Published: January 30, 2002
Section: SPORTS
Page#: 09C
Proudly pursuing milestone victory
By Pam Schmid; Staff Writer   

Jay Pivec, on the verge of coaching his 350th career victory, could feign humility and downplay the impending milestone.

Pivec, the Minneapolis Community and Technical College men's basketball coach, could pretend he is just a lucky guy. He could call the number the product of longevity.

But Pivec likes to call things as he really sees them.

"In my case, I have been around a long time," said Pivec, 46. "But we've also been successful a long time."

Pivec has coached many winning teams over the years. This season's Marauders, at 13-4 overall and 4-1 in the Minnesota Community College Conference, are seeking an unprecedented third consecutive conference championship. They will take on Minnesota West in Worthington tonight.

Pivec's coaching record is 349-195 for 20 seasons. But that, he says, isn't as important as the success he has helped bring to his players. He has watched seven of them sign with NCAA Division I schools since he arrived at MCTC 12 years ago. Fourteen have signed with Division II schools, and 17 have gone on to play in Division III.

This season's team continues the trend. Along with three players who already have been offered Division II scholarships, Levi Jones, a 6-10, 245-pound center who attended Minneapolis North, is considering an offer made by Oklahoma State over the weekend.

Jones, who is averaging 15 points and seven rebounds a game, filled the spot opened by center Jerry Holman's departure for the Gophers a year ago.

Jones had done little before landing in Pivec's lap. He attended South Carolina State for two years, redshirting as a freshman and playing sparingly as a sophomore. Unhappy, he returned home.

"We have a tendency to draw in some of those kids who, when they go away, if their experience isn't what they thought it would be, end up coming back here," Pivec said. "We've been a great stopping point for a lot of kids like that."

Even Pivec didn't see Jones' potential when he arrived. He never had played consistent minutes, even in high school. "Now," Pivec said, "he's playing 35 minutes a game. His best basketball is ahead of him."

By now, Pivec's program has developed a reputation for grooming athletes into Division I- and II-caliber players. On any given night, the MCTC gymnasium will contain half a dozen college coaches trolling for prospects.

"I can liken it to sales," Pivec said. "There's some word of mouth, but people know the product. . . . Our record that way, with kids moving on, and the wins and losses, speaks for itself. We have a very solid reputation."

Last season, the Marauders went 28-0 and played in the regional championships before losing.

But Pivec will say this season's team is his favorite of all.

"They're good students, good guys, they like each other, they play well together," he said.

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- Pam Schmid is at pschmid@startribune.com.

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