TAMPA (FIBA Basketball World Cup/NCAA) - If there is one trait that defines Dominican Republic coach Orlando Antigua better than any other, it may be his ability to remain jovial and loose even in stressful situations.

In his second year as the head coach of the Dominicans, at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, Antigua maintained a boyish enthusiasm and stayed upbeat, especially in difficult times.

Due in large part to his hard work and ability to motivate the players and keep them focused in the hard moments of games, they were able to survive a difficult Group C campaign in Bilbao and advance to the Round of 16.

Antigua is also gracious.

After the team's elimination in the Round of 16, he said: "We're very happy to have an opportunity to be on this kind of stage, to compete in front of the world and our country."

The Dominicans had not played at a World Cup since 1978 before competing in Spain.

Antigua radiates optimism and there seems little doubt that the Dominican program, at least while he is involved, will move from strength to strength.

The same can be said for the South Florida Bulls team he now coaches.

Antigua, who had worked as an assistant to Kentucky Wildcats coach John Calipari in American college basketball and excelled in all aspects of that job, took over South Florida after last season.

This 2014-15 campaign, everyone expected, would be a hard one for the Bulls and so it has proved to be.

Since winning five of their first six games, South Florida have fallen in eight of their last 10.

When a school makes a coaching change and tries to turn around a losing program, wins can be hard to come by.

In his first season at Duke University, coach Mike Krzyzewski won 17 games and lost 13.

Krzyzewski, who also holds the reins of the USA's men's national team, has since become the winningest coach in NCAA history.

Antigua needs time.

Where he has been good is in the enthusiasm department.

The 41-year-old is not just trying to build a winning team, but to make stronger the ties between the Bulls and the Tampa community.

He has strengthened the bond between the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning and his Bulls program.

He has met with fraternities and sororities to rally support for the team.

In any way he can, Antigua is trying to get people excited about Bulls basketball.

The fan base is huge in Lexington and all over the state.

If Antigua continues to work hard on and off the courth at South Florida, good times are surely just around the corner.

He seems to be an ideal fit for the Bulls and the entire community.

FIBA