Tim O'Shea's decision to leave Ohio for NCAA Division I newcomer Bryant ultimately came down to one factor.
For O'Shea, who resided in the New England area for much of his life, the chance to coach again in his home state was the driving force behind his choice to leave Ohio after seven seasons.
It was a really
really tough decision O'Shea said. It really came down to a lot of things that had nothing to do with basketball and more to do with family.
O'Shea's parents reside in the New England area, and his coaching at Ohio provided few opportunities to spend time with them.
Coaching for Bryant, in Smithfield, R.I., will give O'Shea a chance to live near his parents during what he called a difficult stage in their lives.
When I called my mother to tell her there was a chance this was going to happen she got pretty emotional about (O'Shea's) coming back
he said.
O'Shea's two sisters, who have 12 children between them, were another factor in his decision to take the Bryant job.
There were a lot of family things that were pulling me to get back to New England at this point
he said.
O'Shea, who met his wife, Elizabeth, in Rhode Island and owns a house in Newport, R.I., said that the New England area was like a second home.
I'm coming back to a place of great familiarity
he said. I was not interested in a job in other parts of the country
but I was interested in a job in the Boston-Rhode Island area.
O'Shea agreed to an eight-year contract with Bryant, another appealing aspect of coaching the Bulldogs. A news conference to announce the contract is scheduled for tomorrow at 11 a.m. on the Bryant University campus.
With my daughter going into the third grade
eight years will take her into high school
O'Shea said. That was certainly not a small part of the decision.
When someone gives you that kind of security and shows that kind of confidence in you
it's something you have to consider.
Bryant, which played at the Division II level last season, will join the Northeastern Conference next season as a temporary member playing 11 games.
The chance to guide the program in its transition to the top level of college basketball was another feature that sparked O'Shea's interest.
It appeared to me a unique challenge and opportunity to hopefully leave a legacy in what happens over the next several years.
Ironically, O'Shea recommended Bryant's previous coach, Max Good, for the job. After Good left for Loyola Marymount to be an assistant, Bryant offered O'Shea the job and the terms of the deal were too attractive to turn down, O'Shea said.
The Bobcats finished the 2007-2008 season with a 20-13 record and received a bid in the inaugural College Basketball Invitational where the team lost in the semifinals to Bradley.
I always wanted to go out on a winning note and the fact we had a 20-win season and got to the postseason puts the program in good shape
O'Shea said. I feel good about that.
O'Shea, who went 120-95 at Ohio, continued to stress the difficulty of the decision and said that he found his time in Athens enjoyable.
It was very emotional for me because over a period of seven years
