
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 26, 1990                   TAG: 9003261993
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DALLAS                                LENGTH: Medium

TEXAS COACH PENDERS APPARENTLY ON UVA'S HIT LIST

Tom Penders' stock continues to rise. Virginia has joined the list of schools wanting to lure him away from Texas, a Dallas newspaper reported.

Penders, whose Longhorns fell 88-85 to Arkansas on Saturday in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region basketball final, will be asked this week to interview for the vacant head coaching position at Virginia, the Dallas Times Herald reported Sunday.

Penders said Saturday, however, that he hadn't heard from Virginia officials about possibly replacing Terry Holland as the Cavaliers' coach.

"My policy is if someone wants to talk to me, I'll listen," Penders said. "Every coach has to do what is best for himself and his family.

"I love the University of Texas and plan to be here for a long, long time. We're working on [a new contract]. Maybe I'll have an announcement before too long."

Holland resigned to become the athletic director at Davidson.

UVa officials have met with Penn State coach Bruce Parkhill and Stanford coach Mike Montgomery, but they have put off a decision in order to seek Penders and Xavier coach Pete Gillen, the source told the newspaper.

Stanford athletic director Andy Geiger confirmed that Montgomery met with Virginia twice and also said Virginia would like to talk to Gillen and Penders this week.

Xavier athletic director Jeff Fogelson said Virginia has not approached him for permission to talk to Gillen.

Asked if he has an interview scheduled with any school, Penders said, "I have no plans, nor have I ever had plans. If someone really wants to talk to me, I'll talk. It might be nice to see how other schools do things."

DeLoss Dodds, Texas director of athletics, and Penders have said that Florida athletic director Bill Arnsparger called seeking an interview with Penders about the vacant coaching position at Florida.

Atlantic Coast Conference assistant commissioner Fred Barakat called three weeks ago to tell Penders he had recommended him for the Virginia job and the North Carolina State position, which remains occupied by beleaguered Wolfpack coach Jim Valvano.

Penders has taken the Longhorns to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and is 49-18 in two years at Texas.

by CNB