Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 5, 1990 TAG: 9004041105
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Sources indicated that Barnes was offered and either had accepted or was close to accepting the job, pending notification of Providence College officials and a release from his contract.
Virginia officials hope that the details can be worked out in time for Barnes to be introduced Friday.
"It's imminent but not done," a UVa source said.
Stanford coach Mike Montgomery, the only other prospect to be interviewed in Charlottesville, held a news conference Wednesday to announce that he has withdrawn his name from consideration.
"I was never offered the job," Montgomery said. "I'll admit there was some shadow-boxing going on. They apparently have elected to have a person who will be excellent, perhaps better-suited to the kinds of things they are looking for."
When asked if the person was Barnes, Montgomery replied, "That's a good guess, but I can't comment otherwise."
Shortly after meeting with Montgomery, Virginia athletic director Jim Copeland reportedly traveled to the Washington, D.C., area Tuesday to talk with Barnes. Barnes visited Charlottesville that night.
Barnes toured the facilities Tuesday night, then met during the morning with UVa President Robert O'Neil. Barnes left Charlottesville at approximately 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Barnes met later in the day with Providence president Rev. John Cunningham and athletic director John Marinatto. It could not be confirmed whether Big East commissioner Dave Gavitt, an ex-Providence coach and athletic director, was at the meeting.
Barnes, who signed a four-year contract with Providence following the 1988 season, reportedly does not have a buyout clause. However, it is common practice to release a coach for another position.
"I can't imagine it falling through at this point," a source close to the search said.
Already being mentioned in connection with the Providence job are Bowling Green coach Jim Larranaga and Fordham coach Nick Macarchuk, an ex-Providence assistant. Larranaga, a Providence alumnus, was an assistant at Virginia from 1979-85.
There also was a report that Maryland coach Gary Williams might be interested in the job, although that might be a reaction to the NCAA's refusal for an early hearing on sanctions against the Terrapins.
Barnes, 35, was unwilling to submit to a lengthy selection process for fear that he will get a reputation for disloyalty. He has had five jobs in the past six years, including two stints at George Mason, where he was an assistant for five years and the head coach for one.
Virginia coach Terry Holland, stepping down after 16 years to become the athletic director at Davidson, reportedly played a major role in bringing Barnes and Copeland together. Holland stepped up his involvement once it was determined that UVa assistants Jeff Jones and Craig Littlepage were "long shots," as Copeland described them to the players.
Speculation in recent weeks had centered on Montgomery and Xavier coach Pete Gillen, who withdrew his name March 28, two days after meeting with Copeland. Also mentioned was Penn State coach Bruce Parkhill, although Parkhill reportedly had not spoken with Copeland for weeks.
"There has been a lot of speculation about other coaching positions, at Virginia and elsewhere, for which I may be a candidate," said Parkhill, who was head coach at William and Mary when Copeland was the Indians' athletic director. "I'm honored to be considered, but the time has come to put an end to conjecture about my future.
"I'm happy with my present situation - where it is now and where I see it headed. I feel Penn State is committed to building on the progress of the past two years . . . I want to be part of that process."
Montgomery's meeting with the media followed a 90-minute session with his team.
"I know this was tough on my family, my staff and hopefully not too tough on my basketball team," Montgomery said. "I apologized to the team for the inconvenience I may have caused them. . . . This situation [investigating another job] will not come up again for quite some time.
"Professionally, the past four years, there have been inquiries about me. In each case, [Stanford athletic director] Andy [Geiger] knew about it. In this case, I thought it would be best to take a closer look. In the past few weeks, it became a bigger deal, perhaps more than it really should have been."
by CNB