ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 7, 1996 TAG: 9611070038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Chicago Tribune
On the day UCLA reluctantly hired him eight years ago, a giddy Jim Harrick broke the news to longtime friend Tom Asbury. Asbury, who succeeded Harrick at Pepperdine, issued an ominous warning.
``Well, you got it,'' said Asbury that April morning, ``But be careful what you wish for.''
One national championship and 191 victories later, Harrick knows exactly what Asbury meant. Apparently undone by an alleged series of ethical indiscretions and NCAA rules violations, Harrick was officially fired Wednesday and replaced on an interim basis by Steve Lavin, a 32-year-old Bruins assistant with no head coaching experience.
The startling turn of events comes only 19 months after Harrick led UCLA to its first NCAA title since 1975, and only about 15 months after he signed a five-year contract extension worth a reported $2 million in salary. Equally amazing is the timing of the dismissal, which happened less than two weeks before the Bruins' season opener against Tulsa in the Preseason NIT, and a mere week before the all-important national signing day for recruits.
``I felt I had no alternative,'' UCLA chancellor Charles Young told reporters.
According to UCLA officials, Harrick was fired because he broke NCAA rules during a dinner for three visiting recruits, because he later misled internal investigators, and because he filed a fraudulent expense report. The alleged violations could result in penalties from the NCAA or Pacific-10 Conference.
In a separate news conference, Harrick, 58, acknowledged his role in the violations, but said his actions weren't severe enough to warrant his dismissal as UCLA coach.
``It's like getting hit in the head with a 2-by-4,'' said Harrick, whose remaining contract will not be paid by UCLA because he is being fired for cause. ``I thought maybe they would reprimand me.''
It is no secret that Harrick wasn't UCLA's first choice in 1988. In truth, he wasn't the second, third or fourth choice, as athletic director Peter Dalis pursued, among others, the late Jim Valvano, Denny Crum, and Larry Brown. Embarrassed by the rejections, UCLA finally offered the job to Harrick, who had craved the job his entire professional life.
Harrick's tenure at UCLA was filled with triumph - the NCAA title in 1995, eight consecutive 20-victory seasons, the second-winningest record in school basketball history - as well as troubles. He was never beloved by UCLA's demanding alumni and boosters. According to sources familiar with the program, Harrick and Dalis often were at odds.
``Dalis never wanted him,'' said a source with intimate knowledge of the Harrick-Dalis relationship. Dalis ``wanted him out.''
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Lavinby CNB