The next installment of our interview series takes us to the Sun Belt. Coach Joe Pasternack is beginning his first season at the helm of the University of New Orleans. I would like to thank Coach Pasternack for taking the time to answer our questions and Rob Broussard of the UNO Media Relations for his help in coordinating the interview. Without further delay, here’s our latest interview.

1. VN-How excited are you to have your first head coaching come in your hometown?
Coach Pasternack-This is a dream job for me. To be able to come back to my hometown and represent my city’s university is something not many coaches get the opportunity to do.

2. VN-What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced since taking over at UNO?
Coach Pasternack-We only have nine scholarship players right now, so that has been a big challenge for us. Fortunately, we have five seniors(six once Asrange Souleymane gets back with us after the fall semester), so we have a core group of players who want to go out on top.

3. VN- Are all of your facilities back up and ready for use?
Coach Pasternack-We will be back in the Lakefront Arena for the 2008-09 season. The arena was severely damaged following Hurricane Katrina, and they have finished the exterior repairs. Now they are focusing on the interior repairs, and the arena should be up and running in May. We will play at our on-campus Human Performance Center this season.

4. VN- While you were an assistant at Cal, how much of an opportunity did you get to interact with Pete Newell?
Coach Pasternack-I consider him one of the most influential people in my life. I leaned on him so much for advice when I was at Cal, and I still do today. There are not many people out there who can call on a Hall of Fame basketball coach, and I am very fortunate to be able to do so.

5. VN-Lawrence Frank and yourself both were managers at Indiana during Bob Knight’s tenure. What is it about Coach Knight’s program that lends itself to producing so many coaches that go on to lead their own programs?
Coach Pasternack-Coach Knight is the all-time winningest coach in college basketball. When I was deciding on where to go to college, I knew I wanted to be a basketball coach. If you want to be a lawyer, you go to Harvard. If you want to be a basketball coach, you go learn under Coach Knight. Coach Knight and Coach Braun (Cal) prepared me so well for this opportunity.

6. VN- UNO has a history of success under Benny Dees and Tim Floyd. Does having that past success to point to make your job of convincing recruits New Orleans can be a successful program easier?
Coach Pasternack-It does because they can see we have a great history here. We have had NCAA Tournament success, and we have had players go on to the NBA.

7. VN-How does Bo McCalebb compare to some of the top guards you’ve seen as an assistant in the PAC 10 in recent years?
Coach Pasternack-Bo is one of the most loyal basketball players I have ever been around. He has gone through a hurricane, an injury and is now working with his third coach. Through it all, he has come out a tougher person and that has only helped him on the basketball floor. As a players, he is fearless both offensively and defensively. I’m not sure how you guard him one-on-one, and I’m glad I don’t have to try and figure that out.

8. VN-What is the biggest crisis facing college basketball today?
Coach Pasternack-The rules limiting coaches to work with their kids. One reason why international players are ahead of U.S. players is the rules limiting individual instruction. International players can work with coaches 12 months a year, and U.S. players cannot do that.

9. VN-What do you think about the three point line being pushed back next season?
Coach Pasternack-I think it will put a premium on really good shooters.

10. VN-How do you think your squad matches up with the rest of the Sun Belt this season?
Coach Pasternack-It all comes down to defense and rebounding. Those are the areas that have cost this program games in the past few years. We have got to create a culture of defense and rebounding. We have talent on this team, but there is a lot of talent in this league as well. I have so much respect for coaches in the Sun Belt. It will be an interesting year, that’s for sure.

I hope everyone enjoyed this interview. More to come.