Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 12, 1994 TAG: 9404120091
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"There have been conversations about the job between Old Dominion and Bradley," a closely placed source at Radford said.
Bradley had no comment.
"I'm reluctant to talk about any coaching moves at this time," he said.
The ODU job came open when Bradley's former boss at Radford, Oliver Purnell, was appointed the coach at Dayton last week.
ODU athletic director Jim Jarrett said Monday a national search for Purnell's successor was on. The job is open to all applicants, he said.
A search committee has been impaneled consisting of ODU vice president for student services Dana Burnett; NCAA faculty representative Janice Sanchez; associate athletic director Mikki Flowers; ODU Intercollegiate Board of Trustees chairman Russell Turner; assistant to the president for community relations Cecelia Tucker; and Jarrett.
A decision is not expected by national letter-of-intent day for recruits, which is Wednesday.
"Hiring the right coach at Old Dominion is a higher priority than setting a deadline to have a coach by letter-of-intent day," Jarrett said.
Among those mentioned in connection with the ODU job are Pete Strickland, Purnell's assistant; Southwestern Louisiana coach Marty Fletcher; fired Pitt coach Paul Evans; and Lou Campanelli, fired at California last year.
Strickland, who has interviewed for the VMI job left vacant when Joe Cantafio was hired at Furman, said Monday he is interested in the ODU opening as well. After being endorsed by Purnell, Strickland said he had been hopeful of being appointed immediately.
Bradley has a three-year record at Radford of 55-33. Before that, he was Purnell's assistant at Radford and was an assistant at Maryland.
Bradley has been reluctant to have his name linked with other openings. He made it clear that he had no interest in VMI, saying at the time he wanted to stay at Radford.
"I have a lot of loyalty to Radford and my players," he said.
However, the ODU situation appears to be too good not to consider. Purnell made $97,000 annually, and his total package there was believed to be $175,000.
Bradley makes a base salary at Radford in the $65,000 range.
Bradley's candidacy should make it interesting for Purnell. It is traditional coaching etiquette to endorse one's top assistant, as Strickland is, for a job one just vacated.
However, Bradley and Purnell are very close, going back to the days when both were Lefty Driesell's aides at Maryland. Purnell sought Bradley's advice frequently when he was contemplating the move to Dayton.
Strickland has been offered a position on Purnell's staff at Dayton should neither ODU nor VMI work out for him.
by CNB