PROVO — BYU named longtime assistant Dave Rose, a man known for fire and emotion, as its new basketball coach Monday to replace Fresno State-bound Steve Cleveland.
The lightning-quick move went against Brigham Young University's traditional hiring protocol, which usually crawls at a snail's pace.
The hiring came less than 48 hours after Cleveland took the Bulldog job on Saturday. It marks the school's second-straight hiring of a major sport coach with no head coaching experience on the Division I level. On Dec. 13, 2004, BYU elevated another assistant coach, Bronco Mendenhall, as head football coach.
"We got the right man at the right time as fast as we could get it done," athletic director Tom Holmoe said.
Rose, 47, said his theme for BYU basketball will be based on commitment, discipline and passion. He expects his offense to put pressure on defenses by attacking the hoop in transition and half court sets and his players will have to be in shape and deliver more than they have this past season.
"Dave has been auditioning for this job for a long time without acknowledging it," Holmoe said. "We could see his passion for competing, his intensity, good wisdom and his ability to relate to players. He is qualified, and behind every successful story is a flaming heart — this is what coach Rose brings to BYU basketball."
Rose described his hiring as a surprise, although he has prepared to be a Division I coach all his life. "It kind of happened backwards, not how I expected, having coach Cleveland leave for another job."
Rose, a runner-up for a job at the University of Houston several years ago, turned down the chief assistant job at Texas A&M last year at Cleveland's request. He has a 22-year coaching career that includes jobs at Millard High School and Dixie State College in addition to eight years as a Cougar assistant.
"I love college basketball. I am committed to take this program from where it is, on a strong foundation, to all it can be. I'm excited to get started."
In a first move after learning he had the job, Rose called all Cougar recruits expected to sign on Wednesday with the news. "They all said they were on board, ready to sign with BYU and Dave Rose," assistant coach John Wardenburg said.
BYU-Hawaii basketball coach Ken Wagner, who gave Rose his first college job at Dixie College as his assistant, lauded the quick hire and indicated it showed BYU's confidence in Rose.
"His passion for the game is evident," Wagner said. "He's always wanted to be a coach. I'm sure his excitement and enthusiasm and passion for the game will carry over as a head coach at BYU. I hope things go well for him. He's got a tough job, so I hope he'll get busy."
Rose said he will take his time in assembling his staff, evaluating current assistants Wardenburg and Andy Toolson. "I have an extensive network across the country of coaches I know and I'm sure we will have a staff at BYU that will be up to the task."
Cleveland, who cleaned out his office Monday and is in Fresno today, gave Rose his endorsement as the man to replace him.
Their relationship goes back decades, when, as junior college coaches, they did basketball camps including summers in Provo where they hung out, broke bread and shared both plays and war stories.
When BYU hired Cleveland from Fresno Community College to replace Roger Reid in 1997, he asked Rose at Dixie College to sign on. Together, they had limited credibility, no Division I head coaching experience, detractors galore and a mission to perform.
They shared a hotel room for four weeks while their families moved to Provo and found homes. In that time, they cemented their relationship and became brothers, but the bond was nothing like what was to come.
"I can tell you about Dave," Cleveland said. "He has been the most loyal friend and loyal coach that I've ever worked with in 29 years. We both came here with a lot to learn. We learned together. We went through some challenging times together and through it all he never ever wavered. He always remained faithful."
The Cleveland-Rose bond was evident over the years as Cleveland gave Rose great leeway in coaching load and recruiting assignments. On the sidelines, Rose's role appeared almost as an equal to Cleveland. Players describe Cleveland practices as long and labor intensive but when Rose took over, they were shorter and more intense.
There is a difference in style. Where Cleveland rarely got a technical foul. Rose will try hard to stay in the game. "I have differences with officials, but I've learned it's no fun to be in the locker room when your players are playing."
Cleveland said Rose understands BYU's unique challenge with athletics.
"He knew what our commitment was," Cleveland said. " We didn't always agree on things. But at the end of the day, we were on the same page.
"He's grown, he's matured spiritually, emotionally, he's improved himself as a coach. You have to have a balance in your life to succeed here, to survive here. Dave has done that. He's worked hard towards that. He's looked forward to this. I couldn't be happier."
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com