Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 29, 1990 TAG: 9003290290
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
UVa is seeking a successor to Terry Holland, who announced on June 23, 1989, that he would step down after the 1989-90 season to become the athletic director at Davidson, his alma mater.
Gillen's announcement came two days after he met with UVa athletic director Jim Copeland at the Pittsburgh airport.
Copeland reportedly had invited Gillen and his wife to visit Charlottesville on Friday.
"I called [Copeland] today and said I didn't want to be considered," said Gillen when contacted Wednesday in Denver, site of the Final Four.
"We had a good meeting in Pittsburgh on Monday. It's a good job and [Copeland] is a nice man. But I'm happy at Xavier. My wife wanted to come [to Virginia]."
With Gillen out of the running, Stanford coach Mike Montgomery appears to be a leading candidate, and Providence coach Rick Barnes is said to have renewed interest in the job.
Providence athletic director John Marinato, in a statement issued through the school's sports information department, said Copeland had not asked for permission to speak to Barnes about the vacancy.
Copeland originally had hoped to settle on a coach by the end of the regular season, but changed his mind because of UVa's success with a team that started five underclassmen. Also, many of the top coaching prospects, including Gillen, would not speak with him until after their seasons were completed.
Gillen, who has a 119-39 record in five seasons at Xavier, guided the Musketeers to the final 16 of the NCAA Tournament before they were beaten by Texas 102-89. Xavier finished 28-5.
"I've not been offered the [Virginia] job," Gillen told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Nothing was offered. Nothing was guaranteed by either party . . . nothing was said to indicate `you're this or you're that.' "
Gillen was concerned that he would be under too much pressure at Virginia after reportedly being told that Copeland would want him to take Virginia to the NCAA Tournament five out of every six years.
Copeland said Tuesday that he does not expect to name a coach this week, but he does think he will wrap up his search next week, although he does not want to be tied to any timetable.
Copeland has met twice with Montgomery, who reportedly may visit Charlottesville next week. Also being mentioned in connection with the post are Penn State coach Bruce Parkhill, Vanderbilt coach Eddie Fogler and Barnes.
There is reason to believe that Barnes has a greater interest in the job than has been indicated by the national media. Barnes earlier had been linked with North Carolina State, but Wolfpack coach Jim Valvano may be safe for another year.
"I understand [Barnes] has been sending out underground feelers [in connection with the Virginia job]," one coaching source said.
Parkhill and Fogler are in New York, where Vanderbilt met St. Louis for the championship of the National Invitation Tournament and Penn State played New Mexico for third place.
Connecticut athletic director Todd Turner said he has not heard from Copeland in regard to Huskies coach Jim Calhoun, and California athletic director Dave Maggard said earlier this week that UVa had not requested permission to speak with Golden Bears coach Lou Campanelli, formerly of James Madison.
Texas coach Tom Penders, who had been mentioned in connection with the UVa job as well as the Florida vacancy, agreed to a seven-year, $730,000 deal Wednesday to remain the Longhorns' coach.
Virginia assistant coaches Jeff Jones and Craig Littlepage have been interviewed by Copeland, but both were described by the athletic director as "long shots" in a meeting last week with the players.
One of the Virginia players said Copeland read a list of approximately 18 names, "but we didn't find out anything we hadn't already seen in the papers," the player said.
by CNB