A CHANGED BIBBY FACES ALMA MATER\Trojans' interim coach credits Bruins' Wooden.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

Don't call it an adjustment. USC interim basketball coach Henry Bibby has been through hundreds of those. Call it a rebirth.

It came seven years ago when Bibby took the now-defunct Tulsa Fast Breakers into the Continental Basketball Association finals. A CBA title isn't the most coveted one in sports, especially compared to the three NCAA titles Bibby won at UCLA in the early '70s, but he sought help anyway.

"I said 'God, if you give me the championship, I'll give something back,' " Bibby said. "I promised to give something back."

The Fast Breakers beat Rockford four games to none and won the CBA championship. About a year later, Bibby said he heard a voice.

"It said, 'I gave you what you want, so what are you going to give me,' " Bibby said. "I said, 'I'll give you my life.' "

Since then, Bibby, learning the lessons he got from UCLA coach John Wooden, has been dedicated to coaching and helping his players.

"I'm here to touch lives," he said.

And now, after years traveling the back roads of the CBA, the two-time All-American at UCLA has resurfaced as interim head coach of USC. He will face his former team tonight at the Sports Arena trying to get his first win at USC. He's 0-4 since being named coach.

Bibby had been out of the major basketball scene since being cut from the New Jersey Nets in 1983. His coaching career took him into the country's heartland, better known as the CBA's major locales: Rockford, Ill.; La Crosse Wis.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Sioux Falls, S.D,; Topeka, Kan. Bibby had just come from a club team in Venezuela when Charlie Parker offered him the assistant coaching job at USC.

Bibby hadn't been a college coach since being fired along with head coach Bob Weinhauer at Arizona State in 1985 amid allegations of NCAA violations. (Pacific-10 officials red-flagged Bibby's initial hiring and let USC hire him only after athletic director Mike Garrett and other school officials vouched for him.) Bibby figured he would take a few years to mesh back into college basketball.

But then Garrett fired Parker and named Bibby as the interim head coach on Feb. 7. Shocked, but not unprepared, the 46-year-old Bibby was thrust back onto the Los Angeles basketball scene. Twenty-four years later, he's about 12 miles from his home turf at UCLA.

After spending his entire NBA career on one-year contracts, Bibby now is trying to gain the permanent job at USC.

"It's tough from the standpoint of the ties, connections and allegiances I've had with UCLA," Bibby said. "I've got good friends saying they hope I win all the games except UCLA. I wore that blue and gold for so many years and it's tough. But I'll do it."

Bibby's main NBA accomplishments were winning a title with the New York Knicks as a rookie and playing four strong seasons (1976-'80) with the Philadelphia 76ers. After a season with the San Diego Clippers, he became a player-coach with Lancaster (Pa.) of the CBA in 1982.

"I wanted to stay in basketball and I wanted to be a coach," Bibby said. "It was very difficult making the adjustment, traveling by van. The closest town was 4-5 hours away and you vanned. It was truly the minor leagues. But I loved being around basketball."

But it took its toll in time spent away from his family. He returned to the Phoenix area at Arizona State in 1983 and spent two seasons as an assistant. Bibby was linked to some of the school's 20 NCAA violations during that span, including telling a player to lie to Pac-10 officials during the investigation. The Sun Devils lost one scholarship and were placed on probation after his firing.

He took a job coaching the Baltimore Lightning of the CBA in 1985, then with the Springfield Fame of the United States Basketball League the next summer. All the while his wife Virginia and son Mike were living in Arizona.

"My wife asked me in 1985, 'Why do you want to go through that?' " Bibby said. "I wanted to be in coaching. I was willing to make the sacrifice, eating bologna sandwiches 7-8 months out of the year."

That cost him a good relationship with his family. Mike, one of the top prep players in the nation, will attend Arizona next season on a basketball scholarship and didn't consider USC even though his father was hired during the recruiting process. Bibby and his wife are divorced.

But Bibby's nurturing attitude, usually reserved for an offspring, has had a great effect on his players.

"Coach Bibby has been great," USC guard Brandon Martin said. "He has given us growth. I feel everybody growing around here because of him."

After leaving college coaching the first time on a sour note, Bibby is ready for retribution.

"I've made mistakes in the past and I have made adjustments and that's what life is all about," Bibby said. "I made adjustments when I was named coach."

Bibby's CBA revelation had everything to do with Wooden, whose philosophies suddenly came to life. Wooden's guidance finally reached him, not only dealing with players as players but as young men.

Bibby will now pace the sidelines of the Sports Arena trying to showcase his vision to his mentor.

"I'm pleased that (my players) feel what they learned under me is helpful," Wooden said. "Henry was an outstanding young man. I'll be rooting for Henry to do well. But I'll be rooting for UCLA to win."

The rumors continue about the hiring of Paul Westphal as USC's coach. Once again, Bibby could be on the move in March. He expected to coach a few years under Parker to relieve some pressure, then pursue a head-coaching job. He's been adamant about wanting the permanent USC position, but will let fate carve his direction.

"I totally believe I was placed where I need to be," Bibby said. "How long? It's not for me to know. It doesn't matter who doesn't want me here or who they think is going to be here. It could be 50,000 boosters, 100,000 alumni but if I'm meant to be here then my job is here. We'll win basketball games. But it's a matter of sowing the right seed to take it (to) another level. That's what we need to do."

CAPTION(S):

PHOTO

Photo (color) USC's Henry Bibby looks for first win against his former team, UCLA, tonight. Gus Ruelas / Daily News