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The Fashion Power Indexes - Jan. 7, 2002
By Angela LentoSailing into Fashionable Waters
It was a great first weekend of 2002 for Rutgers coach Gary Waters. On Saturday his Scarlet Knights defeated Georgetown. It was the first-ever Big East conference-win for Waters.
They did it in comeback fashion, trailing by as many as 18 points. Twenty-four hours later the fashionable approach continued, as he learned he was No. 1 in the latest Fashion Power Index.
“It’s about time,” laughs Waters. “Beating Georgetown was a nice step forward for our program and being No. 1 in the FPI is personal gratification. “I’ve been close to the top for the past couple of years and it’s about time I jumped to the No. 1 spot.”
Waters replaced Drexel coach Bruiser Flint (2001 Best-Dressed Coach in America) who had spent the past nine months at the top of the fashion list. But Waters believes that Flint’s stay at No. 1 was too lengthy.
“He’s average,” laughs Waters. “He does a nice job with that hip-style approach, but overall he’s average.”
Flint lost his footing on the stage and slipped all the way down to No. 8 in the first FPI of the New Year. But Flint was less concerned with his ranking and more concerned with who was ahead of him.
“It’s all about where you finish,” says Flint. “I wasn’t No. 1 heading into the tournament last year, but I was the last man standing. I just can’t believe that coach Cal is ranked ahead of me. He doesn’t have the flair and variety that I have. He likes to think that he taught me well, but we all know who set the standard.”
And what about the comments of the Rutgers coach?
“Gary [Waters] can say all he wants, but he knows deep down that I’m fly,” says Flint. “I am just glad to see that those guys who can’t dress, like [Dave] Magarity and [Bob] Huggins are right where they should be and that’s not ranked.”
Undoubtedly you can expect some rebuttal from Flint’s targets.
Recently, the battle of Kentucky went to Tubby Smith and the Wildcats, which beat Rick Pitino and Louisville. And in the latest FPI the classy Kentucky coach also gets the edge on Pitino.
Smith, who is among the fashionable four this week, has looked spectacular this season. He looked especially elegant in national televised games against Duke and Louisville.
Coach Smith credits his wife, Donna, for his rise to fashion prominence.
Also getting a fashion assist from his wife is McNeese State coach Tic Price who receives a lot of style pointers from Jamie Price.
Polished Price, who is the clear-cut favorite to be named the Southland Conference’s most stylish in 2002, was pleased to be one of America’s most fashionable.
“I always take a lot of pride in image and perception and certainly the way I look is the way I feel,” says Price. “I take my ranking on the poll as an honor, but I would also like to see our team in the [Mid-Major] Top 10.”
It’s the first appearance for Price in the fashion power index. And Price is to the Southland what Washington State’s Paul Graham is to the Pac-10.
Graham uses the fashion equivalent of the ‘four-corners,’ sporting Armani, Brioni, Hugo Boss and Prada. He is also one step ahead of the Pac with his snappy alligator footwear.
Headlined by Graham and assistant coach Gary Stewart, Washington State has a real shot at replacing Texas A&M as college basketball’s most stylish staff.
HEAD COACH FASHION POWER INDEX (Jan. 7, 2002)
1. Gary Waters (Rutgers): His wardrobe was already top shelf, but his big contract at Rutgers has taken his closet to another level. St. John’s coach Mike Jarvis and Villanova’s Jay Wright are the only majestic mavens with any shot of keeping Waters from being the Big East’s best in 2002.
2. Sherman Dillard (James Madison): Dapper Dillard has dominated the CAA catwalk over the past few years and may be on his way to removing Bruiser Flint as America’s most stylish.
3. Willis Wilson (Rice): The Owls head coach is to the runway what the Duke Blue Devils are to hardwood. The chic Wilson has been a fashion fixture since the FPI was instituted.
4. Tubby Smith (Kentucky): Like coach Gary Waters, coach Smith proves that you don’t have to sport big-time-fashion-designer names in order to be stylish. Alabama’s Mark Gottfried is very refined, but the Kentucky coach is a league of his own.
