The Orion Online

Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: Hoops Preview

Media Credit: Brian Sweat [Click to enlarge]

When Greg Clink walks through the doors of Acker Gym for the men's basketball home opener, he'll be the first coach since the '86-'87 season without the nickname "Puck."

After Prescott "Puck" Smith's retirement at the end of the 2007-2008 season, Athletic Director Anita Barker set out to find a replacement who would fit in seamlessly.

"We felt we had to get somebody that was current and very connected to the recruiting world," Barker said. "He has an absolute passion for being here at Chico State."

Indeed, Clink played at Chico State from 1992 to 1994 and was a graduate assistant for a year after under Smith. Clink's three years as a 'Cat were the last three conference championships for Chico.

"He's fit right into the program," Barker said.

Clink has spent time as the head coach at Gavilan College, an assistant at UC Santa Barbara and most recently, an associate head coach at UC Davis.

The 'Cats coach, who grew up in Morgan Hill in the 1970s, is ecstatic to be back in Chico, he said.

"This job intrigued me because … I love Chico," Clink said. "I think there's a lot of potential here."

With a group that contains 13 new faces, including redshirts, Clink understands that this year's team will have to grind out wins.

"What we're trying to establish early on … is being the toughest, most physical defensive (team)," he said.

If Clink and his coaching staff implement the right kind of culture, eventually the wins will come, he said.

But he can only follow Smith with humility.

"It's an honor, I have so much respect for him," Clink said. "He's a huge supporter of me, he is willing to help out in any way he can."

Smith sees bright things for his former pupil and assistant coach, he said.

"He's not taking any shortcuts," Smith said. "He's just a real intense, task-minded fellow."

When Clink finished playing and became a graduate assistant, he started to develop as a teacher of the game, Smith said.

"We take a fundamental approach, we're disciplinarians," Smith said.

Clink has a large task at hand this season, including overcoming a last-place finish, trying to incorporate new players onto the team seamlessly and an ever-improving California Collegiate Athletic Association field.

"I haven't seen this league live in five years," Clink said. "I'm in the dark."

Clink's crew is set to begin the regular season at the Elgin Baylor Tip-off Classic in Seattle on Saturday at Seattle University. In the meantime, he continues to develop his relationships with his new team, the coaching staff and the community.

Clink calls these interactions "the biggest thrill" of coaching college basketball and enjoys having a positive effect on players' lives, he said.

Chico State athletics is "close-knit" because of the calm, approachable nature Clink brings off the court, Barker said.

"He's just a class act all around," she said.

Thomas Lawrence can be reached at
tlawrence@theorion.com

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