Cyprien in line for Ala. coaching job

Steve Addy

Tuesday, March 28, 2000 | 9:41 a.m.

Glynn Cyprien is in the market to run a basketball program of his own, and the Rebels associate head coach might find that opportunity at Jacksonville State in Alabama.

Cyprien, 33, is being mentioned as a candidate for the JSU head coaching job, which opened this month when Mark Turgeon was hired away to be Wichita State's coach.

Interviews have not begun because new JSU athletic director Tom Seitz won't be on the job for a couple more weeks, but Cyprien said intermediaries contacted him to confirm his interest in the Division I post.

"I feel like I'm ready to be a head coach," Cyprien said Monday. "I've been at UNLV for five years, but I've been in (college) coaching for 13 years. There have been jobs I could have gone after in the past, but they weren't the right caliber. It's got to be a good job where I have a chance to succeed.

"I'm very familiar with the (Jacksonville) region and the league (Trans-America). I would like to think I have a good chance to be interviewed."

Cyprien, a New Orleans native, spent his first three UNLV seasons (1995-98) as an assistant and was associate head coach the last two. Before joining the Rebels, he served assistant stints at his alma mater Texas-San Antonio, Lamar and Western Kentucky. He served three seasons (1991-94) as associate head coach at Jacksonville (Fla.), where Seitz was athletic director.

"I absolutely think (Cyprien) is ready. Now it's just a matter of finding a situation where he can be successful and happy," UNLV coach Bill Bayno said. "He's going to be a tremendous head coach, and he deserves that opportunity.

"Even though you do not want to lose guys off of your staff, you hope you do, because it means they're getting a chance to fulfill their dreams."

Cyprien has been Bayno's top recruiter, and UNLV's 1997 class was ranked No. 1 in the nation by some recruiting services.

However, the Rebels are under NCAA investigation for alleged recruiting violations. Cyprien has not been implicated in the charges, and he said his job aspirations have nothing to do with the investigation.

"No, it's just time for me," Cyprien said.

Others mentioned as early candidates for the JSU job are Georgia Tech assistant Kevin Cantwell, 50, who was Appalachian State's coach from 1981-86, and Colorado assistant Dave Moe, 35, son of former longtime NBA coach Doug Moe.

* REBEL NOTES: Point guard prospect Kevin Bradley of Compton (Calif.) CC said during his visit to UNLV that he wanted to make his decision before April. He visited Utah over the weekend. The late signing period runs from April 12 to May 15.

Lafonte Johnson, a 5-foot-9 point guard at Crispus Attucks Prep in York, Pa., made his official visit to UNLV last weekend. He's a teammate of Rebels early signee Omari Pearson.

Sun reporter Victoria Sun contributed to this story.