When Head Basketball Coach
Tyler Geving hired former Boise State Assistant Andy McClouskey this summer, he got a guy who lives, eats, sleeps and breathes basketball…a 100 percenter.
“I never really developed any hobbies. Over the years, I tried to be a family guy, to raise my two daughters, (Madison, 18 and Zoie, 16) and basketball has always taken most of the rest of my time, so I haven't done a lot else,” said the 51-year-old who played two years under Ralph Miller at Oregon State (returning to coach under Miller and Jimmy Anderson) and finished his high school career as the third-leading scorer in Oregon big school history.
During one of his two stints as an assistant at OSU (women, 1982-85, Men, 1988-95) he did flirt with taking up golf.
“I was lousy. I tried to learn the game while I was at Oregon State. We had something called the Dee Andros par. It was 100, and the best I could do was 104 or 106. When I couldn't even make the Dee Andros par…” he recalled ruefully shaking his head.
He did play in a Line Backers Tournament in Portland years ago. In fact, he thinks he may have been in the same foursome as then PSU Head Football Coach Tim Walsh. “A guy donated $500 so he wouldn't have to play with me,” he recalled laughing.
While his efforts on the golf course may not be the stuff of legend (or at least the kind of legend you want to brag about), his efforts with players on the basketball court has been another story.
During his career, which also has included stops at Mt Hood Community College (head coach) and assistant positions at Stetson College and Nevada, he worked with such future NBA players as Gary Payton, Brent Barry, AC Green, Scott Haskins, Kirk Snyder and Coby Karl.
“Andy has been around the game his who life. He's done it all. He'd done x's and o's. He's done recruiting. He brings a lot of everything. He's a presence, an outgoing person and personality,” said Geving.
McClouskey doesn't have just one strong point, Geving said. “He's worked in every phase of the game, including recruiting, offense, defense, working with 'bigs', guards. He's very versatile. Whatever we ask, he can do it.”
And McClouskey loves to coach basketball.
“I think we all get into coaching because we want to remain as close to the game as possible. We want to stay in the game and I want to help young people have the same experience I had,” he said.
Being a college athlete is a unique experience, he added. “There are people taking care of you. It's different from the average non-student athlete. You get to travel, to meet other people while playing a game you love. You make life-long friends and learn life-long lessons. You want to share that with young people.”
He sees basketball as a unique sport, the “most integrated sport. In baseball, the shortstop and second baseman might hate each other and still play together all right. There's a chemistry required in basketball. Yes, there are individual skills, but everyone is working toward a common goal. You have 20 percent of that load in a five-person game.”
Over his 25 years, there have been some highlights…but he had to think hard to get them because just coaching the game is one continuing highlight.
There was a walk-on during his years at Boise State (where he did everything but put air in the basketballs), he recalled. “He wasn't the most talented player in the world, but he played on a championship team (BSU made national tournament appearances during his time there) and now is doing well overseas. And, any time you get to a national tournament, that's a highlight...helping turn around the Nevada program.”
And he's looking forward to adding to his highlight list at PSU.
“Portland State has a great future in the Big Sky Conference. It's unique in the Big Sky and, to a lot of athletes, being in Portland is attractive. I've read several times over the years that basketball is an urban game and a lot of urban schools do well in basketball. That dates back to the 40's and 50's,” he said.
He came to PSU because he sees a bright future for the program and because he likes being in the northwest.
“Andy has incredible respect around the state. High school and college coaches…everyone is happy we hired him. Everyone you meet, they all say 'that was a great hire'. He's very popular in the coaching community,” said Geving.
McClouskey described himself as “a northwest guy. A lot of people from my early career are still here. It's really terrific to be back. I like the athletes in Oregon and Washington, and, with California on our doorstep, there's a great pool of players form which to draw.”
Starting somewhere is always exciting, but there's a little apprehension, too, he said.
“Anytime you're new to a system, you have to do your best to carry out the head coach's plan. Your job is to make the coach's job easier and put his plan into action. You have the responsibility to see that everything and everyone around the program is getting better because of what you do…and that includes players, boosters, administrators and people who have graduated from the program,” he said.
Welcome to Portland State, Andy McClouskey.
