Now It’s the Worst of Times for <i> Coach</i> John Kuester

Nothing John Kuester ever experienced could have possibly prepared him for the season he is enduring as head basketball coach at George Washington.

When he was in high school, Kuester was part of a team that won three straight Virginia state Catholic titles. Playing under Dean Smith at North Carolina in the mid-1970s, he helped the Tar Heels win two Atlantic Coast Conference titles and gain a Final Four berth. Kuester lasted three years in the NBA, and later enhanced his resume by working as an assistant at Boston University under Rick Pitino.

Those were the best of times. Now, in what seems like the worst of times, Kuester’s only consolation is that things couldn’t possibly sink any lower.

George Washington was the lone winless Division I team until a 103-77 victory over Massachusetts on Jan. 21. That night, Colonial fans swarmed the court and tore down the nets in a celebration usually reserved for NCAA champions.

Since that time there have been a few close games, but no more wins. A 1-26 season is real possibility.

“I’ve never been through an experience like this,” said Kuester, who is on his way to guiding the worst team in the school’s 82-year history. “I’m trying to find out how to handle adversity, but it hasn’t been easy. I’ll tell you, something like this really helps you find out who your friends are.”

Smith is one of those friends. The North Carolina coach often calls his protege, offering consolation and advice.

“I try to give him some encouragement,” Smith said. “When he was here, he was the type of guy who would dive on the floor for loose balls, do anything he could to win. Being the competitor he is, I’m sure this is just tearing him up.”

Kuester, frequently checks the standings around the country, hoping teams in similar situations--such as Portland State (the last winless team before GW) and Navy (winless since December)--have been able to shake their slumps.

“My heart goes out to them,” the 35-year-old coach said. “It’s sad to say, but I know just how they feel.”

The Colonials started out on the wrong foot this season. Then they got stepped on.

Center Max Blank, who finished second on the team last year in scoring and rebounding, pulled a hamstring muscle in preseason practice and has yet to play a game at full speed. Leading scorer Ellis McKennie broke his foot during the fifth game of the season and is out for the year. Starting forward Mike Jones has been fighting tendinitis of the knee, and senior forward Brian Royal is sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury.

“We wanted to bring our freshmen along slowly, but with all these injuries we were forced to throw them to the wolves,” Kuester said. “Call it experience under fire.”

GW opened the season with six home games, all losses, including matchups against Yale, Hartford and the University of Maryland-Baltimore, hardly formidable foes. In comparison, Kuester lost only four home games in four years at North Carolina and never endured a losing streak that exceeded two.

“I’ll tell you, something like this gives you a different perspective on life,” he said. “You realize how important your family is. This losing, it’s killing me. But it makes me see how precious this job is, and how lucky I am to have it.”

Kuester’s job seems safe, at least until next year. In his past three seasons at GW, he won 12, 10 and 13 games. Though this year has been disastrous, he says the administration has been understanding because of the injuries.

“They know the background to this. It’s been a fluke year,” Kuester said. “Next year will be my fourth (recruiting) class in, and I think we’ll really turn things around. We could have 15 guys in uniform.”

As 2,700 fans watched recently, Kuester looked for win No. 2 against St. Joseph’s, Pa., but lost, 83-81. Thursday night, they lost to Temple, 94-65, and fell to 1-20.

“We had nine bodies to work with, and one guy had the flu and another had a pulled thigh muscle,” Kuester said of the St. Joe’s game. “It’s been like that all year. But, to their credit, the kids have handled this all well. They haven’t given up in any game.”

Neither has Kuester.

“We’ll get through this,” he said. “And when next year comes around, all this will pay off. The future is bright.”

And the present?

“He’s upbeat,” Smith said. “He really seems ever confident that things can get turned around. It’s just a shame that in this profession things are measured only by wins and losses. He loses to West Virginia (currently No. 15) by two points and it’s just another loss.

“It’s so black and white,” Smith said. “I’d say he’s done a great job, considering what he’s had to go through.”