Eddie Jordan’s first moments as the new Rutgers men’s basketball coach couldn’t have been more different than the exit of his predecessor.
As he began his speech, to the chants of “Ed-die,” Ed-die” and talked about restoring pride and integrity to the controversy-riddled program at “The Barn” in New Brunswick, N.J., his voice was clearly cracking.
“It’s that feeling I have for this university,” the 58-year-old former Lakers assistant coach said Tuesday after his introductory press conference. “It comes from the heart. That’s how I coach. I tried to find the right words and the right things to say so people can understand it and feel the same passion.”
It was an emotional day for the proud Rutgers alum, a former NBA guard and NBA head coach who officially agreed to a five-year, $6.2 million deal to become his alma mater’s highest paid basketball coach.
In the same building he was known as “Fast Eddie,” where he was part of the Scarlet Knights’ glory days, part of the 1975-76 Final Four team, Jordan met the media, Rutgers fans and university officials and began the massive rebuilding project in earnest.
“Today is about the future of Rutgers basketball, and we’re moving forward,” Jordan said. “There’s some healing process that has to be done. I’m glad my team is here. We have enough talent to exceed expectations.”
Seeing his former program dragged through the mud over the last month, as the butt of jokes in the wake of the Mike Rice scandal, didn’t necessarily make Jordan pursue the job, which he described as a “tremendous challenge.” It was the job he has waited his entire coaching career to have.
“I wanted to come here 10 years ago,” he said. “I wanted to come here three years ago. It wasn’t because of what happened. I’ve always wanted to coach Rutgers.”
Jordan, Rutgers’ all-time leader in steals and assists, didn’t directly address the former coach or his actions on the video that went viral of him abusing players physically and verbally. Without comparing himself to Rice, he said his style is understated, talking quietly to gather his players closer to him in a huddle or point out mistakes one-on-one rather than barking out instructions, a la Rice.
“I’m about positive reaction, positive energy,” he said. “Everyone in this gym felt a bad feeling [about the video] and you take all those feelings together, that’s how I felt. That’s why I thought the most important step on the agenda was to regain trust, integrity and the relationships that you need to start over again.”
Jordan said assistant coaches and top recruiters David Cox and Van Macon would remain on his staff for “the time being.” His team, a group of nine, sat in the front row in a show of support. The entire group plans to return, notably star guard Myles Mack and forwards Kadeem Jack and Wally Judge. Jordan said one of the five players who have asked for their release to transfer also will return, though that player was not Jerome Seagears or Eli Carter, sophomore guards Jordan is hoping to convince to stay. It is believed to be forward Malick Kone, who attended the press conference.
Jordan plans to add pieces to the team, either transfers or recruits, and thinks the talent is in place to surpass expectations. His new players have the same high hopes for him.
“We’re looking for him to turn the program around,” Judge said.