Hoffman resigns as Vipers coach for Mercer job

Two weeks after interviewing for the head men's basketball coaching position at Mercer University, Rio Grande Valley Vipers coach Bob Hoffman resigned from the NBA Development League team to return to the college ranks. Assistant coach Brian Walsh was named the Vipers' acting head coach for the team's remaining four games.

Hoffman was one of three coaches who interviewed for the Mercer position. Former Missouri State coach Barry Hinson turned down Mercer's offer last week, and Florida Atlantic's Rex Walters spurned the school earlier Wednesday.

Hoffman didn't return several messages seeking comment Wednesday. Mercer has a 10 a.m. news conference scheduled for today in Macon, Ga., where it is expected Hoffman will be introduced as the school's new coach.

Hoffman, a former assistant at Oklahoma and head coach at the University of Texas-Pan American, led the Vipers to a 17-29 record during their inaugural season in the D-League and sent one player, C.J. Watson, to the NBA.

"He got an opportunity and I think Bob always wanted to be in college coaching," Vipers head of basketball operations George Gervin said. "The opportunity came and he just took the job. What we've got to do as an organization is we've got to go out and find ourselves a new coach. That's the first thing that we've really got to do."

Hoffman informed the Vipers of his decision Wednesday morning during a brief meeting.

"All season there'd been a lot of people leaving and he helped everybody move on so now I guess it was his turn to move on," Vipers guard Craig Winder said. "He doesn't know all the details yet but he said he was going to call us and let us know what's going on."
Hoffman took the reins of his first NCAA Division I head coaching job in 1999 at UTPA, compiling a 69-75 record during his five years in Edinburg. The run with the Broncs included a 21-9 mark during the 2001-02 season.

His work at UTPA caught the attention of Kelvin Sampson, who hired Hoffman to join his Oklahoma staff in 2004. The Sooners won a Big 12 championship in Hoffman's first year, but an NCAA investigation in 2006 found that the Sooners' coaching staff made 577 illegal phone calls to recruits. At about the time news of the NCAA probe broke Sampson left to take the head coaching job at Indiana. Left behind, Hoffman was tabbed the interim coach before Jeff Capel was named the head coach and didn't retain Hoffman.

Hoffman eventually was exonerated by the NCAA for his role in the scandal. Hoffman then took a job as head coach of the ABA's Arkansas Aeros, who he led to a 25-2 record in 2006-07. When the Rio Grande Valley was awarded a D-League expansion franchise last year Hoffman returned to the Valley, a homecoming that wouldn't last a calendar year.

The Vipers opened their inaugural season with a 7-2 record, but the defections of starters Gabe Muoneke and Kenny Taylor to Europe and season-ending injuries to big men Chris Taft and Kyle Davis hamstrung the team. The biggest blow, however, was the loss of Watson to the Warriors, as Watson was the focal point of RGV's offense and given the latitude to do as he pleased.
With half the roster turned over, the Vipers lost 17 of 18 games from Jan. 4 to Feb. 9.

Mercer chose not to retain head coach Mark Slonaker on Feb. 26 after the Bears went 11-19 this season. Hoffman flew to Georgia to interview March 11 but was not offered the job despite having an immediate connection to Mercer president William Underwood. Hoffman and Underwood each attended Oklahoma Baptist, where Hoffman also coached early in his career.

Hinson, the former coach at Missouri State, interviewed for the Mercer job after Hoffman and was offered the position. Hinson declined Mercer's offer and the school next turned to Walters. When it appeared Walters was going to take the job at Mercer, Hoffman had a mixed reaction to the news after the Vipers' 109-94 win over Colorado on Monday.

"I've known for several days, I've just left it alone," he said. "I've heard (from) the coaching circles and all that. We're real excited about being here. That was just one of those things to go see. It was a beautiful place and this is a beautiful place. We're excited about what we can do to finish here and get ready for next season."

Walsh, who was a finalist for the Vipers' head coaching job before it was given to Hoffman last May, was the Director of Scouting for the Colorado 14ers, who advanced to the D-League championship game last season. He also guided the USBL's Nebraska Cranes to the 2006 USBL title.

Todd Mavreles covers the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4451.