5. Rick Pitino (Louisville): College basketball’s version of James Bond favors Italian designer Brioni, which -- you guessed it -- outfits Pierce Brosnan. In Louisville, “Q” is for quality.
6. Melvin Watkins (Texas A&M): Majestic Melvin sports the best handkerchief fold in America. His casual wear looks better than the game day attire of most coaches.
7. John Calipari (Memphis): Classy Calipari must have an iron on the bench because he always looks freshly pressed.
8. Bruiser Flint (Drexel): College basketball’s best smile brings a fresh-hip style to Philadelphia.
9. Paul Graham (Washington State): The leader for the Pac-10’s most polished gets bonus style points for the occasional Cougar ties.
10. Tic Price (McNeese State): He brings an all-business approach to the sidelines.
HONORABLE MENTION: Rick Barnes (Texas), Pat Dennis (The Citadel), Jerry Dunn (Penn State), Jessie Evans (UL-Lafayette), Dennis Felton (Western Kentucky), Mark Gottfried (Alabama), Bob Hill (Fordham), Michael Holton (Portland), Mike Jarvis (St. John’s), Bobby Jones (St. Francis-PA), James Jones (Yale), Will Jones (Norfolk State), Stan Joplin (Toledo), Sal Mentesana (Lehigh), Tim O’Toole (Fairfield), Ricardo Patton (Colorado), Tom Pecora (Hofstra), Lorenzo Romar (Saint Louis), Ed Schilling (Wright State), Quin Snyder (Missouri), Perry Watson (Detroit), Jay Wright (Villanova).
IT’S A SELLERS MARKET
As competitive as the head coaches are, in vying for a spot on the runway, many assistant coaches campaign hard for their spot on center stage. Over the past few weeks, none have made more of a case than Central Connecticut State’s Patrick Sellers.
“Well ladies I think our whole staff is very up to date,” says Sellers. “Myself, I try to get to New York's Fashion Week every year for at least one night. You should come to a game a tell me what you think.”
Coach, we got a glimpse and you have your spot in the latest Fashion Power Index for assistant coaches. The Central Connecticut State assistant makes takes his first stroll onto the catwalk at No. 9.
“When it comes to dressing for a game you are only as good as the staff you work with,” says Sellers. “Our coaching staff collectively does a fantastic job getting prepared for games, as well as dressing the part. Thank you College Insider for recognizing me.”
While Sellers was ecstatic to be among the nations best-dressed assistants, UNC-Wilmington’s Rodney Terry (right) was also in a fashion frenzy after learning he was the new No. 1, replacing Georgetown’s Ronny Thompson.
“It's quite an honor to be selected first from a group of outstanding and well-dressed coaches,” says Terry. “I just hope I can live up to the expectations that come with the recognition.”
Like the Seahawk basketball team, Terry continues to look better with each game.
ASSISTANT COACH FASHION POWER INDEX (Jan. 7, 2002)
1. Rodney Terry (NC Wilmington): Terrific Terry now has bragging rights in the CAA over last year’s grand champion, Drexel’s Bruiser Flint.
2. Tracy Dildy (DePaul): Speaking of Flint, the Dapper DePaul assistant is the Bruiser Flint of under studies. He brings a flair all his own to the bench.
3. Tom Schuberth (UAB): Armani, Armani and more Armani. Even Schuberth isn’t quite sure how many Armani’s he has hanging in his closet.
4. Ronny Thompson (Georgetown): Terrific Thompson has a lot of range in his fashion game. He mixes hip and class to perfection.
5. Steve Sauers (Marist): Nobody in college basketball spends more time in the tanning booth than this marvelous Marist assistant. His vest-look is a winner.
6. Mike Perry (Georgia State): He’s a newcomer to the runway, but polished Perry figures to take a long walk on the runway this season.
7. Dino Gaudio (Wake Forest): No coach has better posture than the distinguished Dino. He brings the CEO-look to the Wake Forest bench, often upstaging coach Skip Prosser.
