<p>By TOM NOIE
Tribune Staff Writer</p>
<p>His day done but the work so far from complete, former Notre Dame associate men's basketball coach Sean Kearney turned out the lights of his new office recently and stepped into a late summer's night.</p>
<p>Now the first-year coach at the College of the Holy Cross, Kearney's new place of work, the Hart Center, sits atop a hill overlooking the city of Worcester, Mass. Though it was late August, a slight chill and gentle breeze caressed the evening air.</p>
<p>One of Kearney's first thoughts drifted toward what the view might look like in winter, maybe after a big Patriot League home win.</p>
<p>Kearney then glanced to his left, where the statue of former Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy stands watch over campus.</p>
<p>"I half expected him to turn to me and say, 'It does get a little colder up here in January, but don't worry, you'll be all right,'" Kearney said with a laugh. "My mind is constantly racing with so many things that you want to get done yesterday." </p>
<p>It's been just over two months since Kearney shed the security blanket of living in Granger and working as Mike Brey's right-hand man for his first head coaching job. But those 60 days have seemed like 60 hours to Kearney, who spent much of the time establishing what he hopes to be life-long relationships with all involved with Holy Cross basketball.</p>
<p>Not long after his introductory press conference, Kearney hopped in a rented car for a driving tour of the Northeast. Just as he watched Brey do in the days after his hiring back in South Bend, Kearney wanted to get with as many of his team's returning players as possible.</p>
<p>Kearney, who doesn't like heights to begin with, was traversing the George Washington Bridge on his way over to Long Island one night during the trip when fireworks danced across the sky. Why now, he wondered as he squeezed the wheel a little tighter.</p>
<p>Then I remembered, Oh, yeah, its the Fourth of July, Kearney said. Its been a whirlwind. I dont stop to think much about the time frame.</p>
<p>The second phase of Kearneys master plan commenced last week. With school starting back up, he gathered the players for their first team meeting. Individual workouts, a team picture and setting a fall practice schedule also were implemented. In essence, Kearneys focus shifted from politics to basketball.</p>
<p>Thats when it becomes a little daunting to me, he said.</p>
<p>Daunting not in a sense that Kearney, who spent 22 years as a college assistant, wonders if hes ready for this job. He believes that he is. But he also steps into a situation so unique, so foreign to a first-year head coach at any level.</p>
<p>Rookie head coaches arent handed teams that won 18 games the previous year. They dont get squads that feature a nice mix of veterans and freshmen. And they certainly arent expected to win their league and possibly snag an invitation to the NCAA tournament.</p>
<p>As he recruited for Holy Cross this summer, Kearney was greeted by fellow coaches at every stop. All told him that the Crusaders should be favorites this season and next to win the Patriot League.</p>
<p>South</a> Bend Tribune: Notre Dame Basketball: Kearney enjoying whirlwind</p>