RANDY METCALF/Arizona Daily Wildcat Newly promoted Arizona assistant men's basketball coach Josh Pastner gestures towards the crowd during Midnight Madness last October in McKale Center. Pastner was promoted yesterday after Jay John left to coach Oregon State Tuesday.

After six years with the Arizona basketball program, Josh Pastner is officially a coach.

The former player was promoted to assistant coach yesterday after former assistant Jay John's hiring as head coach of Oregon State Tuesday.

"It is a wonderful opportunity for me," Pastner said. "I am very fortunate to have worked for (head) coach Olson, (assistant) coach Rosborough and (assistant) coach Tention, and am looking forward to the future of Arizona basketball."

Pastner won a national championship as a player in 1997 and, following his graduation in 2000, assumed the graduate assistant position.

Pastner was then moved to an administrative role last season.

Head coach Lute Olson said having Pastner on staff has been invaluable and that Pastner is well deserving of yet another promotion.

"Josh has been intimately involved with this program for six years," Olson said. "One of his goals was to be a full-time assistant here at the University of Arizona, and his persistence has paid off. We feel that Josh is an excellent addition to the staff and his tireless efforts will benefit the program for years to come."

Pastner, a native of Kingwood, Texas, played in 42 games as a Wildcat, and Arizona was a remarkable 42-0 when Pastner played.

Though Pastner's playing time was limited, his court savvy and knowledge of the game proved to be valuable while he was playing.

Pastner said he would often help the assistant coaches break down tapes in preparation for the next game.

Associate head coach Jim Rosborough said Pastner's dedication played a huge part in the team's success while Pastner was playing.

"(Pastner) spent all kinds of time in the film room," Rosborough said. "Within three days of him being here, he sat down with the big players (Mike) Bibby, (Miles) Simon and (Michael) Dickerson in and got those guys in the gym. (Pastner) would spend his extra time rebounding for them. I am not absolutely sure we would have won the national championship without him."

While playing, Pastner managed to finish his family studies degree in two and a half years - the fastest a student athlete at Arizona has ever completed an undergraduate degree - by taking as many as 33 units in a semester. The following year he completed his master's.

"Only a moron would do that," Rosborough joked about Pastner taking 33 units in a semester. "I didn't really know what we were getting when he got here. He is motivated and does a very good job. He has always been a different breed of kid in my mind. He knew he wanted to coach, and he has been grooming himself for six years."

Even though recruiting positions have not been finalized, it is likely Pastner will recruit heavily in his home state of Texas, where he was a former AAU coach in Houston.

During Pastner's six-year involvement with the program, Arizona has a 156-46 (.772) record.