Dec. 7, 2005

Hartford, Conn. - Watching the Central Connecticut football game last month from the LaValle Stadium press box, the highest vantage point in the Stony Brook athletic complex, Steve Pikiell spoke of his grand vision.

"The timing is right for this program to take off," the first-year basketball coach said. "It's a sleeping giant."

It's Pikiell's intent to wake up the Seawolves, who haven't won an America East Conference title in their six seasons of Division I play, and lead them to prominence.

"It won't be immediate, but I have no doubt Steve will do just that," George Washington coach Karl Hobbs said. "He was a big reason for our success."

George Washington went from a 12-16 record in Hobbs' first season with Pikiell, 2001-02, to 22-8, its first Atlantic-10 Conference title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament last season.

"If Steve says it, I believe it," Central Connecticut coach Howie Dickenman said. "He has done it before."

The Blue Devils advanced from 4-22 in Dickenman's initial season with Pikiell, 1997-98, to 25-6 and their first Northeast Conference regular season and tournament titles and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2000.

Pikiell was named coach at Stony Brook, which is located about 60 miles east of New York, in April. He replaced Nick Macarchuk, who had retired after going 64-108 in 1999-2005.

"Steve is persistent and passionate," athletic director Jim Fiore said. "Last to first, that's Steve's M.O."

Leader Forged At UConn

This view of Pikiell, a three-time All-State player at St. Paul High School in Bristol, really was founded when he played at UConn in 1986-91, and was an assistant coach in '91-92.

His first season was coach Jim Calhoun's first, 1986-87. The Huskies' record in the Big East before Calhoun arrived was 37-61.

Calhoun has transformed the program to a perennial national power.

Pikiell was a contributor. During his career, UConn won the 1988 NIT and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in 1990 and the Sweet 16 in in '91.

"Remember the pain Steve endured with that shoulder, and he had to sit out a season ['88-89]?" Dickenman said. "He was supposed to have a 31/2-hour operation. It turned out to be seven. He had two small screws put in there. Tough, that's Steve Pikiell."

Building From Ground Up

Pikiell, 38, likely will need plenty of strength and resilience in his first season at Stony Brook. The schedule outside of the America East is demanding.

The Seawolves (0-3) opened the season with a 78-35 loss at Villanova. They play at St. John's Wednesday night and at UConn Dec. 28.

He has two walk-ons and nine scholarship players, but only eight can play because Ricky Lucas has to sit out this season after transferring from George Washington.

Still, the Seawolves have hustled and played hard in every game. Their other two losses, to Lehigh (58-54) and to Columbia (55-54), could have been "Our guys took seven charges against Lehigh and really grinded it out," Pikiell said. "Low scoring is not how I want to play. It's how we have to play. I want an attacking, athletic team that plays pressure defense. I want a lot of points on the board."

That style should emerge in time.

Pikiell has utilized one of his better skills, recruiting, to land 7-foot-2 center Riiny Ngot, 6-3 swingman Marcus Robinson, 6-1 point guard Eddie Castellanos, 6-1 guard Chris Martin and 6-7 forward Rio Pitt. The group represents the largest recruiting class to commit to Stony Brook in an early signing period.

"Steve's a relentless recruiter," Dickenman said. "He was the first to notice Rick Mickens [the 2000 NEC player of the year] for us. He'll turn over stones until he finds the right players."

Hobbs said Pikiell "is a terrific people person. He can talk to someone in Roxbury [Mass.] as easily as someone in Avon."

Hobbs says Pikiell, with talented players and his ability to coach and motivate, will win at Stony Brook.

Pikiell cited his UConn and Central coaching connections.

"Karl is more of a teacher, a finesse teacher, than Howie," he said. "Coach D's things are toughness in recruiting and defense. And Jim [Calhoun] is so bright in how he figures things out. I'm proud to say I've stolen some things from them in how I coach."

Finding Himself

Still, Pikiell is making his own identity at Stony Brook. He invited any coaches from the area to talk about basketball on four consecutive Sunday nights during the preseason.

"We had 31 coaches the first night," he said.

And before the season Pikiell was a referee for junior Seawolves games (5- to 7-year-olds).

"I go into the Dunkin' Donuts and the people know me as Coach. That's nice," Pikiell said.

Fiore says there are plans to have a new basketball floor and other upgrades at the Stony Brook Sports Complex and a home television package for next season.

Fiore and Pikiell say if Vermont and Boston University can do well in America East, why not Stony Brook?

"We're ... only a short train ride away from New York," Pikiell said. "We have tremendous support from our athletic director and president [Shirley Strum Kenny]. They very much support athletics. She reminds me of Harry Hartley, who was an active president at UConn. Now this is a state university, like UConn. The students and fans here are like those at UConn in the '80s. They have great potential to be excited about basketball.

"We're going to win here."