I've already gone on record saying that I think it was a huge mistake for the Dakota Wizards to hire Dave Bliss as their new head coach, and we gave Bliss the chance to speak his peace with an in-depth interview after the Wizards chose him.

Here's what other people from all walks are saying about the Wizards' hiring of the controversial former Baylor coach.

The front office

3 Steve McCormick, the owner of the Wizards, is the man who made the decision to hire Bliss. His response to what made him comfortable with that choice:

"He admits to it. He's apologized for it. He's remorseful. I think he deserves a second chance.

"… I think with the coaching staff that we have, with the (fans) that are turned off, we'll get that or more, because of the excitement."

3 JaneLink, Wizards' general manager, on the feedback she was getting the day after the press conference:

"I had some e-mails. I think people are more willing to write in if it's something negative, but I've probably had just as many positive. I would say it was about a 50-50 split. I was pleasantly surprised. There were a lot of people congratulating us."

The coaches

3 Dave Joerger led the Wizards to three championships in four seasons at the helm of the team. Joerger, who led Sioux Falls to the CBA title in his first season there, said this:

"Basketball-wise his record speaks for itself, and he'll have the respect from us in the rest of league.

"… In the recruiting part, it's going to be up to agents and players as individuals to interpret what their feeling is from what they read about on the other stuff."

3 Duane Ticknor coached the Wizards to the best record in the IBA in his one season with the team.

Ticknor left the Gary Steelheads this season for health reasons. After being diagnosed with diabetes, Ticknor has recovered and is currently coach and athletic director at his son's high school in Michigan City, Ind.:

"It's hard to pass judgment, but as a Wizards fan, you always wonder why, but everybody makes mistakes. It doesn't hurt to give somebody a second chance.

"… I think basketball-wise, there isn't any question - he has a great basketball mind. It's hard to pass judgment in that situation because you never know what you'd do. You'd like to think you'd do the right thing."

3 Casey Owens, who led the Wizards to the best record in the CBA and the Western Conference finals in his first season as head coach, did not have his contract renewed by the team.

Owens said he reserved comment when Bliss was hired, but offered this statement when the Wizards interviewed him:

"I don't know Dave Bliss personally, so I'll defer any questions to the findings of the NCAA."

The players

3 Bobby Lazor, who played for the Wizards last season, on whether hiring Bliss would influence his interest in returning to the club:

"I don't think it would have an effect. It's a business. What has happened in other places has nothing to do with me.

"The important thing is playing time and minutes. What he's done somewhere else doesn't have anything to do with me."

3 Bryant Notree just ended his career due to a heart condition. He returned to the Wizards and will serve as an assistant under Bliss.

Although he had heard about Patrick Dennehy's murder, because his career has taken him around the world, Notree said he only recently heard the details of Bliss' role in the scandal at Baylor:

"I had already met (Bliss) before I learned about it, so I had a different outlook. He's remorseful. Who am Ito say he shouldn't have done that or I have a different feeling about you? I have to get to know that person first. Of course he was wrong for what he did, but who am I to judge?"

The media

3 Mike DeCourcy, long-time college basketball columnist for The Sporting News, on his blog:

"Bliss told the (Bismarck Tribune) he 'panicked' under the pressure of increased scrutiny that led him to 'succumb to ambition.'

"A nice excuse, really. But panic is a momentary impulse. Bliss had more than a month to think this through. It certainly was not an easy time for him. But panic? No. That's not flying.

"There is no reason Bliss should not be able to live out the rest of his life in peace with his family. I'd wish him the best with that. The game of basketball, though, does not need him."

3 Tom Knott, in the Washington Times:

"It is just a guess, but infamy is probably not the way to add relevance to an operation.

"Bliss is lugging around so much baggage that he probably would have trouble leading players out of a burning house.

"And the ability to lead is so much what being a coach is all about.

"Bliss squandered the ability to lead the moment he sought to impugn the reputation of the dead."

The fans

3 Dave Smith is a Bismarck native now living in Fargo. He said he used to attend several Wizards games regularly and is "disappointed" in the decision to hire Bliss:

"As a Bismarck native and an avid sports fan, I've admired the Dakota Wizards since the days of Dave Vik and Nate Driggers. I've also been impressed with the organization's management and ability to thrive in a small market where others have failed to survive (Rattlers, Blaze, Roughriders).

"However, the organization's last move has left me scratching my head. The hiring of coach Dave Bliss is a publicity stunt that will be a black mark on the Wizards, the CBA, and North Dakota. Any credibility that the organization or league has built in the past years will be questioned because of the decision.

"The Wizards have had an array of coaches, from the good (Dave Joerger, Duane Ticknor) to the bad (Jay Garmatz, Steve Tucker) and now the ugly (Dave Bliss). Don't make a joke out of the Wizards, Mr. McCormick. And don't bring Dave Bliss' lack of morals and judgement into the Civic Center."

3 Gary VerDouw ran the scoreboard at Wizards' games for eight seasons before recently moving to St. Louis and was a diehard fan of the team.

He sent an e-mail before the Wizards made the hiring of Bliss official:

"Dakota Wizards fans want to see their team win, but they take great pride in the fact that the team has won with players who are mature enough to conduct themselves well both on and off the court. I see that all going out the window if Bliss were to be hired."

I would have included the reaction of a fan that was in favor of the hiring, but out of the many responses we've gotten, we have yet to receive one.

(Lou Babiarz is the Tribune sports editor).