8. Gary Stewart (Washington State): This rising star obviously got some tips from majestic mentor Paul Graham.
9. Patrick Sellers (Central Connecticut State): If coach Sellers was running Al Gore’s campaign, we would have a Democrat in the White House.
10. Lorenzo Hall (Portland State): Ravishing Hall earns points for his stylish handkerchief. He is another in a long line of polished Portland State assistants.
Don’t forget, “Tie Talk,” sponsored by “AsTiesGoBy.Com” begins later this week. All season long the tie company will be giving away neckwear to coaches and FANS.
Angela Lento is a big supporter of the “Bobbi Olson Foundation” and would like to urge you to make a contribution. For more information Click Here
CLICK HERE TO SEND ANGELA YOUR COMMENTS
(Head Coach: 3-8-2002) 1. Bruiser Flint
2. John Calipari
3. Gary Waters
4. Willis Wilson
5. Jay Wright
6. Paul Graham
7. Tubby Smith
8. Rick Pitino
9. Melvin Watkins
10.Mike JarvisPlaying Catch with Satchel Paige
The Captivating Conference Champions
Coach Brent Encourages Players to Build Professional Look
The Renaissance Man and Wrestling Alligators
Coaches Give Fashion Statements on Coaches
A Look at New Jersey's Stylish Coaches
Feb 4 FPI: John Calipari Remains No. 1
Sideline Style Poll is Clothes Call
Being No. 1 Suits Rutgers' Gary Waters Just Fine
Jan 21 FPI: John Calipari Tops Fashion Power Index
Carter, Felton, Lutz and Scruggs Combine Coaching and Style
Terry Gets Rave Reviews in North Carolina
Jan 7 FPI: Gary Waters Tops Fashion Power Index
Though Styles Differ, Smith and Pitino at Top of Their Game
December FPI: Georgetown and Drexel Top The Lists
Jesse "The Body" Ventura and a Kid at Delaware
Musical Talent in Kansas and Wyoming
The FPI, The Natural and a 7-Footer from Wal-Mart
Pennsylvania: America’s Most Stylish State
In Search of Bigfoot with Dale Brown
Auctioning off Auburn coach Cliff Ellis
UCLA's Steve Lavin Talks Fashion
John Feinstein Plugs Fashionable Four
(Assistant: 3-8-2002) 1. Wayne Brent
2. Gary Stewart
3. Steve Sauers
4. Ronny Thompson
5. Tony Jones
6. Patrick Sellers
7. Reggie Hanson
8. Lew Hill
9. Tom Schuberth
10.Jennifer Johnston
AMERICA EAST:
Tom Brennan
ATLANTIC COAST:
Skip Prosser
ATLANTIC SUN:
Don Maestri
ATLANTIC 10:
Bob Hill
BIG EAST:
Gary Waters
BIG SKY:
Joel Sobotka
BIG SOUTH:
Pete Strickland
BIG TEN:
Jerry Dunn
BIG 12:
Melvin Watkins
BIG WEST:
Kevin Bromley
COLONIAL:
Bruiser Flint
CONFERENCE-USA:
John Calipari
HORIZON:
Ed Schilling
IVY LEAGUE:
James Jones
METRO ATLANTIC:
Don Harnum
MID-AMERICAN:
Stan Joplin
MID-CONTINENT:
Homer Drew
MID-EASTERN:
Cy Alexander
MISSOURI VALLEY:
Barry Hinson
MOUNTAIN WEST:
Charlie Spoonhour
NORTHEAST:
Bobby Jones
OHIO VALLEY:
Kyle Macy
PACIFIC-10:
Paul Graham
PATRIOT LEAGUE:
Sal Mentesana
SOUTHEASTERN:
Tubby Smith
SOUTHERN:
Bob McKillop
SOUHTLAND:
Mike Deane
SOUTHWESTERN:
Lafayette Stribbling
SUN BELT:
Dennis Felton
WEST COAST:
Michael Holton
WESTERN ATHLETIC
Willis Wilson
Take a stroll down last season's Runway to the Fashionable Four
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