Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 3, 1991 TAG: 9104030207
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Green, reached at his home in Lawrence, Kan., said there is one coach-less school that intrigues him and said he is going to visit that school "relatively soon." But he would not confirm that the school was Virginia Tech and wouldn't confirm reports that he will be on Tech's campus this week.
"Nobody has told me officially that I am a leading candidate," Green said.
"I'm interested enough in one [school] where I want to gain their confidence and them to gain mine. . . . They want the details of it secret."
Tech officials have refused comment of any kind throughout the coaching search, which began less than a week after Tech's season ended when Allen was reassigned within the athletic department.
Kansas athletic director Bob Frederick said Monday that he understood Green was planning a visit to Tech, and two of Green's coaching friends also said Green would travel to Blacksburg. Green said when he makes his visit, he won't decide whether to take the job on the spot.
And he made it clear he won't be intoxicated just by a job offer.
"Right now, I'm in a good situation," he said. "I make good money; my wife makes good money. I'm certainly not in a knee-jerk situation.
"I'm in a Top 20 program with a great guy [coach Roy Williams]. I'm not going to leave that for something that's flaky or something that's not encouraging. I certainly don't want to be at the bottom of any league.
"I'm in a position that I worked hard for in basketball for 21 years. And I'm not going to do anything that's not sound and with good people."
Green, a former head coach at North Carolina-Asheville and a native of Startex, S.C., said his visit will provide him with enough information to make a decision, and said he will consult with his wife and with Williams, among others, before deciding. Williams, he said, would have a "major impact" on his decision.
Rumors have circulated that Green probably would turn down the Tech job if it were offered because his wife recently got a well-paying job in Lawrence and their combined income could not be matched if he took the job at Tech. Green, who would not reveal how much he makes at Kansas, nevertheless said the financial aspect of a new job is vital.
"I'm not going to go anywhere where I lose money," he said, adding that he's referring to his family's income, not just his salary. "And I'm not going to make a lateral move."
There also has been speculation that Green would not leave Kansas because he thinks he could replace Williams as the Jayhawks' head coach if Williams succeeds Dean Smith at North Carolina - if Smith retires soon.
"I think coach Smith in my opinion will coach another 8-10 years," Green said. "I may not be alive in 8-10 years. So, no, I don't think about it."
Green said he has set no personal timetable to decide whether to leave Kansas.
"I'm in no hurry," he said.
If the Hokies can't land Green, it's uncertain to whom they would turn next. Rumors have circulated for some time that Tennessee-Chattanooga's Mack McCarthy, VMI's Joe Cantafio, Furman's Butch Estes, Bowling Green's Jim Larranaga and Murray State's Steve Newton have drawn Tech's interest.
However, former Clemson and Miami coach Bill Foster and the Hokies have mutual interest, as do Portland Trail Blazers' assistant John Wetzel and, apparently, Virginia Union coach Dave Robbins.
"My opinion of [Tech athletic director] Dave Braine is, he wouldn't talk to you more than once unless he was really interested in you," Foster said Tuesday, confirming that he and Braine have chatted more than once.
Tech's apparent efforts to interest Charlotte Hornets vice president of basketball operations Allan Bristow in the job weren't successful. Bristow, who said he has not talked to Tech officials since the Metro Tournament in early March, said Tech asked him about his future plans. Bristow said he has no desire to coach collegiately, not even at his alma mater.
"It's very tempting, very flattering," Bristow said Tuesday. "But not right now. I've got a job here and I want to continue doing it."
by CNB