Dewey Pennell has 47 years of high school basketball coaching experience. His son and former player, UA interim head coach Russ Pennell, says he likes having Dad around as a consultant.
Several Wildcat players say they appreciate Dewey's perspective, too, with forward Jamelle Horne noting Thursday that his criticism was appreciated during the UA's 97-83 win over Division II Incarnate Word.
"I've noticed after practice a lot of them are migrating to him and just sitting with him," Russ Pennell said.
"It's because it's a haven: 'I can't talk to coach Russ or coach Mike. …' "
Until Thursday, Russ Pennell had an opening on his coaching staff, too, and his father was visiting regularly from his retirement home in Queen Creek. But Pennell opted to shift administrative assistant Matt Brase to the assistant coaching role, while making Dewey Pennell the director of basketball operations, a role that forbids coaching activities.
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That way, Pennell said, Dewey avoids being a volunteer coach, which is not allowed under NCAA rules, and helps Brase at the same time.
"Here's why: Matt has been here. Matt's a young coach. Matt wants to go on with his career," Pennell said. "My dad's going back to Queen Creek at the end of this season and hanging out with my new nephew, who is 2 months old. So Dad's having the time of his life, helping us as a coaching staff from the standpoint of he's always going to have a word of encouragement."
Dewey Pennell won't be able to do much more on the floor than that, however. An NCAA bylaw prohibits administrators from attending any meetings involving coaching activities, analyzing videotape or coaching on or off the floor.
Bill Morgan, the UA's associate athletic director for compliance, said he discussed the rule with the basketball staff.
"My understanding is we're OK, unless I see something different," Morgan said.
After Thursday's exhibition game, several players praised Dewey Pennell's intelligence and coaching ability, while Horne said he brought an appreciated intensity to the bench.
"He was chewing me out," Horne said. "He was telling me he'd pull me out if I didn't get back on defense harder. But that's what we need. It's definitely going to get us better. … He's a fierce bulldog."
Russ Pennell said he realizes there is a "fine line" between encouragement and coaching, but said he would not do anything impermissible.
"He gives value in criticizing what we're doing," Pennell said. "His role is being more of a consultant to our coaching staff. The only things he would tell me pretty much would be like, 'Hey, this guy has three fouls.'"
The UA sports information department denied a request to speak with Dewey Pennell, but he said in a statement that he was happy with the role.
"I'm thrilled to be a part of a program that I've admired from afar," said Pennell. "I'm doubly thrilled to working with my son and his staff."
Pennell said Brase's "responsibilities are pretty much the same" but Brase said he was excited about the opportunity to be a full-time assistant coach.
"Having the opportunity to do that at Arizona just makes it more meaningful," Brase said in a statement.
A former walk-on player for the Wildcats, and the grandson of former UA coach Lute Olson, Brase graduated from Arizona in 2005 with a degree in business management.
Dewey Pennell, 70, graduated from Missouri State in 1960, then earned a master's in education in 1970 and a doctorate from Arkansas in athletic administration in 1991.
Rim shots
● Guard Nic Wise is scheduled to practice today after sitting out most of Friday's workout. He suffered a blow to his forehead in Thursday's game. "It was one of those things where if he had a game, he would have played," Pennell said.
● Pennell said he wasn't sure if associate head coach Mike Dunlap would continue to sit at the end of the bench, as he did Thursday, in part to observe bench behavior, but Horne was not surprised. "That's just his style," Horne said. "He doesn't like to be in the limelight. Dunlap's one of those guys who will be in the gym at 4:30 in the morning with you. He doesn't need the fame or the glory. He's just here for the team."
● Chase Budinger made only 2 of 10 shots Thursday but Pennell said he wasn't concerned, noting that Budinger took a knee to the thigh. "He wasn't feeling great," Pennell said. "He gutted it out and played. Chase is going to hit shots."
UP NEXT
• What: Sonoma State at Arizona, exhibition
• When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
• TV: None
• Radio: 1290-AM
