SDSU's Nagy helping Burundi again

Scott Nagy might have a second career as a host on the Travel Channel.

Earlier this month, the South Dakota State men's basketball coach spent nine days in the African nation of Burundi, dishing out humanitarian and hoops help. It's the continuation a relationship that began two years ago when the Jackrabbits hosted two coaches from Burundi, the goal being to teach them how to teach basketball.

This time, Nagy did the trekking, trying to further the knowledge of the game as well as delivering shoes to needy children. His ties to the nation of began with Manny Ohonme, the founder of Samaritan's Feet and a friend of Burundi president Pierre Nkurunziza.

Burundi has roughly 9.5 million residents, but in 2013 was ranked as the hungriest country in the world in part due to damages from 13 years of civil war. So why invest anything in hoops?

"Because of the civil war, they're trying to reconcile two tribes," Nagy said. "They figure through sport they can do that."

It won't be easy for myriad reasons. To wit, the trip didn't go as well as planned – and Nagy been to impoverished lands plenty of times.
"I didn't get as much accomplished on the basketball side as I would like to," he said. "If I ever go back this will help move things forward. It's a slow process."

It took Nagy 39 hours to get home, and he was on the road recruiting by 5 a.m. the next day. Early next month, he and the Jacks are off to Brazil for an international exhibition tour. Of course, those challenges pale in comparison to what's going on in Burundi. Among the issues: Nkurunziza wants to run for a third term in 2015, which opponents claim would violate the constitution.

Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.