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From one Dome to another Notre Dame's Doherty named UNC coach
Posted: Tuesday July 11, 2000 10:55 PM
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Matt Doherty, a starter on North Carolina's 1982 NCAA national championship team, was introduced as Tar Heels' coach Tuesday, the first former player from the storied program to return as coach in 75 years. Doherty, who had his first head coaching job at Notre Dame last season, said he was excited and surprised by the opportunity to coach at his alma mater. "This is a big day in my life, one that I did not see coming," he said during a press conference Tuesday night. "I was just cruising along in South Bend, and then the phone rang, and here I am. Maybe a lot of you saw this coming, but I never did." Athletics director Dick Baddour sat with Doherty while recently-retired coach Bill Guthridge and Dean Smith stood off to the side. "Our tradition of excellence will continue," Baddour said during the introduction. Doherty, 38, became the leading candidate after last week's decision by Williams not to take the job at his alma mater. Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl and Philadelphia 76ers coach Larry Brown, who both played for UNC under Dean Smith, took their names out of the running Monday. Doherty, an assistant to Williams for seven years, led the Fighting Irish to a 22-15 record and a second-place finish in the NIT during his first year as head coach.
"I think he is a great choice for this program because I think he maintains the same character, quality and integrity that has always marked Carolina," said James Moeser, incoming UNC chancellor. He spoke with Doherty on Tuesday morning before a decision was made. "He is the right person to keep this program No. 1 in the country." Doherty met with Irish players for about 20 minutes Tuesday afternoon in South Bend, Ind. Hand-drawn signs taped to windows on the campus implored Doherty to stay. "The only place for Coach D is ND," one sign read. Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White said the school is "seriously disheartened" by Doherty's departure and wished him and his wife well. The Fighting Irish will work to find a new coach quickly. "Anticipating this eventuality, we have begun the process of talking to a wide array of college basketball contacts, and we are well engaged in the process," White said in a statement. Doherty has Catholic roots -- a graduate of Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville, N.Y. -- but his connection to North Carolina also is strong, as a member of the '82 championship squad that featured Michael Jordan, James Worthy and Sam Perkins. Williams also was an assistant on that squad. Doherty "is exhilarated about it. Leaving Notre Dame was not an easy thing for him," Moeser said. "In many ways it's a natural fit for him -- a Catholic kid from New York. But there is only one place I think is more home for Matt Doherty and that's North Carolina."
Doherty and former UNC players Jeff Lebo and Randy Wiel were mentioned as candidates still in the running Tuesday to replace Bill Guthridge, Smith's longtime assistant who led the Tar Heels to two Final Fours in three years before announcing his retirement June 30. Doherty came to Chapel Hill on Saturday to meet for several hours with athletic director Dick Baddour and others. Wiel flew in Tuesday from a coaching clinic in Spain to interview with Smith, Guthridge and other basketball officials. Wiel noted that Doherty is a high-profile coach. "Matt's been at Notre Dame and people see him all the way in California," he said. "Matt has a big upside. Matt's very popular, he's a good coach, he's coached a year and proven he could do it." North Carolina officials were determined this week to keep the job in the school's basketball family after Williams' emotional decision Thursday to remain with the Jayhawks. Williams had been an assistant at UNC before taking the Kansas job in 1988. The 1999 UNC basketball media guide listed 26 NBA and college coaches who were either former Tar Heels players or coaches. But Doherty will become the first former player at UNC to become head coach since Monk McDonald in 1925. South Carolina coach Eddie Fogler, an assistant with Williams and Guthridge under Smith, withdrew his name from consideration Friday. Karl and Brown said the timing of the vacancy was not good for them. The search extended into the summer recruiting season. Guthridge assistants Phil Ford, Dave Hanners and Pat Sullivan continued scouting prospects as the hiring process continued. Doherty, also a former assistant at Davidson, will take over the mantle of the Tar Heels program left by Smith, the all-time winningest coach in Division I with 879 victories and NCAA titles in 1982 and 1993.
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