ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 3, 1996 TAG: 9608050131
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
The University of Maine's courtship of Ron Bradley ended abruptly Thursday when the Radford University men's basketball coach removed his name from consideration for the Black Bears' coaching vacancy.
``My reasons for withdrawing ... rest here in Radford,'' Bradley said in a prepared statement. ``My wife Denise and I strongly feel this is best for our family. The community and the university have become very important for both of us.''
Sue Tyler, the Maine athletic director who asked Bradley to apply for the job and is a friend from their days together at the University of Maryland, said she understood Bradley's reasoning.
``He was a great candidate and he is a great friend,'' she said. ``I love Ron. I understand what he is saying. I think he'll go on to great things at Radford and we'll go on with our search.''
The search was completed Friday when Maine officials chose Rowan (N.J.) College coach John Giannini over California-Irvine coach Rod Baker. Late last week, the internal candidate, Maine assistant coach Mike LaPlante, also withdrew from consideration.
According to a well-placed source at Maine, LaPlante apparently thought the job was Bradley's if he had wanted it. Bradley may have made his decision Wednesday when the NCAA placed the entire Maine athletic program on probation because of numerous infractions, particularly in the Black Bears' powerful ice hockey program.
LaPlante's withdrawal was met with astonishment on campus, the source said.
Bradley returned Thursday to themes he had mentioned earlier when discussing his deliberations about the Maine situation.
``... Our players at Radford deserve my loyalty. We have good people in our basketball program and I firmly believe we are on the verge of great success here.''
Bradley has gone 86-57 at Radford, a .601 winning percentage that is the best in school history. Furthermore, all 16 of the players whose eligibility has expired during his tenure subsequently have graduated. On the other hand, Radford never has won the Big South Conference tournament or played in the NCAA Tournament.
Accomplishing those goals won't be any easier now that declining enrollment has brought athletic budget cuts. Those reductions have hit basketball particularly hard because of slashes in the recruiting budget. Further clouds on the basketball horizon include the shaky state of the Big South Conference, which is losing North Carolina-Greensboro and Maryland-Baltimore County. In two years, the Big South will be down to six teams; more defections after that will cause it to lose its automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Publicly, Bradley remains undaunted.
``Our continued long-term efforts have resulted in Radford's most challenging schedule ever, one that should bring our program more recognition than ever before,'' he said. ``I am committed to extending every effort to accomplish the high goals I have for the Radford basketball program.''
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