Colson continues to shine

November 5, 1992
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)

"I think this will be the most exciting year we've had here in a long time," Fresno State head basketball coach Gary Colson said about the 1992-93 season. He has every right--the man is a proven winner, and not just in basketball. And he insists on his players being the same way.

With this commitment to excellence, Colson, 58, has racked up 516 wins in 31 seasons, and is the nation's 12th winningest active coach. He has built impressive credentials, with stints at Valdosta State (1958-68), Pepperdine (1968-79), and New Mexico (1980-88). Colson spent the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons as an assistant at UC Berkeley. His all-time winning percentage is .604.

The WAC is new to the Bulldogs, but not to Colson. This will be his second tour of duty in the league, having been at New Mexico.

This is his second season steering the Bulldogs' ship, and he has long been noted for his up-tempo, high scoring style. "Basically, we're in the entertainment business when people watch basketball. Fans don't like slowed-down ball, we want to give them a good product so they keep coming back," Colson said.

To those who consider him an offensive-minded coach, he won't deny it. "We're a team hard to stop. We attack and come at you, and you have to stop us."

Before coming to FSU, he had served eight years as New Mexico's head coach and turned around a program that had been ripped apart by scandal and troubles. They had included the FBI wiretapping a conversation by a New Mexico athletic director who was plotting to change transcript grades. "It took a while, but we straightened it out and had good times," Colson said. In his last five years at New Mexico, the Lobos appeared in five consecutive post-season tournaments and averaged 21 wins a season.

"The players weren't getting their degrees, but I changed that," Colson says emphatically. "And we're going to do the same here. Every player in my system has to have a goal to graduate."

The way to build a program, Colson said, is to get players who are committed to succeed.

"You have to build a house, and get a solid foundation," Colson said. "And the way to do that is you've got to get good people with good character along with the athletes.

"The players can improve their talents athletically, but they have to be good people to start with to make a good program. It's still a team sport.

"And five players with some athletic skill and potential, that have good court, with a good attitude about things can accomplish a lot."

During his tenure at New Mexico, five Lobos were drafted into the NBA. Colson had his share of players get to the pros, but he doesn't place as high a premium on that as you would think.

"To be honest, my No. 1 goal for players is to get their degree rather than being a training ground for the NBA," Colson said. "I want them to represent the school and community well, and when they get out, be in a position where they can have a job to make their community a better place.

"It's just not my purpose to point players toward the NBA. For most, it's not a dream that's real."

In addition to his coaching success, he has also authored three books on his coaching philosophy, titled "California Basketball" (written at Pepperdine), "New Mexico Basketball--The System" and "Concepts of Basketball" at Fresno State."I have always had a coaching philosophy which I think is good, especially for young coaches," Colson said. "So, I've tried to sell it wherever I've been."

What does he attribute his longevity and wins--31 years and 516 to be exact?

"It's not in terms of how many years and wins, that's not how I see it," said Colson.
"The things that matter to me are getting the most out of your players and helping them succeed."

"I get satisfaction from seeing all the individuals who have played for me--seeing them having learned well."

One of those was Dennis Johnson, who played under Colson at Pepperdine and went on to have a stellar 13-year career in the NBA with the Seattle SuperSonics and Boston Celtics.

"He was a joy, he was great to coach," Colson said. "In high school he was 10th man his senior year and just worked his way up. He got to (Pepperdine) and he had no scholarship, no guarantees, no nothing. But the key was perseverance. He never gave up. And he played 13 years in the NBA."

And what does he think will happen in 1992-93 for Fresno State?

"We want to go to the postseason and be as successful as we can. But success in my book is not W's and L's. We just plan to go out and compete every night.

"It's still a team game. I want my team to have chemistry, be able to work together, and have cohesiveness. You have to put a win in proper perspective as well as a loss. Win or lose, you do the best you can and go on to the next one."

The goals Colson tries to instill in his players are personal goals in addition to athletic ones. When they leave his system, he wants them to have just as much, if not more success in the real world.

"I have a team concept. You'll always be a member of the team, and you'll always be a team player. The 15th man is just as important as the number one starter," Colson said.

"We keep it simple in both areas. On offense, we want simplicity and execution. Defensively, we want to surprise and press. We want to be a team that loves to pass the ball. Any team that loves to pass the ball will get better shots and play better together."

This is Colson's return to the WAC. What does he expect the second time around?

"I'm excited about it," he said. "It's the best thing that could have happened to Fresno State."

What is it like?

"It's a tremendous basketball league. There will be some very, very good teams coming here. We have great support (with the Red Wave), and we'd better have it because the WAC is right up there with the noisiest crowds in the country. Pressure is everywhere, so we won't have that. It's just good basketball."