Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 29, 1994 TAG: 9404290040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Tom Perrin can be excused if he can't wait to see his next paycheck.
It might have an extra zero on it, or at least the first digit will be considerably larger.
After serving 12 years in a variety of low-paying roles, Perrin on Thursday was appointed a full-time assistant by Virginia men's basketball coach Jeff Jones.
Perrin, 36, will fill one of the two vacancies created when previous full-time aides Dennis Wolff and Brian Ellerbe were chosen head coaches at Boston University and Loyola of Baltimore, respectively.
The Cavaliers have begun advertising for a second full-time assistant, as well as the restricted-earnings position held by Perrin in recent years.
"In the last year or so, the position had become so restrictive financially that it was becoming more and more difficult," said Perrin, who was allowed to earn only $16,000 this year, counting the summer. "I think we were finally looking at an end to my tenure."
Perrin's lack of off-campus recruiting experience had prevented Jones from elevating him to full-time status in 1990, when Jones took the job, but there was an understanding that Perrin would receive first consideration for an opening once Jones became established.
"Tom has been in our program for a long time, worn a number of hats and had a great deal of responsibility," Jones said. "He knows the school and what it takes to be successful."
Perrin has been best known for his game preparation and scouting.
"It's been a major part of my job the last seven or eight years and it will be tough to give that up entirely," Perrin said, "but, I don't know why I couldn't take the same qualities and characteristics and shift them to a different focus."
Perrin spent part of last week on the road after being given approval by the NCAA.
"It was a good way to get involved quickly, as opposed to waiting till July," said Perrin, referring to the next evaluation period.
He was asked on a conference call Thursday if he is beginning to feel the pressure of having to recruit and sign players.
"Truthfully, not a lot," he said, "but I would be the first to admit that recruiting is the most important part of coaching, which might run counter to what people think I should feel, based on what I've done previously.
"I would never do anything to hurt this program. I'm going to do the best job I can. But, if for some reason I'm not as effective as I could or should be, I'm not going to continue to do anything I'm not good at. I want this program to be successful."
Perrin, a former basketball player and assistant coach at Vermont, came to Virginia in 1982 as a graduate student and part-time coach under Terry Holland. Five years later, he received a doctorate in education.
by CNB