Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 8, 1991 TAG: 9104080104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD/ SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The school has called a news conference for 2 p.m. today to introduce its new head coach. Kansas assistant Jerry Green pulled his name out of consideration for the job Saturday, and speculation is widespread that Foster is Tech's man.
"I would not be surprised to see them name Bill Foster," said one coach who was involved in the Tech search.
Tech officials would not comment on the new coach. But several Tech sources said Foster interviewed for the job on campus, and one said he thought Foster and Green were the only candidates to visit Tech.
Foster could not be reached for comment Sunday.
Foster, who just turned 55, left Clemson as its top winning coach with a 156-106 record between 1976-84. He went to Miami, which was rebuilding its program after a 13-year hiatus, and went 78-71 in five years. Miami did not renew his contract after the '89-90 season, and he spent last year as a color commentator on basketball telecasts.
One other coach considered a strong candidate for the job was Tennessee-Chattanooga's Mack McCarthy, but he said Sunday that he is not Tech's choice. Coastal Carolina's Russ Bergman, whom Virginia Tech athletic director Dave Braine had called last week, said he was out of the running.
Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach John Wetzel was in Dallas with the team and could not be reached for comment. Braine also had contacted Virginia Union coach Dave Robbins, but Robbins said Sunday that he would not be at the news conference.
"I think it's a great catch," said former Virginia coach Terry Holland, now athletic director at Davidson, who is one of Foster's longtime friends. "I've got to admit, I was a little surprised . . . just that Bill was willing to go back into coaching at this point. I thought when push came to shove, he wouldn't go. [But] I don't see how it could be anybody else."
Holland said Foster and Braine met and hit it off well when Foster traveled to Blacksburg to telecast a Hokies' game last season. Braine later called Holland to ask about Foster, Holland said.
Foster had three 20-victory seasons at Clemson, one trip to the NCAA Tournament and three National Invitation Tournament bids. His 1980 Clemson team went to the quarterfinals of the NCAA before losing to UCLA.
His overall record is 431-247 in 24 years.
The Tech job opened less than a week after the Hokies' season ended when Frankie Allen was reassigned as an assistant athletic director after three straight losing seasons in his four-year stint.
"He's got a proven track record at the very highest level, and he's built two programs from scratch [North Carolina-Asheville and Miami], so he's got a lot of energy," Holland said of Foster.
"[I told Braine] I don't know that you can get him, but he would certainly be a good choice. I think Dave was looking for somebody with experience."
Green, 47, had plenty of experience and said he almost took the job. But, he said, a three-hour talk with Kansas head coach Roy Williams, who Green has said is his best friend, convinced him otherwise.
Green cited the work Williams and his staff had done at Kansas, coaching a Jayhawks team to No. 1 in The Associated Press polls the year KU was hit with NCAA probation, then taking the Jayhawks to the NCAA championship game this season.
"He might have been the only reason," Green said of Williams when asked if there were other factors in his decision.
Green said he "couldn't see anything financially wrong with it." Many thought Green would not take the Tech job because the Hokies' couldn't afford to pay him.
On Friday, Braine said the job had not been offered, but it apparently was Green's for the taking.
"They weren't going to offer it unless they were sure the person was going to take it," Green said. "I was never offered the job.
"I really felt good about it. After [Roy and I] talked, he said, `The choice is yours. If you stay, I'll be the happiest person in the world. If you leave, the first score I'll check in the morning is Virginia Tech's.' It was a tough decision."
by CNB