By Bill Vilona
GoArgos.com Senior Writer
The past months have been the biggest whirlwind in Justin Mann's life.
He began this year by getting married. He and his wife, Daley, then traveled in August halfway across the country from Independence, Kansas to Pensacola when Justin joined as assistant coach on the UWF men's basketball staff, after his previous two seasons as head coach at Independence Community College .
It was their first time seeing Pensacola. Daley then got a teaching job in town, a career move in something she had not done before.
In early November, Mann was named UWF interim head coach, his first position at an NCAA Division II university.
"It's a lot," he said, smiling. "It's been a lot of change for both of us. But it has been a blessing. Never in my mind would I have thought it all happening."
The blessing has included reward for both.
While his wife settled into teaching, while also being near courtside at UWF games, Justin has seen his team form an even tighter bond amid a challenging situation.
The Argos delivered Mann his first NCAA D-2 win Dec. 3 in a 93-84 victory at home against Delta State. A celebratory ice water dousing by his players followed in the locker room.
The Argos then rallied from 19 points down in the second half last Sunday against unbeaten West Georgia to cut the deficit into a two-possession game, before an 82-77 loss to the No. 4-ranked Wolves (9-0). That game revealed something about UWF's potential.
"There's been a lot of change for these gentlemen, a lot of change for myself and they've never stopped fighting," Mann said. "In our practices, there is a winner and loser in every drill. And when you start to hate losing, maybe things will start coming your way.
"I saw the fight again (Sunday). We continued to fight. It could have been easy to get down 19 and just kind of hang your head, but we got it all the way down to four (points) with the ball. And… so just the fight from these guys, I proud of them and I think that carries over."
"Which is not bad for this team, because obviously we had change in the middle of the season so now they will be able to come back, after taking a break, and maybe they are rejuvenated," said Mann of the extend break. "They get my voice now and hopefully we can fix some things."
In remarkable testament to UWF's stability, the Argos have had just four previous head coaches in their history. In Mann's interim role this season, he becomes the fifth.
One of his mentors in the coaching profession from his varied stops provided wisdom he keeps as a daily reminder.
"He said just keep being you and good things will happen," Mann said. "Just keep doing what you are doing on a daily basis and you will be rewarded.
"And to me, that is making sure we have the right kids for culture and making sure we graduate our guys. That's the biggest thing… we have guys who are close to graduating (in spring) and we got to make sure they do that.
"And then seeing these guys be able to move on from college basketball, because at the end of the day, sometimes that ball stops dropping and they have to make sure they have their head on straight ready to go."
Mann grew up in Peoria, Illinois. He grew into being a 6-foot-10 center and he developed in high school to gain college opportunities.
He graduated in 2009 from Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina, after playing two seasons with the Division II member Bearcats, earning his degree in mass communications.
From there, he hopped on the oft-nomadic train of being a college basketball coach. His first start was at Meridian (Miss) Community College, then Eastern Nazarene in Quincy, Massachusetts, followed by Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga. where he earned a master's degree.
From there he coached at Daytona State College in Daytona Beach, which led into four years at Independence Community College, including the past two as head coach.
"Independence is in a really tough league (Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference) and the last two years have prepared me for this moment," Mann said. "Being here has been such a blessing. When you have great guys who you want to be around every day, that's what makes it more special.
"Because when I got here, it was hard for me, because I didn't recruit these guys. So, the first couple of months, before the change was made, I spent a lot of time with them."
The only Argos player he had a prior connection with is junior forward
Xavier Washington, who played against Mann's team at Independence when Washington was at Cowley Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas.
When Mann was named a month ago as the Argos' interim coach, he vowed to avoid his mistake a year ago with his team at Independence.
"We had a really good team and I just thought we didn't click," he said. "And looking back, sometimes, I thought I was negative. This year, just the positivity I try to bring is different.
"I think what has changed is the guys are starting to realize it's my voice and it's starting to turn and they can respond in different ways. It's all about deliverance, how you are speaking to them. That's important.
"Everybody I believe is to be coached differently and each kid responds differently when they are getting talked to in a certain way. Yeah, I'm 6-10, so I have a presence and I try to be as intense as I can. Even in shootaround I'm very intense, but I try to be positive."
Mann has become quickly versed in UWF athletic success and its legacy of athletic teams' coaches who have produced consistent success.
"Yes, 119 conference (GSC) championships since 1995 in this athletic program," he said. "It is a blessing to be here. There is so much positivity in these hallways. This is a special place. I am just blessed that they gave me this opportunity.
"Every morning, I tell our guys I love them. They might not be hearing that, because they're not at home with their families. So it's important to know that someone cares about them.
"I told them nothing changes because just because a slid over a chair, doesn't mean I get negative. At the end of the day, I'm here for these guys, that's what is most important."
