|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Another one out Fogler follows Williams, pulls out of running for UNC
Posted: Friday July 07, 2000 03:49 PM
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina basketball coach Eddie Fogler has withdrawn his name from consideration for the North Carolina job, saying he wants to continue working with his young, improving Gamecock team. In a statement released Friday, Fogler said he had spoken with North Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour about the Tar Heels job, but decided the timing was not right to leave South Carolina. "I'm excited about the upcoming season and our program here at the University of South Carolina," Fogler said. "Last year's team showed great improvement in February and at the SEC tournament, and we look forward to building on that momentum." The announcement came the day after Kansas coach Roy Williams turned down the Tar Heels, which came open last week when North Carolina coach Bill Guthridge announced his retirement. Speculation centered around Williams from the beginning, but Fogler -- himself a former North Carolina player and assistant coach -- was one of a handful of coaches also mentioned as possible successors. Last week, Fogler avoided the question of whether he was a candidate for the Tar Heels job, saying "I'm head basketball coach at South Carolina, and I'm only interested in answering questions about our program." Still, South Carolina athletic director Mike McGee gave Fogler permission to talk with the Tar Heels, saying he would not come between Fogler and his alma mater. The 52-year-old Fogler's ties to the Tar Heels run deep. He played guard for two Final Four teams from 1967-70, then joined the Tar Heels staff as an assistant coach in 1971. Fogler stayed as an assistant, working with Guthridge and Williams, until 1986, when he left to become head coach at Wichita State. He also coached at Vanderbilt before coming to South Carolina seven years ago. "North Carolina has the premier basketball program in the country, and I was honored to have the discussion with them," Fogler said, "but I know there are other outstanding candidates out there for the head coaching position at UNC." On Friday, McGee said he was "pleased that Coach Fogler will
remain as South Carolina's head coach. We look forward to
continuing our basketball program's development under Coach Fogler
and expect to have a successful program under his leadership."
| ||||||||||||||||||||
