Bayno’s next task: Replace Cyprien

Steve Addy

Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2000 | 9:49 a.m.

Glynn Cyprien has joined Eddie Sutton's coaching pipeline at Oklahoma State.

Now it's Bill Bayno's challenge to make sure recruits keep flowing to the Rebels.

Cyprien, UNLV's associate head coach, left the program Monday to be an OSU assistant under Sutton, who has guided several staffers into high-profile jobs in 30 seasons at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma State.

That's good news for Cyprien, 33, who has hoped to climb the coaching ladder, but bad news for the Rebels, who have lost their highly regarded recruiting point man.

It will be up to Bayno to hire a replacement who can maintain Cyprien's recruiting inroads this summer and continue the Rebels' budding resurgence in prep hotbeds such as Los Angeles.

"Cyp has been invaluable," Bayno said. "I am going to miss him. We'll still be friends, but now we'll be going against him. I have to go out and find someone like him, because of everything he represents. He was more than a recruiter for us. He was a great coach."

After five seasons together, the Rebels and Cyprien won't have to wait long to be reunited. UNLV will visit the Cowboys on Dec. 2 in Oklahoma City, hoping to ease the sting of losing to OSU at home last season.

"Before and after the game, we'll have (hand)shakes and hugs for Cyp," sophomore forward Dalron Johnson said. "But during the game, it will be all business."

Rebels guard Danny Brotherson, recruited by Cyprien, said, "Cyp is close to a lot of guys on our team, but maybe he felt he needed a change in his career. It'll be weird to see him on the other bench."

Bayno said he intends to fill the vacancy this month. It helps that August is one of the "quiet periods" on the NCAA's recruiting calendar (Aug. 1 to Sept. 6), so there's no communication allowed with recruits, except by mail.

"I want to act quickly, but I have a little time to think it over," Bayno said. "I've already been inundated with phone calls from experienced people who are very interested. I have a list in mind and I'll try to narrow it down this week.

"I want someone who can recruit nationally. I also want someone who can develop a rapport with the players, like Cyp did."

Cyprien's exit is also eased because assistant Dave Rice was given a greater role in recruiting this summer. When the adidas Big Time Tournament was here last month, Bayno and Rice blanketed the event, while Cyprien was at a junior college showcase in Atlanta.

"Dave's role would have grown even if Cyp was still here," Bayno said.

At Oklahoma State, Cyprien won't get the associate head coach's title, but his duties will be essentially the same as at UNLV -- recruiting coordinator and bench coach. In many ways it's a lateral move for him, but OSU is the higher profile program at the moment.

After reaching the final eight of the NCAA Tournament last season, the Cowboys had a great recruiting year. Their class was ranked No. 1 in the nation by recruiting guru Greg Swaim.

Also, for an assistant who wants to become a head coach, being on Sutton's staff is a huge plus. Purdue's Gene Keady, Illinois' Bill Self, Arizona State's Rob Evans and former Miami coach Leonard Hamilton are ex-Sutton assistants who have become successful head coaches.

Cyprien interviewed for the Jacksonville (Ala.) State head coaching job this summer. Though he isn't likely to succeed Sutton at OSU -- fellow assistant Sean Sutton, the coach's son, is a lock for that -- Cyprien will get plenty of exposure for other coaching jobs.

"This is a great opportunity for me," Cyprien said. "I have followed coach Sutton for a long time. He's a future hall-of-fame coach, one of the best in the business. This will be an obvious chance for me to learn a lot from him."

Of his stint at UNLV, Cyprien said, "It's been a great run. We made the postseason four out of five years. When we got here, we had three scholarship athletes, so I think we made some great strides. (Bayno) did a good job of bringing good players and good kids into the program."

Cyprien said his decision to leave had nothing to do with pending NCAA allegations against UNLV. He isn't named in any of the violations alleged in the NCAA Letter of Inquiry.

In Stillwater, Sutton expressed confidence in his hire.

"Some of my former assistants recommended Cyp very highly," he said in a statement. "He is very well respected in the coaching profession. I think he will rank right up there with all the outstanding assistant coaches I've had."

Point guard recruit Lafonte Johnson also had surgery in May, but is still limping and will miss another month. ...

When guard Steve Scoggin arrives from LA next week, all of UNLV's 2000 recruits will be in town. Omari Pearson arrived in June, Jermaine Lewis in July and Johnson this month.