Interim coaches

BYU assistant head coach Lance Reynolds can empathize with UCLA interim head coach DeWayne Walker. Walker, a former Cougar assistant in 1994, was named UCLA’s interim head coach after Karl Dorrell was fired after a 6-6 season and is leading the Bruins into Saturday’s Las Vegas Bowl.
Reynolds has a somewhat unique perspective on the situation since he served as BYU’s interim head coach for a couple of weeks after the resignation of Gary Crowton after the 2004 campaign. He knows firsthand that it’s a formidable task.
“It’s a tough situation for a couple of reasons,” Reynolds said. “First, the time
consumption. I’ve been in that before in a transition between coaches. People aren’t sure if they have jobs or where they’re going. Press people want to talk to you. Players are trying to figure out what’s going on. You’re talking to players who want to transfer or are thinking about it. Recruiting is going on. You’re trying to keep everything glued together — all while you’re not the head coach. You’re like a lame-duck guy to a certain extent.
“I know very little about the ins-and-outs of (Walker’s) situation,” Reynolds continued. “I’m just saying that his time and efforts are being pulled in several different directions. But I don’t know if that will effect him and his team on the field. It’s hard to do anything else besides the stuff that’s around it. Everybody’s indecision, everybody’s unsurety, it’s difficult. You leave and come back and there’s 70 messages on your phone. It’s a very difficult thing. They’re in a very similar situation that we were a few years ago. The players and coaches don’t know what’s going on. It’s a confusing, tough time.”
At least, Reynolds said, Walker has a bowl game to prepare for — something Reynolds didn’t have in 2004.
“That’s something to focus on. I’m sure (UCLA) will do a good job and I’m sure
they’ll be ready to play. I’m not worried about them not being ready to
play. I’m worried about winning the game.”