Task Facing Bayno at UNLV Isn’t an Easy One

His life would have been considerably easier, and much more fun, if he had stayed put. And legitimate shots at national championships don’t come around often.

Bill Bayno understood all he would likely give up if he left Massachusetts for Las Vegas. Although his experience out west has been less-than-sensational so far, Bayno expects things to improve--soon.

Bayno, Nevada Las Vegas’ first-year men’s basketball coach, is working hard to initiate positive changes for the Rebels. It has been an exceedingly tough gig, but Bayno hasn’t withered. If anything, the difficulties have inspired him even more.

“It’s been really tough . . . a big struggle,” Bayno said. “I knew coming in it was going to be hard, and it got tougher.

“But I’m not disappointed because I knew we would have a task at hand. It’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to get it done.”

Bayno, 33, formally took control of the Rebels on March 30, 1995. He was introduced to the public and media as the 10th coach in school history. It was a day of joy and optimism for a program that had fallen on hard times.

So much for the fun. Bayno and the Rebels haven’t had much good fortune since.

UNLV is 9-14 overall and 6-9 in the Big West Conference, tied for last with Cal State Fullerton. UNLV has been near the bottom of the conference standings for much of the season.

“We have problems scoring, trouble rebounding and we don’t defend very well,” Bayno said. “But I can’t be upset because the guys are giving me everything they’ve got.

“The kids have not quit. They practice hard and they have not given up on each other. We’re just not very big or very good.”

The Rebels used to be among college basketball’s elite, but years of political infighting and numerous legal wars with the NCAA devastated the program. Last season, the Rebels (12-16, 7-11) had four coaches.

Enter Bayno. He was a respected associate coach at Massachusetts under Coach John Calipari.

Recruiting was among Bayno’s duties with the Minutemen. He was chiefly responsible for bringing in high school stars such as center Marcus Camby, the leading candidate for national player of the year.

With Bayno bringing in talent, the once-hapless Minutemen became a power. They were selected to play in four consecutive NCAA tournaments during Bayno’s tenure.

This season, Massachusetts is ranked No. 1 and is the nation’s only undefeated Division I team.

Why leave all that behind for a big mess?

Well, Bayno is ambitious and UNLV, baggage included, is still among the sweetest jobs in coaching. It wasn’t a tough call.

“This is what I’ve worked for my whole life,” he said. “[This] is an enormous opportunity to run one of the top programs in the history of college basketball.”

Now if only the players were better. Bayno didn’t have much to work with this season.

“There were only four [returning] players in the program when I came in,” Bayno said. “I only had 10 days to go out and recruit a team.”

Injuries to key players haven’t helped, but Big West coaches expected little from this bunch when it was healthy. Despite the Rebels’ poor play, the Las Vegas community has stuck with them.

“The people in the community and town have been just great and understanding,” Bayno said. “They expected a tough year.”

Bayno deserves a lot of credit for helping to maintain any interest in the Rebels. He avoided the mistakes of Rollie Massimino, one of his predecessors, by embracing the community.

“My goal is to make this basketball program the window of a great university,” Bayno said. “It’s important for me to be involved in the campus and in the community.”

Admittedly, though, the season has been tiring for Bayno.

“I’ve had to spend so much more time in the office,” Bayno said. “I’ve tried to come up with different things . . . different ways to manufacture shots.”

UNLV is moving to the Western Athletic Conference at the end of the academic year, and next season’s recruits are expected to be the best at UNLV in a while. Bayno hopes those changes trigger a Rebel revival.

“I’m not the type of person,” Bayno said, “to sit back and wait.”