Classic move by Air Force

Former Air Force men's basketball coach Reggie Minton was taken aback when told the academy wanted to attach his name to its basketball tournament.

"I was very, very surprised that anyone thought that this was something that I was deserving of," the self-effacing Minton said this week. "It's almost unbelievable that anyone would think I was worthy of it."

But to current Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds, it was a no-brainer.

Reynolds wanted to honor Minton for his service in the Air Force, the 30 years he spent as a coach at the academy - including 16 as head coach (1984-2000) - and his contributions to basketball as deputy executive director for the National Association of Basketball Coaches, his current position.

So the Air Force Classic, which debuted last season, was renamed The Reggie Minton Air Force Classic. The two-day event begins this afternoon when Texas Pan-Am plays Wofford at 2:30 at Clune Arena. Following that game, Air Force will face the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

And at halftime of the Falcons' game, Minton will be introduced.

"I'm not sure how many people in the arena will know who heck I am," Minton said. "But I know it will be a very, very nice homecoming."

Reynolds wants to make sure people know Minton, who has been a positive influence throughout his coaching career.

They first met in 1986. Reynolds was an assistant for Winthrop, which was making a western swing that included a game at Air Force. Reynolds, who was close friends with Minton assistant Paul Drake, "made an impression on me," Minton said.

"People have helped me along the way, and sometimes I look back and say, ‘I wonder why that particular coach saw something in me and was warm and open when I was just an assistant trying to make my way,'" Minton said. "(Reynolds) was a good coach, and I knew people who knew him thought highly of him."

Said Reynolds: "I was a young coach, and he was very good to me. He's always been cordial and been willing to share ideas and thoughts and talk about the profession."

Reynolds and Minton kept in touch. And when Reynolds was hired by Jeff Bzdelik when Bzdelik took over at the academy before the 2005-06 season, they reached out to Minton.

"We wanted to get him involved in the program right away," Reynolds said. "And we've kept him involved. We bounce ideas and thoughts off of him all the time and seek advice from him."

Minton's association with the tournament gives it added meaning, Air Force senior Andrew Henke said.

"He's a very well-respected coach, not just here but I think all around the country," Henke said, "He's provided us with words of encouragement before,and it's important we try and win as best we can for him because he kind of built Air Force basketball."