ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 28, 1997 TAG: 9703280073
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MEMPHIS, TENN.
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former Virginia Tech player and assistant coach Tic Price lands a big-time job.
Tic Price accepted the job as Memphis' basketball coach Thursday, promising to focus on recruiting and building an aggressive team fans will want to watch.
``We've got to hit the road running,'' said Price, who is leaving after three seasons as the head coach at the University of New Orleans.
Price, a former player and assistant coach at Virginia Tech, agreed on a five-year deal with a base salary of $130,000 a year plus $135,000 for promotions and radio and TV shows, Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said.
Johnson said the university will use athletic department funds and donations to buy out the final four years of Price's contract with New Orleans. That's expected to cost about $360,000.
Lawyers were still drawing up the contract Thursday, and Johnson said he expected it to be signed next week.
Price, 41, compiled a 63-27 record in three seasons at New Orleans, with a 22-7 record this year. It was his first head coaching job.
He recently got a $25,000 raise in his radio-TV pay, bringing his total income in New Orleans to about $175,000 a year.
Price will replace Larry Finch, who was forced to resign after 11 years as coach and eight years as an assistant.
Finch had a 220-130 record, making him the school's winningest coach. But university officials, worried about falling attendance at home games and fan criticism over recruiting disappointments, bought out Finch's contract at the end of the season for $413,000.
The Tigers, who compete in Conference USA, finished 16-15 this past season.
Price praised Finch's coaching ability and credited him for much of the university's basketball success in the past.
``But in life, there is no rewind button and we must go on,'' he said.
Price said Memphis high schools produce a healthy crop of potential recruits, and he promised to build a program capable of competing for a national championship.
Price became the leading candidate for the Memphis job after Ricardo Patton of Colorado removed his name from consideration.
Price led New Orleans to 20-victory records in each of his three seasons. The Privateers shared the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title the past two years and took trips to the NIT and NCAA Tournament.
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