it’s impossible to succeed. He is a good coach. He proved when he coached the Nets that when he has good talent he can win. Like anyone else, he’s proved that when you don’t have good talent you’re going to lose.”

Loughery believes the question is moot. “Guys have gone from winning championships to having the worse record in the league and have come back again,” he said. “I don’t know if the jury is still out on me as a coach. If it is, that doesn’t bother me. I have no problems with my ability to coach NBA basketball, none at all.”