Even at that young age, he watched games at a "different angle" from most kids, studying it from a coach's perspective.

Now 48, Blow, who was introduced as St. Augustine's men's basketball coach Wednesday, hopes to diagram plays and draw up game plans that will lift the Falcons to championship status.

St. Aug's has had successful teams yet has claimed just one men's CIAA title (1997) in its hoops history. That's why officials didn't renew the contract of 10-year coach Thomas Hargrove, who produced five winning records -- but no championship -- in the past six seasons.

"We're trying to get to another level; we want some CIAA championships and national,'' said athletic director and coach George Williams, who has won 30 NCAA Division II track and cross country crowns.

After interviewing six candidates, St. Aug's officials think they've found the right man in Blow, who arrived wearing a navy blue suit and later covered his shaved head with a Falcons cap.

Details of his contract were not disclosed, but winning a championship surely would fatten it in the future.

A Philadelphia native, Blow made his mark as a successful high school coach in the Tidewater Virginia area, then served as an assistant at Hampton and Norfolk State.

Before that, he was a two-time All-America at Division III Virginia Wesleyan.

A pal of Lefty's

"I'm more than ready to accept this challenge," said Blow, a friend of former ACC coach Lefty Driesell, with whom he has had X's and O's discussions. "He's my buddy. If I need help or have questions, I call him."

As for goals at St. Aug's, Blow talked about discipline, about character and about upgrading grade point averages.

Blow stopped shy of predicting titles but said, "This is an opportunity for excellence ... with the nucleus and a few [more] pieces, we can be very successful."

Walter Sanders, one of several players attending the news conference, liked how Blow articulated his philosophy and said, "I think he'll be excellent."

Donna Blow, the coach's wife and mother of the couple's son, said she has never seen anybody as passionate about something as her husband is about basketball.

That passion doesn't guarantee success. But Blow keeps a sign in his office that reads:

"Winners find a way. Losers find an excuse."

"We're going to find a way,'' he promised.