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Good things don't always happen to Charlie Coles.
In 1985 he needed triple-bypass surgery. In 1998 he had arrhythmia which resulted in cardiac arrest. Just last season he needed two open-heart surgeries within a single week.
On Tuesday Jan. 20, however, something good did happen to coach Coles. With a 67-60 RedHawk victory over Bowling Green State University, Coles became Miami University's all-time winningest head coach.
"If you live long enough," Coles said, "good things will happen."
The win gave Coles 217 career victories as Miami's skipper, moving him past the legendary Darrell Hedric who won 216 games over the course of 14 seasons. As usual, Coles downplayed the accomplishment, likening himself to the running back who ran for 100 yards on 100 carries. His stats are not all that different from Hedric, however. Coles holds a 217-161 record mid-way through his 13th season at the RedHawk reigns while Hedric went 216-157 in 14 seasons.
"The good Lord has allowed me to coach," Coles said. "I didn't ever think that, after last spring and summer, I would ever coach again. I was telling people I would, but I didn't really think so. But the good Lord has blessed me, and I mean that with all my heart."
Besides mentioning the many seasons it took him to reach this moment, Coles also drew attention to the many great players under his guidance who earned the wins for him on the court.
"Any kind of record takes more people than you, and usually you are the least of the people that accounted for that," Coles said. "I accept that all the way. It's always a team thing."
It was definitely a team thing Tuesday. Five RedHawks scored in double figures while no single MU player breached the 15-point mark.
Miami never trailed in the game yet held only a slim 30-27 lead at halftime. Coles must have given quite the inspirational speech at the break in the locker room, however, as the 'Hawks opened the second half with 11 consecutive points highlighted by a powerful Bramos dunk.
Sophomore guard Antonio Ballard joined in on the slam fest with two throw downs of his own. The Falcons remained patient, however, whittling Miami's 14-point lead down to one with just three minutes remaining in regulation. Both the current season and the 2007-08 campaign featured multiple second-half meltdowns, and it appeared the Falcons would become the most recent benefactor of this trend.
Here the 'Hawks stood their ground, however, closing out the game on a 9-3 run to seal the win.
"It was a tough game," Coles said. "I think we got tired and barely had enough to finish," Coles said.
Senior forward Michael Bramos led the way for Miami with 14 points. His recent struggles from behind the arc continued, however, as he made only one of his seven three-point attempts.
Bramos has now played eight games this season with Kenny Hayes in the line up and eight games with Hayes on the bench due to an injured wrist. When Hayes was healthy, Bramos shot and even 50 percent from behind the arc. With Hayes out of the lineup, however, Bramos is shooting just over 27 percent on his three point attempts and only 18 percent in his last seven games.
Freshman forward Julian Mavunga finished as the only Miami player not featured in the starting line-up to reach double figures after sinking all five of his shots from the floor.
Senior Eric Pollitz tallied 13 points for the second highest RedHawk total. With the Hayes out and senior Carl Richburg still recovering from an injury against Ohio University, Pollitz has been filling in at point guard during the past three games.
Known more for his defensive prowess than any dribbling abilities, Pollitz is not exactly a conventional fit at the position.
Reflecting on Coles' achievement that night, he gave a player's perspective of his unconventional coach.
"It just goes to show his love for the game and his love to coach," Pollitz said. "He loves to teach us, as players. I respect the man. My hat's off to him, and I know the players-we all enjoyed seeing coach get that (record) today."
