Journal-News.com

CINCINNATI — One of the few things Charlie Coles doesn't like about college basketball comes at the beginning of each season.

"Every year when they introduce me and give my record, I ask 'em, 'Please don't do that,' " the Miami University basketball coach said with a smile and some mock exasperation. "I say it doesn't look like I'm very smart because we lose a lot, too. ... You might think we're not very good."

But with guys like Coles, the career record (301-242) is not the measure of the man, his team or his program.

Coles is not for padding his record, not a guy for playing a bunch of lesser teams at home before the conference schedule starts.

"Our four years here, Coach Coles made it perfectly clear that we were going to go out and play anyone, anywhere," said Miami's 6-foot-8 senior forward Tyler Dierkers.

He was saying this after the RedHawks had led No. 16 Xavier for the first 31 minutes Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Cintas Center, only to fall 60-53.

It was Miami's fifth straight game on the road — they play next at Temple, Wednesday — and don't open at home until Dec. 6. Already they've lost to No. 4 UCLA by five, were roughed up at No. 5 Pittsburgh and now are 2-3. Before they begin league play they'll play three more on the road, including West Virginia and Dayton.

"There are two schools of thought," Coles said. "Some guys like to get those wins and the public seems to buy that now. But a lot of those coaches are young guys and they're always on the move after that.

"But I'm too far into my career for that. I've always hoped at the end of the season we're able to take advantage of these kinds of games come (conference) tournament time."

He said there are risks to this thinking.

"It can be touchy. You never know when a kid is going to misread a game like this and be mad because we didn't beat Xavier. Well, c'mon, we know we had about a 30 percent chance of beating Xavier here, just like we did at UCLA and Pitt. But we can take plenty from this game. We did some good things.

"And I can usually sell our players on this idea. I just have to make sure they don't read too many newspapers, listen to too many radio shows, or talk to too many people around campus.

"I tell the kids at the beginning of the year, 'Guys, if you hang around with me, it's gonna be rough 'cause I'm gonna ask you to do things you probably can't do. And I'm gonna get mad at you when you can't.' "

But there are times they can. His teams once beat Notre Dame three seasons in a row. He'd beaten Xavier two of their last four games. And the RedHawks have made the postseason five times (the Sweet Sixteen once) in his 12 years at Miami.

He said there is one more risk to scheduling above yourself. Some guys lose jobs if they don't win.

That point was evident Saturday afternoon when Miami football coach Shane Montgomery was forced to resign after a 2-10 season and a 17-31 mark in four years as the RedHawks coach.

"That makes this a very sad day," Coles said quietly. "Shane Montgomery is a wonderful person. I've been fired before (Central Michigan). I know what it's like.

"And I'm going to tell Shane, 'Hey get right back in there. You're too good of a coach not to be successful. Don't let this make you something you're not.' "

Charlie Coles knows a record isn't always the measure of a man.