ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, June 8, 1996 TAG: 9606090030
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
LUBOMYR LICHONCZAK might coach basketball in his home state if the Wolverines come calling.
Radford University women's basketball coach Lubomyr Lichonczak, who has guided the Radford University women's basketball team to six consecutive Big South Conference championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances, is a candidate for the head coach's position at the University of Michigan.
Lichonczak is one of four finalists for the Wolverines job vacated when Trish Roberts resigned this year, the Detroit Free Press reported this week.
Lichonczak, whose Highlanders have gone 100-76, is from the Detroit area.
``It's home,'' he said. ``My family is there. My wife grew up there, too, and her family is there. Getting back home is very appealing to me, even though I am very happy here at Radford.''
Also appealing to Lichonczak is the potential represented by the Michigan program, which went 20-88 overall and 5-63 in the Big Ten Conference during Roberts' tenure.
``I think that that is a perennial top-10 program if you can get the in-state players to stay and go to school there,'' Lichonczak said.
The other finalists, according to the Detroit newspaper, are: Duke coach Gail Goestenkors; Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly; and Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry.
Lichonczak, who just signed a new contract at Radford, expects to be interviewed in the next couple of weeks.
``It's not like I look into every job that comes open,'' he said. ``This is different. Michigan is probably the best public university in the country.''
LENGTH: Short : 38 linesby CNB