Selfless Augmon perfect fit for Hall of Fame
He worried most about his family, how his children would adapt, how quickly they would make friends, how his wife would embrace the idea of change, how those he loved most in this world would react to leaving a comfortable home for a leap of scarlet and gray faith.
Stacey Augmon has not been the former NBA player and assistant coach merely trying the college atmosphere on for size as part of Dave Rice’s staff at UNLV, has not been just the former Rebels star wearing a suit on the bench to remind the faithful of its team’s championship moments.
He returned to Las Vegas to make a difference.
To come full circle.
That journey will continue and its story become even more meaningful on Friday evening, when Augmon will be among those inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame at Orleans Arena, where one of the greatest defensive players in college history surely will offer an emotional and respectful tone in a speech no one need fear might run long.
Augmon is the last person you chase when searching for a scandalous sound bite or even to explain why this play worked and that one didn’t. He loves his family and loves to coach and loves to watch young players improve and loves to leave the talking to everyone else.
“For me, it has always been that if my wife and family are happy, I’m happy,” he said. “There are a lot of people to thank for this honor, people in this community and over my life who helped me get to where I am. This community accepted me from the start, and I’ll always be grateful for that. This honor stands right alongside winning the national championship.
“I’ll especially thank my wife (Leslye), who has been there for all the ups and downs, who has been the one to keep everything together. She is the jell of our family … It will be an emotional night but one my family is really looking forward to.”
Augmon and four others make up the 2012 Hall of Fame class, and it marks the fourth time an individual will go in from UNLV’s 1990 national championship team. Jerry Tarkanian and Greg Anthony and Larry Johnson already have received the honor, and the entire team was inducted in 2001. Augmon, 43, now gets his night to celebrate and remember.
A moment from this past college season stands out in my mind about Augmon, one that likely was played out on a daily basis but that demonstrated most his desire to be here and influence others.
The Rebels were preparing for their first-round NCAA Tournament game against Colorado, and following practice, at one end of the Mendenhall Center, Augmon was putting transfer Khem Birch through countless drills. Also in attendance and lending his advice to the frontcourt player was former UNLV coach Tim Grgurich.
And I thought: Does this kid have any idea how fortunate he is to be receiving such counsel?
“Everyone knows Stacey as the terrific player he was at UNLV,” Rice said. “I remember first his commitment to winning and also what a terrific teammate he was. As good as he was, he was just as unselfish. He was and still is truly committed to winning.”
Rice desired another former Rebel on his coaching staff the moment he accepted the UNLV position, that when thinking of the most qualified candidates, Augmon stood out as someone whose selfless nature on the court would translate well to the style the new head coach wanted his team to exhibit.
Augmon was in his fourth season on the staff of Denver Nuggets coach George Karl at the time, a position someone who played 15 NBA seasons certainly could find comfort in for years and years. He didn’t depart UNLV in 1991 with any thoughts of one day returning and definitely not to sit on a bench and help coach players he recruited.
Times change. Priorities are altered.
Your former teammate puts in a call.
“I love being back,” Augmon said. “There is nothing better than watching a young kid go out there and execute the things you taught him. And when things aren’t going well and they seek me out for advice … it just makes me feel very good. Coming back to UNLV has been better than I ever expected it to be.”
A new chapter to that journey, his story, will be written Friday evening.
I’m guessing his family will enjoy every word of it.
Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on “Gridlock,” ESPN 1100 and 98.9 FM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.