By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay
I tried to have some fun with first-year UTSA basketball coach Austin Claunch this morning. So, I opened my questioning on a zoom call by wishing him a belated happy birthday.
He turned 35 on Sunday. Yes, 35.
UTSA coach Austin Claunch will lead his team into Alabama next week for games against Troy and Merrimack. – File photo by Joe Alexander
“Would have been a little more fun if the ‘Runners had played better Saturday,” Claunch said.
The Roadrunners lost at home to the Little Rock Trojans, 81-64, on Saturday night. More on that later. What about the birthday?
Did he do anything exciting?
Claunch, one of the youngest head coaches in NCAA Division I, indicated that he didn’t do a whole lot and took part of the day just to reflect.
His birthday, he said, “always allows me to have great perspective, about how lucky I am to coach. Every year, it’s my sixth year now as (an NCAA Division I) head coach, and I’m blessed.
“(Yesterday) my fiancee’ was giving me a hard time (saying) ‘It’s like the first time we’ve ever had a free day on your birthday,’ ” the coach said.
Claunch said the two of them didn’t do much except to kick back and try to enjoy it.
“I watched a little football,” he said. “She made lunch and dinner. Got me a nice new watch. We were just relaxing, man.”
For Claunch, the past seven months been hectic, at times frenetic and, yes, sometimes exasperating. Moving from Tuscaloosa, Ala., to San Antonio last spring and then stepping into the whirlwind of a new job was only the start of it.
Moving into the new season has brought additional challenges. Having the day away from the office and the Convocation Center was much needed.
“We’ve been ripping and running since we got to San Antonio,” he said. “Moving. Building a team. Practice, and everything. You know, it was nice to have a day around the house. Ended up doing a little Christmas shopping. It was a great day.”
Claunch said he didn’t even watch game film. At least not during the day.
“I did watch it last night,” he said, “and I’m excited for practice today, to get out there and improve.”
Notable
The Roadrunners (1-2) have dropped two straight since a season-opening 103-77 victory at home over Division III Trinity.
Since then, they went out on the road and lost at Bradley, 85-72, last Tuesday and then returned home to face the Trojans. Playing without two key players, the Roadrunners fell behind by 22 points in the second half before losing by the eventual 17.
Starters Raekwon Horton and Damari Monsanto didn’t play. Claunch hasn’t specified why. All he would say on Monday was that he expected the two to return to practice today. “I would expect them back and obviously move forward (to) help us win games,” he said.