harrick back to rhode island

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SoCalHoops College Hoops News

Jim Harrick Enjoys Being A Chicken,
Won't Be A Dog--(April 1, 1999)

Satisfied with his Rhode Island Red status and declining to become a Georgia Bulldog, Jim Harrick has announced he will stay at Rhode Island. This could be a great April Fools joke, or it's a sign of a man in deep, deep turmoil seeking to protect his son's job. Either way, we really don't know what to make of it. ESPN and all the wire services are now saying that one day after announcing he had accepted the Georgia coaching job, Jim Harrick has decided to renege on the offer and will instead stay at Rhode Island. So maybe we shouldn't all be so quick to count Rhode Island out of Jason Kapono's recruiting.

Whether it means that he's got some really great recruiting, or whether it means Lamar Odum will stay, or just exactly why Harrick chose to back out of the Georgia job has not been made clear, but one thing is pretty certain: Had he accepted the Georgia job, he could not have brought his son, Jim Harrick, Jr. with him as an assistant because Georgia has laws against such nepotism (unlike Rhode Island).

Here's the story that ESPN and AP are carrying: Apparently Harrick contacted Georgia president Michael F. Adams on Thursday morning to give him the bad news. University of Georgia President Michael Adams issued a press release, saying "We're disappointed in coach Harrick's decision. However, the most important thing is for him to have total peace of mind and commitment to whatever decision he would make.. . .We wanted a coach who was committed to this institution and the future of our basketball program. If he had doubts, certainly remaining at Rhode Island would be the correct choice."

Harrick originally seemed pretty happy to get the Georgia job, and to be in the Southeastern Conference on Wednesday when he agreed to sign a four-year contract worth $550,000 with a $100,000 annuity. "It's a great, great university, it's a great conference," Harrick told reporters, speaking of Georgia and the SEC. "To me, it was almost a no-brainer to come down here. I've followed Georgia basketball for a number of years," said Harrick, who came to the news conference with a stuffed dog that belted out the Georgia fight song. "I'm glad to be in a league where you can play teams like Kentucky and Auburn night in and night out. That just makes your own team better."

Harrick, 60, was selected by Georgia over Appalachian State's Buzz Peterson, who was endorsed by Dean Smith and Michael Jordan, his former coach and teammate, respectively, at North Carolina. The other finalist, Delaware's Mike Brey, removed himself from consideration. Whether they will be considered still is an open question.

Hey, we know Pepperdine is still looking for a new coach.