Exclusive Interview W/ Russ Beck Head Coach CSN
Recently I had an opportunity to sit down with new CSN head coach Russ Beck.
Beck has experienced successful coaching stops at National JUCO powerhouses such as Western Nebraska Community College where he registered 124 wins in 7 seasons as the head coach. He also has assisted at Dixie State University, Salt Lake Community College, and the College of Southern Idaho. Beck also spent one season as an assistant at the NCAA Division I level at Southern Utah University.
Beck has coached and recruited 65 players that have gone on to play at the NCAA Division I level at schools such as the Hawaii, Utah Valley, San Jose State, Weber State, Wyoming, Southern, Boise State, Utah, Louisiana Tech, Portland State, Baylor, Washington, Utah State, Arizona State, Northern Colorado, Cal State Northridge, Stephen F. Austin, Cornell, Montana, Cal State Fullerton, BYU, Idaho, Eastern Washington, Southern Utah, Florida International, New Mexico State, Miami, UNLV, Fresno State, UCLA, and North Carolina.
Beck is dedicated to bringing a winning program to Las Vegas. Here are some excerpts from the interview. You can view the complete interview below.
PH: Who are some of the players that have gone on to play major college ball under you?
RB: “Phil Fain (Illinois St) Tyrelle Williams (Iona) Andy Ramirez (Hartford) Fabio Nass (Miami) Jason Pietromo (UNLV) Carrick Felix (Arizona St) Raul Delgado (BYU).”
PH: What is your opinion on the talent level in Las Vegas?
RB: “It’s honestly a blessing and so exciting. This is the first place that I’ve been after 13 – 14 years of coaching college basketball that I can literally go to a different practice or different game every single night and evaluate a new player or new group of players. The level of talent here is immense, and I think that’s why it’s such a natural fit that CSN can provide 15 – 20 more kids the opportunity to play at the collegiate level.”
PH: What style of play can we expect from CSN?
RB: “My best teams were teams that can really play defense.”
PH: How many scholarships are available for 20 – 21?
RB: ” As we get more funding we will be able to grow the athletic part of the scholarships a little more. We can actually tap into the millennial scholarship into the promise scholarship, anybody that has over a 3.0 GPA and they have hit those core classes for the millennial scholarship, they are basically on a full ride.”
PH: Talk to me about the landscape of the conference
RB: “90% of my career has been spent in this conference. Salt Lake CC in Salt Lake City is a national power, and we are probably very similar in terms of an institution. Very few JC are in major metro cities, Salt Lake is one of them and we will be another. Where they are able to draw primarily on local talent, that’s within 50 miles of your campus. Southern Idaho that’s up in Twin Falls, great support for that community. Snow College has a national powerhouse JC football program. They have a heck of a men’s basketball team too.”
PH: Other than Vegas what other areas are you recruiting?
RB: “Our primary target is to recruit Vegas kids. At minimum 80% of our roster will be from Las Vegas.”
PH: Talk to me about the staff that you have put together
RB: “The first guy that I reached out to Donald Williams was an assistant coach at San Jose St. Devin Matthews who is coaching up in the Pacific Northwest right now. He’s a local Vegas kid, I think he played at Durango and Palo Verde. Karina McQueary will be our Director of Basketball Operations.”
PH: Where do you see this program in 5 years?
“I really think that within 2-4 years we will have the opportunity to be in the conversation as a national power. I think we’ll be contending for region championships within the first few years and have an opportunity to pursue a national championship in the long run.”
PH: Let people know how they can get in touch with you.
RB: IG: Coach_Beck_CSN .
Office Line: 702.651.3009
russell.beck@CSN.edu