Brad Greenberg wins in his home debut as Radford's coach

By Charles R. Barrineau The Collegiate Times

November 15, 2007

Blacksburg, VA (CSTV U-WIRE) -- RADFORD -- Former Virginia Tech men's basketball associate head coach Brad Greenberg registered his first career win as a college head coach, leading Radford University to a 68-54 win over the Presbyterian College Blue Hose in Wednesday's home opener."I don't have enough coach speak in me to act like it wasn't (great) -- it was cool," Greenberg said."It was a very, very nice feeling to see that clock wind down and realize that after a long, strange trip in basketball, doing a lot of different things, to coach a team that, I think, played real hard tonight -- and played pretty well ... I'm enjoying that feeling.It's a nice feeling.I hope I get to enjoy that feeling a lot more times before I'm done doing this."

Greenberg took the Highlander head coaching position back on March 23, just five days after the Virginia Tech Hokies were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in the second round by the Southern Illinois Salukis.

The coaching staff in Radford slightly resembles the one that was in place during the 2006-07 season in Blacksburg.Two staff members made the 14-mile trek with Greenberg down Prices Fork Road to Radford.

Rick Hall, the former director of Tech's men's basketball operations, was the first assistant coach hired by Greenberg after signing with Radford.Cedric Smith, Greenberg's second hire, was the assistant strength coach for Tech men's basketball from 2005 to 2007.Smith previously worked with Greenberg at the University of South Florida during the 2002-03 season, where Greenberg worked under his younger brother, Seth.

"It's easy, it's like working with family," Smith said."I've known Brad.He's always been around there when I played at South Florida ... Now, coming here, I've been around the Greenbergs for a while now.They can't get rid of me."

Greenberg and his staff started their new coaching chapter with a road trip to the state of Michigan this past weekend.The Highlanders tipped-off their 2006-07 season with a televised 82-55 loss to the University of Michigan Wolverines.Two days later Radford lost a 72-55 game to the Eastern Michigan Eagles in Ypsilanti, Mich.

The victory over Presbyterian is more than just the first win of a college head coaching career for Greenberg, it is a building block for potential future successes.The Blue Hose will join the Big South Conference next season and, as brother Seth has shown, programs can be built on conference success.

It will be interesting to see whether or not Greenberg can once again propel Radford to the Big South success and the NCAA Tournament berths that the program previously enjoyed.But to do that, the Highlanders will have to overtake the Winthrop Eagles as the league's dominant team.

But, as Seth has made the Tech community well aware, building a basketball program is a process.A coach has to bring in quality, talented players and work with the ones he already has.

"It's been a big difference from just the style of play, to the way he coaches, to the way he prepares us for practice and for games," said Radford junior Martell McDuffy."It's been a total 360 I can say, a total turnaround from one coach to another."

But building a program requires more than just talented players and in-conference success.Brad has taken a page from Seth's playbook by putting together a competitive non-conference schedule.Games against Michigan, the Air Force Academy, Gardner-Webb, Georgetown, South Carolina and West Virginia highlight the Highlanders' 2007-08 out-of-conference slate.

"It makes you more attractive in recruiting," Greenberg said."Those kids want to play higher than whatever level you define Big South Basketball at.One of the ways to get them excited about being a part of the Big South is to tell them you are also going to get to experience playing teams from different leagues."

But don't expect Virginia Tech to necessarily be added to that non-conference slate.

"I'm not looking forward to doing that and I don't think Seth is either," Greenberg said."We're, I think, enjoying the idea that we can be supportive of each other without having to play each other.I think it would be a tough thing for two brothers to have to do that ... I like the fact that he can come to my game and tell me what he thinks and enjoy the game -- and I want to be able to do the same thing ... It's only a win, potentially, for one of the brothers, so I don't like it."

One of the final steps in the process is student and fan ownership of the program, which could can be a challenge if Radford continues to be a mediocre Big South team.But if the 2600 fans, including Seth, who showed up to the home opener Wednesday were any indication of what's to come, the Highlanders may be playing in front of a few more fans this season.

"This is more than a pretty good crowd," said Radford University President Penelope Kyle."This is a fabulous crowd for Radford University.If you had told me two years ago when I arrived here that I would ever see a crowd like this for the first basketball game of the season, I never would have believed it."

One of the ways to get the student body into a game is to distribute T-shirts, which the Hokies have done in the past, and the Highlanders did Wednesday night.Many students purchased 'Dread the Red' T-shirts for the season.

"It's been used in the past," Greenberg said."The 'Dread the Red' slogan has been something that's been something that has been a part of Radford Basketball years back ... I heard they were selling pretty well at the bookstore."