FORT LAUDERDALE — Jim Crutchfield embraces a challenge, make that major challenges.

Fourteen years ago, he took over a 4-23 West Liberty men’s basketball team. He turned the Hilltoppers into 20-game winners in his initial season at the helm.

The Clarksburg native followed that program-changing campaign with 12 more seasons of remarkable success, compiling an amazing 359-61 mark for an .855 winning percentage, highest in college basketball history.

His teams won 20-plus games every season and more than 30 on five occasions, including leading the Hilltoppers to the national title game in 2014. He was named the national Division II Coach of the Year on two occasions.

So it came as a shocker last spring when Crutchfield opted to walk away from his Black & Gold juggernaut and head to Florida, taking the head coaching position with D-II Nova Southeastern.

Upon his arrival in Fort Lauderdale, the Sharks were bottom feeders in the Sunshine State Conference, finishing 10th in an 11-team loop. They won just three of 18 conference games while finishing 6-20 overall.

Crutchfield did not shy away from the daunting task at hand. Rather, he was intrigued by the challenge.

“I had certain expectations of myself, but outside of that I really did not have any concrete expectations,” Crutchfield said. “There were a lot of unknowns and that’s what excited me partly what brought me here.”

Crutchfield’s coaching magic took root quickly with the Sharks. Nova won its first six games this winter en route to a 17-10 finish, including an 11-9 conference mark, good for fourth place. One more win would have likely gained the upstart team a regional berth.

“I tend to dwell on the things that didn’t go the right way too much. We dropped a couple close games down the stretch that cost us in our conference tourney and kept us out of the regionals,” Crutchfield noted. “I need to step back a little and look at all the positives like it was the least losses in school history and the second best winning percentage in school history.

“There were times this year when I felt like things were going in the right direction and we were laying the foundation for a successful program. However, there were days where I thought we were just putting a band-aid on an existing situation and I was getting away from the true direction we needed to be going,” he continued. “At he end of the day I think there were a lot of things accomplished that will have a positive effect on the future of the program.”

The transition has been a major one for the personable mentor — a total culture change. But it is one he is enjoying.

“I’m having fun. Not so much a ‘splashing in the surf on a sunny day’ kind of fun, but the kind of fun that comes with a professional challenge. Assistants Jordan Fee and Devin Hoehn laugh every day,” Crutchfield said. “I work with great people here in the athletic department and I take an hour every day to walk campus and enjoy the sun and tropical landscape. Every day seems to provide a new adventure.”

While no longer affiliated with the Mountain East Conference, Crutchfield still offered his thoughts on the MEC coming to the Friendly City in true Hilltopper fashion.

“I always enjoyed the tradition of the WVIAC and MEC in the Charleston Civic Center,” he said. “However, if it gives the Hilltoppers an edge in the tournament I’m all for it.”

SPECIAL MAN

MY PRAYERS and condolences go out to the the family of Arthur “Butch” Joseph. Butch was one of the true heavyweights when it came to the OVAC.

The Shadyside native died recently after serving as a passionate ambassador for a host of athletic programs while also being a visionary in track & field and cross country. The OVAC track championship format was the brainchild of Butch’s. No one did more than he and his devoted wife, Donna, to champion the cause of cross country and track in the Ohio Valley.

Butch was also an expert coach, being it the running sports or volleyball. He mentored countless people along the way, including myself. When I broke into the track & field coaching business many moons ago, Butch provided me priceless and bountiful guidance.

It is no wonder Butch is an OVAC Hall of Famer and well as a Hall of Famer in the game of life.

PRO ICE STAR

THE BUFFALO Beauts wind up National Women’s Hockey League regular-season play this weekend. The Beauts are 11-4 and in second place.

John Marshall grad Kristin Lewicki has played a major role in her team’s success, scoring five goals and dishing out a pair of assists in 13 games. The Adrian College All-American and D-III player-of-the-year has fired 29 shots on goal. She was also selected for the NWHL All-Star Game.

In Buffalo’s latest win, a 2-1 nod over the Metropolitan Riveters, the talented forward delivered the game-winning goal. She has earned the nickname “Wheels” for her impressive speed on skates. So much so, in the NWHL All-Star Game in Minnesota the 22-year-old captured the Fastest Skater event.

Lewicki has a pair of game-winning goals for the Buffalo, one triggered the team’s current nine-game winning streak.

BUBBA’S BITS

FORMER ST. JOHN Central all-stater Michelle Bielanski-Filander led her Austin College (Texas) women’s hoop team to a share of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season title this winter. The Kangaroos compiled a 20-6 record. Bielanski-Filander scored 1,436 points in her St. John’s career, leading the Lady Irish to three OVAC championships. She earned a hoop scholarship to Robert Morris University.

D.P. HARRIS directed his St. Vincent (Latrobe, Pa.) men’s basketball team to a 16-10 mark this winter. The former Wheeling Park hoopster guided his Bearcats to a 13-5 PAC record.

OUR PRAYERS for a speedy and complete recovery go out to Delmas Moore. The longtime Beallsville High athletic director recently underwent heart surgery. He is now recovering well at home. Delmas personifies dedication and passion when it comes to his duties.

THE WVU Mountaineer Athletic Club is bringing its 2018 Coaches Caravan

to River City Ale Works in Wheeling on Monday, May 7. WVU coaches, administrators and current and former student-athletes will be represented at the event. Proceeds will benefit WVU student-athlete scholarships.

THE MARIETTA College men’s basketball team turned in a sharp 21-7 season. Former Linsly star Anthony Wallace was a big cog in the Pioneers’ success. The junior guard was the team’s third leading scorer on the strength of his 12.9 ppg. He also grabbed 3 boards and recorded 2 steals a game.

KEVIN STALLINGS is out as Pitt head hoop coach. It is the perfect fit for former Ohio State head man Thad Matta.