|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Two more out Karl, Brown leave UNC race, stay with NBA teams
Posted: Tuesday July 11, 2000 12:38 PM
ST. FRANCIS, Wis. (CNNSI.com) -- North Carolina reached strike three in its coaching search Monday. And strike four too. George Karl announced Monday afternoon he will remain coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and not pursue the coaching job at North Carolina, his alma mater. Hours later, Philadelphia 76ers coach Larry Brown did the same. "Right now, it's best for everyone if I remove my name from the process, so the university can continue its search and I can concentrate on continuing to build what we've started in Milwaukee," Karl said Monday in a statement released by the Bucks. Former North Carolina coach Dean Smith called the Bucks on Friday and asked for permission to speak with Karl about the opening created by the retirement of Bill Guthridge. Karl had to get the Bucks' permission to discuss another job because his contract does not include a buy-out clause. "I'm flattered and honored to be approached about what I consider the best coaching job in college basketball," Karl said. "Right now, however, I also have a loyalty to an organization that has treated me very well, an owner who has shown a great deal of faith in me and a team that's on the verge of something special." Brown announced his decision after meeting with North Carolina officials over the weekend to discuss the coaching vacancy at his alma mater. "After discussions with my family, and considering how much I care about Philadelphia, the management and our fans, I have decided to continue my efforts and fulfill my dream of helping to bring a championship to Philadelphia," Brown said. "Once again, I would like to thank coach Dean Smith for all he has done for me in the past, and I intend to remain as closely allied to the university as I have been." So who's left? Kansas coach Roy Williams was the first to spurn UNC's offer last week, and South Carolina's Eddie Fogler also took himself out of the running. Other former Tar Heels under consideration include Notre Dame's Matt Doherty, Middle Tennessee State's Randy Wiel and Tennessee Tech's Jeff Lebo. Wiel returned early from his coaching clinic in Spain to interview Tuesday in Chapel Hill. "I'm not sure [UNC] will let him leave after he gets there," Middle Tennessee athletic director Lee Fowler said. Wiel made the trip after a phone call late Sunday from North Carolina athletics director Dick Baddour. "They wanted me to fly straight to Chapel Hill, so I don't even have a suit for the interview," Wiel told The Charlotte Observer on Monday night from Dulles Airport in Washington, where he awaited his connecting flight to Raleigh-Durham Airport. In Wiel's five seasons at Middle Tennessee, five schools have inquired about him, Fowler said. "He's loyal, like coach Smith," Fowler said. "Not a day or two goes by without Randy talking to coach Smith. He talks with [Roy] Williams, [Eddie] Fogler and Guthridge every week, too. "Those guys are the inner, inner circle of that family, and Randy is one of them. That's why I think Randy may have a chance to get this job." Doherty, who played on the 1982 national championship team and now is coach at Notre Dame, met Sunday in Chapel Hill with Baddour, Smith and Guthridge. Doherty said meetings with North Carolina athletic officials went well, but he hasn't been offered the job, nor was he given a timetable on the search. Contacted at home Monday night, Doherty's wife, Kelly, said her husband was still in Indianapolis scouting prospects at the Nike basketball camp. Kelly Doherty is a native of Concord, N.C. "All I can really say is that he's on the road," she told the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. "He's not scheduled to be back until the 20th. That's all I can say right now." Baddour was granted permission to contact Lebo, coach at Tennessee Tech. But Lebo said Monday he hadn't been called by anyone from the school. "I don't know anything right now," Lebo said. "They haven't called me. I know they called for permission, but I don't know what it means." Lebo, who has a 28-27 record in two seasons at Tennessee Tech, was an All-ACC point guard at North Carolina. Steve Kirschner, a North Carolina athletic department spokesman, said it appeared that a new coach would not be named for the next few days. Brown, who joined the 76ers in 1997 after four seasons with the Indiana Pacers, signed a three-year extension in March. He hasn't coached in college since leading Kansas to the NCAA championship in 1988. It was believed Brown's contentious relationship with Sixers star Allen Iverson would drive him out of Philadelphia. The two have clashed since Brown joined the Sixers, and Iverson reportedly was fined nearly 75 times last season for being late to practice. But Iverson insists he and Brown can coexist. "It's something I have to take up by myself," Iverson said from Virginia. "I've said for a long time, I can play under Coach Brown. I don't have a problem with Coach." Iverson said it "would be very, very difficult" for him to play under Brown next season, but he's willing to do it. Karl has led the Bucks to two consecutive playoff berths. Milwaukee took Eastern Conference champion Indiana to five games before losing in the first round this season. The Bucks had gone seven seasons without a playoff appearance before his arrival. "We understand what a terrific coach we have in George Karl," Milwaukee general manager Ernie Grunfeld said. "The improvement since he arrived has been remarkable, and we're confident that the future will be even brighter. "I know I speak for the Bucks organization, our players and for fans throughout Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin when I say that we are very fortunate to have him." The Associated Press contributed to this report.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
