robert ehsan
UAB promoted Robert Ehsan to the head coaching position on Monday (photo courtesy Jimmy Mitchell / UAB athletics)
(Jimmy Mitchell)
Good news for Robert Ehsan meant that Jerod Haase has to do some more searching.
Haase had offered Ehsan the same position of associate head coach at Stanford, where Haase left UAB from on March 25 to take the head coaching spot.
But he also made clear his feelings on how the 33-year-old Ehsan should be his successor. After more than a week, Ehsan was promoted to the top spot officially on Monday.
"I couldn't be more excited," Haase said. "I'm fired up. It's not the best thing for me because having him at my side has enabled me to be successful and chase my dreams, but it's the best thing for him and I'm very happy for him."
Ehsan will be introduced at a press conference on Tuesday.
Haase hired Ehsan from Virginia Tech in 2012. The two had crossed paths in ACC recruiting while Haase was at North Carolina and Ehsan at Maryland and then Virginia Tech.
Despite Ehsan's youth, it was clear to Haase that he possessed the traits of being a leader.
"I think I knew pretty early (that he could one day be a head coach)," Haase said. "It didn't matter what we talked about within the program, he had experience in that area and was able to give good, sound advice.
"(Youth is) not an issue. There's a lot of things you could say where it's a positive. His relationships with the guys are great and yet he does have a command and respect from the guys as well."
Ehsan also made some big in-roads for the program within the state. UAB's staff had no connections to Alabama in 2012. By the end of 2013, the Blazers had signed eventual Mr. Basketball William Lee from Dallas County and two-time Class 6A Player of the Year Lewis Sullivan from Hazel Green.
Haase used Ehsan's input on a lot of things, he said. Mostly, offense and playcalling. A 3-pointer that Robert Brown hit against Iowa State during the final minute of a 60-59 win over Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2015 was Ehsan's suggestion.
Haase said that, while the two may have some slight differences in Xs and Os, their core values are largely the same.
"He likes to have gel in his hair and wear skinny jeans," Haase said. "Other than that, we have some similarities. He is very fashionable and that sort of thing, but he uses it to his favor."