Chambers says he’ll be a Buddy to UNLV coach

Thursday, July 10, 2003 | 9:34 a.m.

But CCSN boss is surprised he wasn't considered for job

Buddy Gouldsmith walked into the Lied Athletic Complex as UNLV's top assistant baseball coach Wednesday at 8 a.m. Minutes later, he bolted from the complex as head coach of the Rebels.

He had someone to see.

Gouldsmith zipped down Paradise Road, traveled east on I-215, navigated the 95 and, soon enough, flung open the door to the baseball offices of the Community College of Southern Nevada in Henderson.

"He walked in, and I go, 'Congratulations,' " said CCSN baseball coach and athletic director Tim Chambers. "He goes, 'Huh? That's what I came to tell you. I didn't want you to hear from anyone else.'

"I said, 'I knew yesterday.' It was good, funny. No big deal, he just wanted to talk about my guys."

For the second time in two years, Chambers -- who showed Gouldsmith how well networked he is in Nevada, if not the country, by knowing Gouldsmith's fate before the man himself -- got passed over by UNLV.

This time, however, Chambers had clout, courtesy of his leading the Coyotes to the Junior College World Series championship in Colorado in May.

Didn't matter. UNLV interim athletic director Fred Albrecht said only Gouldsmith was considered for the position once Jim Schlossnagle took the Texas Christian gig Tuesday.

Chambers said he was "extremely surprised" that he did not even receive a courtesy call from Albrecht or senior associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie.

"Even if I had gotten a call, it doesn't mean I would have taken the job," Chambers said. "But I am surprised that they made a decision so quickly and that I wasn't given a phone call."

His office and cell phones rang constantly Wednesday with calls from friends, colleagues and peers who were incredulous about what they viewed as UNLV's callousness toward a local who has a national title on his resume.

Chambers declined to consider the slight as a slap in the face.

"I won't go down that road," he said. "I like Buddy Gouldsmith, and I'll support him. He's a good man. But I am surprised, extremely surprised, about the way it went down."

Chambers expects to have a pleasant relationship with Gouldsmith. That wasn't the case with Schlossnagle, for the first 12 or 13 months he was in town, but Chambers said he never let that affect his players' futures.

"Our kids don't necessarily have aspirations to play for UNLV," Chambers said. "A lot are local, and if they're being recruited by Texas, LSU and places like that, they'll look into their best option.

"I don't believe I've played any part in our kids going to UNLV or not going to UNLV ... Buddy's a hell of a guy, and I think he'll do fine over there."