New UT-Tyler Coach Brings Unique Credentials into Game with Razorbacks
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — When Eric Musselman unveils his newest version of the Razorback basketball team Friday night, it will be against one of the most successful coaches in all of basketball, albeit one who has had a rather unique path to get there.
The UT Tyler basketball program has only been around for 20 years and winning hasn't exactly been much of a thing for the Patriots. The school has only produced one coach who finished his time in Tyler with a winning record. After times got rough last season resulting in a 9-17 record, the Division II program didn't bother to look too far for its next leader.
In a nearby office was Tim Moser, the women's basketball associate head coach who had just finished a 28-7 season with an appearance in the Elite 8. When Moser came on, the women's program had gone a combined 3-37. His help in turning it around so quickly to a 46-17 record was a great deal of the appeal.
Prior to his arrival in Tyler, Moser took a men's junior college program in Wyoming that had suffered six straight losing seasons to the Final Four by his third season. Prior to that, he led an Alaska-Anchorage women's program that had averaged 10 wins to a 150-31 record. They were in the NCAA Tournament his first season and spent 81 weeks ranked in the Top 25. Rebuilds are his thing and nothing could help him rebuild the program at UT Tyler faster than a shocking win over Musselman and the No. 14 Razorbacks even if it is an exhibition game.
As a head coach, Moser is not to be taken lightly. He's 511-173, which doesn't include his work with the Patriots' women's program. That's a 75% winning percentage.
UT Tyler may not have the horses to compete with Arkansas just yet, although history suggests that doesn't matter a whole lot with Moser. At the very least, Musselman will get a nice push from a coaching perspective to start his season prior to getting his team ready to face Purdue in an exhibition for charity next Saturday at Bud Walton.
There will be no television broadcast of Friday night's exhibition.
