Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 23, 1991 TAG: 9103230099
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Kansas' top assistant coach, Jerry Green, is believed to be the leading candidate for the Hokies' vacancy. Green said Friday he will not comment on the Tech opening, however, until the Jayhawks' season is over.
Meanwhile, Green has to know the Hokies are concentrating their attention on him. He first met with Tech athletic director Dave Braine last week at the sub-regional in Louisville, Ky.
This week, Braine and Tech associate athletic director Danny Monk arrived in Charlotte on Wednesday for the regional. Braine left Thursday morning for his mother's funeral, but Monk, who originally was scheduled to return to Blacksburg on Friday, is staying to watch the Jayhawks against Arkansas in today's regional final.
Monk and Braine were issued media credentials for the regional by host UNC Charlotte. They have observed Kansas workouts this week, too. Monk - as did Braine for his shortened trip - is staying at the Royce Hotel, which happens to be the Jayhawks' team headquarters. On Wednesday night, when the Tech officials couldn't locate a restaurant they wanted for dinner, Kansas head coach Roy Williams gave them an alternate suggestion.
A Kansas source said Friday that Green and Monk have spoken several times. Asked about Green, Monk said, "I don't have any comment on our coaching search."
When asked about Tech's interest in Green by a Kansas newspaper reporter, Monk said, "It isn't a done deal."
Green is not the only coach Tech has contacted in its effort to replace Frankie Allen, who was reassigned to an administrative job shortly after the Hokies' third straight losing season ended. Washington Bullets fifth-year assistant coach Bill Blair, who was VMI's head coach from 1973-76, said Friday that Tech officials called him last week and asked if he wanted to meet with them to discuss the job. After a couple days of considering Tech's overture, he said, he turned down the offer.
"I'm going to stay with the Bullets," said Blair, adding that he wants to be an NBA head coach and doesn't think taking a college job is the right course. "Maybe a Larry Brown can do it, but I don't think a Bill Blair can."
Green, 47, would not comment when asked if he had been offered the Tech job. Asked about the Hokies' vacancy in general terms, the former North Carolina-Asheville head coach said, "I'm not going to say anything about it now. The most important thing for me now is the destiny of this [Kansas] team."
A Jayhawks source said that if Kansas loses today's game, no one should be surprised if Green visits the Tech campus on Sunday, before he returns to Lawrence, Kan.
Tech's four-person screening committee is scheduled to meet for the first time when Braine returns to Blacksburg on Sunday night.
East Carolina, which also is seeking a head coach, called Green earlier this week. While Green is interested in the Hokies, he is not intrigued by the East Carolina post, a Kansas source said.
Kansas athletic director Bob Frederick acknowledged Green's contacts with the Hokies. "Jerry's waiting until our season is over" before going public on Tech's interest, Frederick said.
Green, who was UNC-Asheville's head coach for nine years before joining longtime friend Williams' staff in 1988, is known for his work with the Jayhawks' defense.
Sportswriter Scott Blanchard contributed information for this story.
by CNB