Todd Bozeman Coaches Morgan State

After an 8-year NCAA ban the fomer Cal leader returns to NCAA basketball.

Apr 28, 2006

Former California basketball coach, Todd Bozeman, who was banned for eight years by the NCAA for recruiting violations, is back in coaching, humbled and challenged.

Thirteen years ago, you were college basketball's shining star. A 29-year-old head coach, who took underdog Cal past powerful Duke and into the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen.

You were a stellar 63-35 at Cal, in your brief tenure there. You, Todd Bozeman, seemed destined to be counted among the coaching elite, with Knight, Izzo, Kryszewski and Wooden.

That is, until you broke a major canon of ethics, when you offered $30,000 to a recruit's family, so he would play for you at Cal. The NCAA was crestfallen, Todd Bozeman, and they hit you hard. For eight years, you were banned from coaching; you became a college basketball pariah.

Let's not dwell on the past, though. You've matured; at least you say so, and your age, 42, would lead us to believe you have learned much since your ill-conceived decision.

Now, the ban is lifted, and you are back, Todd Bozeman. Back to a head coaching position in the NCAA.

Ah, but the likes of Cal and UCLA have not come calling. No, you'll have to prove yourself, as you try to guide Morgan State University from the depths of the Mid-eastern Athletic Conference.

"I always had a dream and a goal of taking a historically black college and making it a national power and making it a special basketball program," you have said.

This historically black Baltimore school will give you the opportunity to make your dream a reality. The Bears were 4-26 in 2005-2006, and they have not won a conference title in 30 years.

This should mean nothing to you, though, because you are known as a great recruiter, Todd Bozeman. A bit of an irony, since you paid for one of your best-ever recruits. How, we must wonder, will you attract quality talent to Morgan State? At least you have the backing of your new boss.

"The addition of Todd Bozeman will hopefully be viewed years from now as the turning point in the history of Morgan State's basketball program," said MSU Athletic Director Floyd Kerr.

Let us hope, Todd Bozeman, that Kerr is a soothsayer. Let us hope that you bring young phenoms to Morgan State, because of your brilliance as a coach and not with promises of money or anything else that would raise the ire of the NCAA.

It won't be easy. What you'll probably need, Todd Bozeman, is plenty of patience and lots of good fortune. There won't be any Jason Kidds or Lamond Murrays beating down the gym doors at Morgan State.

One thing is certain, though. You, Kerr and the entire Morgan State athletic program will be under the microscope next season.

You certainly seem like a good guy, someone who has learned a valuable life lesson. So, let the entire basketball community cheer for you and your woefully bad Bears.

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