Jeff Neubauer Latest Coach to Take on Challenge of Turning Fordham into a Winner

Fordham head coach Jeff Neubauer is trying to do what nobody before him has been able to accomplish: turn the Fordham Rams into a consistent winner in the Atlantic 10.

Since the school joined the conference prior to the 1995 season, it's finished above .500 just once. More recently, it's won only 49 games in the last seven years.

Nick Macarchuk was let go in 1999 after seven consecutive losing seasons (four as a member of the A-10). Bob Hill won only two games in his fourth and final season in the Bronx (36-78 overall). Dereck Whittenburg won 18 games in 2006-07, but his tenure ended three seasons later following a 3-25 campaign in 2008-09 and one win in 2009 before being let go in December. Tom Pecora went 44-106 in five seasons at Rose Hill.

Neubauer is the latest coach convinced he has the answers to turn the program around.

"I really look forward to coaching this group," Neubauer told Bleacher Report at his introductory press conference Tuesday. "I think I can help this group. In general, it's an opportunity to coach basketball.

"I do understand the struggles that have taken place here in the past. It's my job to come in here and teach these guys how to play winning basketball."

He knows one of the things he has to do to get it going.

"It does start with recruiting," Neubauer said. "We have to target our niche. We've got to find that niche where we can attract great players here to Fordham."

In a career filled with challenges, this is his greatest. But Neubauer thinks his past experiences have prepared him for this opportunity.

Before leading Eastern Kentucky to 188 wins in 10 seasons, Neubauer was an assistant under current Michigan coach John Beilein, first at Richmond and then at West Virginia. Both were struggling programs when Neubauer and Beilein came in. Both became great success stories while they were there.

Richmond went to the NCAA tournament in 1998 as a 14th seed and beat South Carolina in the first round. West Virginia went to the National Invitation Tournament in 2004 and made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament in 2005.

"I've actually had a couple of very similar experiences to this when I was an assistant coach," Neubauer said. "I think those situations do prepare me to take on this challenge."

"I am very happy to be here," he added. "I do think this is a great challenge, and I can't wait to take it on."

What he's taking on is one of the biggest, most challenging rebuilding jobs in college basketball. Neubauer didn't shy away from the history or perception of the program. He says he's fully aware of Fordham's struggles over the years.

"I think college basketball coaches keep tabs," Neubauer said. "There are only 350 basketball programs out there. I know I keep tabs on all of them. I'm really aware of who's successful and who's not within college basketball.

"I'm very familiar with Fordham. As far as the struggles—not only did Tom [Pecora] struggle, but also Dereck [Whittenburg] before him. There is a history of struggling within the Atlantic 10."

Neubauer is committed. Shortcomings and all, he thinks the university is as well.

"I do understand that Rose Hill Gym is not as big as all other arenas in the A-10," Neubauer said. "But I've seen every aspect of the [Fordham basketball] budget, and I think Fordham University is doing the right things where we can win in basketball."

Quotations in this article were obtained firsthand.

Follow Charles Costello on Twitter: @CFCostello. A full archive of his articles can be found here.