Catching up with a West Virginian — who is an assistant for Tom Izzo

Each year an impactful person within the Ohio Valley is honored with a luncheon as the “Light of the Valley” recipient.

On Wednesday, that person was Tom “Bear” Bechtel, the longtime director of the Wheeling Recreation Department. (He also oversees softball officiating in West Virginia.)

The video (put together, by the way, by Wheelhouse Creative) included a tribute by former WVU and Michigan coach John Beilein, who went to what is now known as Wheeling University. (Beilein is now the Senior Player Development Advisor for the Detroit Pistons.)

But then Jamie Bordas, president of the Wheeling YMCA Board of Directors and managing partner of Bordas & Bordas, introduced another high-profile basketball coach.

One from West Virginia – specifically Wheeling.

One that is an assistant to Tom Izzo, who is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame after leading Michigan State to eight Final Fours and the 2000 national championship.

One that, at times, seems to be forgotten around the state.

He is Doug Wojcik.

Remember him?

State high school fans might remember his success at Wheeling Central Catholic, where he was a four-year letterman in football and baseball and three-year starter in hoops. He played for legendary coach Skip Prosser when the school won a Class AA title with a 25-2 record.

I remember him as a college basketball player at Navy. As a point guard he distributed the ball to future NBA great David Robinson.

He then went into a whirlwind coaching career. After his start as an assistant at Navy, he had stints at Notre Dame, North Carolina and Michigan State before becoming the head coach at Tulsa and then the College of Charleston.

After turmoil at the latter, he made a stop at East Carolina before moving to assist Mark Few at Gonzaga. He returned to Michigan State prior to the 2018-19 season and was named an assistant coach in June 2021.

“I’m doing really, really good,” Wojcik said on Wednesday. “I’m working for a Hall of Fame coach. He’s so established with so much credibility that it makes my job that much easier. Obviously, college athletics have changed quite a bit – even in the last year. The NIL went from zero to 100 pretty quickly, so everyone is adjusting to that. Plus, the transfer portal. Kids are able to pick up and go whenever they want.”

He paused.

“Things have changed over my career, but we’ve sort of held true to our beliefs and our culture at Michigan State,” Wojcik said. “We’re just trying to get the best kids for us, the ones that want to be part of something, part of a process, and not instant gratification. Things are going really well, and we’re excited about the season coming up.”

I asked if Izzo’s persona as the guy next door is for real.

“He has standards, but he is a coach of the people,” Wojcik said. “He looks out for the small guy and does it the right way. He doesn’t big-time people. He shows up. Same as why I’m here today. You have to stand up for what you believe in and know where you’re from. He’s never lost that concept.”

Ditto Wojcik. His family’s life has changed, but he was right there to honor Bechtel.

“Coming home is great,” Wojcik said. “It’s a little different. My parents are no longer here. I lost my dad about five and a half years ago. My mom was lost to Covid a year and a half ago. So, the drive in is a little different. The memories are a little different. Fortunately, my brother and sister are here, plus it’s nice seeing a lot of people I haven’t seen in a while. That was exciting.”

Oh, and yes, I asked Wojcik with a smile when he’s getting WVU into the Big Ten.

“Phew,” he said. “Tough thing for West Virginia. They need to hold steady at the Big 12 and hope the Big 12 gets stronger. I think it will because I think the Arizona States of the world, Oregon States, may end up in the Big 12. So, I think they’re in a good place.”

Just as Wojcik was on Wednesday.

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Mitch Vingle covered sports in West Virginia for 38 years. Follow Mitch on Twitter at @MitchVingle and be sure to check out the rest of Wheelhouse Creative’s website for your marketing and advertising needs. If interested, call us at 304-905-6005.