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We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with Virginia Tech Special Assistant to the Head Coach Ace Custis. He won an NIT title in 1995, was named an All-American in 1997, and played pro basketball for more than a decade. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Custis about his recent promotion and his expectations for this year.
You were born/raised in Virginia: what made you choose Virginia Tech for college? I had some other schools recruiting me but some hometown guys who I looked up to were playing basketball/football at Virginia Tech. I enjoyed my visit and committed right then and there.
In the 1995 NIT title game tourney MVP Shawn Smith made a pair of FTs with 0.7 seconds left to clinch a 1-PT OT win over Marquette: did you think that he was going to make them both, and what did it mean to you to win a title? Shawn got fouled: I was glad that it was him instead of me! We huddled during a timeout and Shawn sat off to the side: he was in a zone by himself, came back onto the court, then made both FTs. We were like family so it was an exciting way to end the season after missing out on the NCAA tourney.
In the 1996 NCAA tourney you scored 8 PTS in a loss to Kentucky (Antoine Walker had 21 PTS/11 REB): where does that 34-2 championship-winning Wildcat squad (with NINE guys who eventually played in the NBA) rank among the best college teams that you have ever seen? They were very good: we were in it during the 1st half but they kept throwing a lot of talent against us. Our coach Bill Foster was interviewed before the game and asked, “What does it feel like to play against a team full of McDonald’s All-Americans?” He came back with a classic statement, “We have a lot of guys that eat at McDonald’s.”
In 1997 you were named an All-American and during your pregame Senior Day ceremony the school announced that they were going to retire your #20 jersey: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? At 1st I was surprised that it did not leak out. When they unveiled my jersey it was very emotional: I prepared myself to be the best player I could be so to be respected on Senior Night was 1 of the best feelings of my life.
You remain top-15 in school history in career PTS/REB/STL: how were you able to balance all these different aspects of your game? I did not see myself as full of talent but rather someone who would outwork my opponent. I just did whatever I could to help my team win, which allowed me to become a stat-stuffer.
You went undrafted in 1997 and then had a severe knee injury while trying out for Dallas before becoming 1 of the best power forwards in Asia for more than a decade: do you think that you would have made the Mavericks’ roster if you were healthy, and how did basketball in the US compare to basketball overseas? When I took my preseason physical with Dallas the doctor said that I would tear my ACL…and 2 weeks later I tore it in a game against Phoenix. Coach Don Nelson said in the locker room that I was going to make the team regardless of my injury but the following year they drafted some other guys and I did not make it. I later went overseas and had a lot of success but my ultimate goal was to come back to the NBA. I finished my career in Japan: there was some really good talent/great fans over there. I felt that I would play until my wheels fell off and by the end of my career I was in pain after every game. I think basketball is the same everywhere: you can see the talent of international players in the NBA. Some of the rules are different but basketball is basketball .
In 2007 you were inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? When I got that call I was excited because I am a Hokie until I die and I love it here. I was unable to come back for the ceremony so my wife gave a speech in my place: I really wanted to be a part of it in person but I was able to record a little speech of my own.
In 2019 you were hired as the Hokies’ coordinator of basketball relations and earlier this month you were promoted to Special Assistant to the Head Coach Mike Young: what did it mean to you to return to your alma mater, and how do you like working for Coach Young? I had tried to come back for years and finally had the opportunity to give back to a place that gave me an opportunity to get my degree and play basketball. I am thrilled to be a part of Mike’s staff: he is a basketball wizard and a great teacher of the game.
What is it like to be an African-American man in 2020? It is no different for me than it was 20 years ago: there are still many struggles but now things are getting recorded on cell phones and gaining some media attention. The news spreads faster now via Twitter but I still had to talk to my oldest son 10 years ago about how to interact with police. I have 2 younger kids but I had to have similar conversations with them at a much earlier age.
What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? I just want us to go out and compete and leave everything on the floor. We have more size up front and brought in a lot of experience so it is going to be exciting with Mike’s style/personnel. I cannot wait for that first jump ball to go up on November 25th: I know there is a lot of stuff going on in our country right now but to finally have a date for opening night is like a shining star and feels great.