Basketball coaches Mark Edwards and Nancy Fahey show off their newest autographs. They vacated their offices for presidential candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore.

Basketball coaches proud of their contributions

For basketball coaches, 'spin' and 'bounce' get new meaning

By Julie Kennedy

In the offices of the university's basketball coaches this week, "spin" and "bounce" had little to do with basketball. Instead, they took on their political meanings as the coaches vacated to make room for the presidential candidates.

Far from being annoyed, Nancy Fahey and Mark Edwards were proud of their contributions. "It's exciting to think your office is going to be used by someone who may determine history," said Edwards, the men's head basketball coach.

Fahey, head coach of the women's basketball team, said she had become accustomed to important- looking people coming in and out of her office during preparations, and to contractors crawling around and over her desk.

"We've already experienced it once (in 1992)," Fahey said. "It's a neat experience -- to be a small part of it, especially such a closely watched race."

VIPs have used the offices many times over the years. In fact, years ago Edwards began leaving a basketball in his office for dignitaries to sign. He's gathered six autographs over the years: Bill Bradley, Jesse Jackson, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, George Bush (the father) and Jimmy Carter.

Fahey said she also offers a ball for her guests to sign, although she came to the tradition more recently. Her signees are Hillary Rodham Clinton and Spike Lee. Both coaches left a ball out again for their latest guests.

Once again, the basketballs were as close as Fahey and Edwards came to meeting the candidates. However, signed basketballs aren't the only perks involved. "Nancy got a bathroom out of it last time," Edwards said. "She has the only office in the Athletic Complex with a bathroom." In 1992, a temporary bathroom was built outside Fahey's office. In 1996, for the debate that was eventually canceled, a permanent bathroom was built in her office.

Fahey said that first bathroom garnered much attention. "We were on TV in '92," she recalled. "It's funny, we'd been trying to get people to cover us (the basketball team), but they came to do a story on the bathroom."