Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh has seen enough to remove the interim title of men's basketball coach Dave Pilipovich.
The contract is still being finalized.
Pilipovich took over after Mueh fired coach Jeff Reynolds on Feb. 8 and he won two of his first three games, including a 58-56 thriller over then-No. 13 San Diego State, the program's first win over a top-20 team in 65 tries.
''I had seen enough of Dave Pilipovich and his staff in the few games since we've made this change,'' Mueh said at a press conference following Air Force's 75-65 loss to Colorado State on Saturday. ''We had one other coach here that we elevated to the head coach position, and it worked out pretty well with Fisher DeBerry,'' referring to the Falcons' longtime football coach.
Before joining the Falcons' coaching staff five years ago, Pilipovich spent two years on Tommy Amaker's staff at the University of Michigan. He has 25 years of coaching experience.
''You have to pinch yourself to know it's really happening,'' said Pilipovich, who is now 2-5 as Falcons' head coach. ''I'm just appreciative of the opportunity.''
