Kenny Gattison Former star eager to help Monarchs get back on top By James J. Lidington Somebody guard the doors at the Constant Center; Old Dominion might soon find one of its retired jerseys missing. Kenny Gattison, one of the Monarchs’ best-ever players and an assistant on coach Blaine Taylor’s staff, said he’s so excited by the direction the team is headed that he’d love to don his No. 44 uniform once more. Gattison’s fire is stoked by what he sees as a renaissance of the men’s program: the new 8,600-seat Ted Constant Convocation Center opening this fall; a competitive home schedule that includes UNC and Dayton; and a team that features a mix of experienced upperclassmen and talented newcomers. It’s a combination that could signal a return to a period in the early- and mid-1980s when Gattison and his teammates annually challenged for conference titles and were feared by some of the nation’s toughest programs. “I wish I had a couple years’ eligibility,” he mused. “I’d love to go over to that convocation center and throw a few down.” The 6-8 Gattison was a two-time Sun Belt Conference all-star and in 1986, his senior year, was the league MVP. During his career, the Monarchs advanced to two NCAA and two NIT tournaments. The Wilmington, N.C., native still holds the Sun Belt career mark for rebounds (963). Gattison, who was drafted in the third round by the Phoenix Suns, played nine years in the NBA, averaging 8 points and 4.7 rebounds. A six-year member of the Charlotte Hornets, he led the team in field goal percentage four seasons. He enjoyed his best season in 1991-92, finishing fifth on the Hornets in scoring with a 12.7 average. Gattison’s playing career ended in 1994 when he suffered a cervical spine injury in a game against Cleveland. He later became an assistant coach on John Calipari’s staff with the New Jersey Nets from 1996-98. Gattison was a logical choice when Taylor assembled his staff in 2001 for their first season at Old Dominion. Indeed, his NBA credentials have proven a definite plus both in the gym and in the recruiting wars off campus.Of the myriad duties an assistant coach is tasked with, player management has been the most meaningful to Gattison. “They’re in grown men’s bodies but they’re not grown men yet,” he said. “When you see a guy like Rasheed (Wright) or Ricardo Marsh come through your door and they’re so innocent to the world, it does you good inside to know what a daily conversation with them can do. You can give them a tad bit of information that they can come back and draw from down the road. “That’s the difference between pro coaching and college. Here, you’ve got a kid that’s ‘half-full’ – he’s so anxious for knowledge and information. In the pros, you’ve got a multimillionaire sitting there who really doesn’t care. It’s like, ‘When do I get my check?’ and ‘What are we having to eat on the charter?’” So why would Gattison, who himself earned a nice salary during his NBA career and is financially comfortable, want to take on the role of an assistant college coach? The answer is that he still loves the game and his alma mater – so much so that he wants to help the program return to the way it was when he wore No. 44. “I want to see Old Dominion back at the point where a Maryland would come down here and wish they never had,” he said. “I want teams to fear coming into the Constant Center.”