THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 7, 1994 TAG: 9406070507
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ABE GOLDBLATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940607 LENGTH: VIRGINIA BEACH
``If I didn't think so, I wouldn't have left a good program at Bucknell to come here,'' he said.
{REST} But a turnaround won't happen overnight, he acknowledged at the Norfolk Sports Club's luncheon meeting Monday at the Holiday Inn-Executive Center.
Woollum, who coached 19 years at Bucknell, takes over a team that finished last in the Colonial Athletic Association at 2-12, 4-23 overall.
He wouldn't predict how many games the Tribe would win next season. But he said his goal is the NCAA tournament.
``William and Mary has never been in an NCAA basketball tournament,'' he said. ``We're facing a tough challenge in a tough league, but I think it can be done.''
William and Mary has the full allotment of basketball scholarships (13) allowed in Division I.
``At Bucknell, we gave no athletic scholarships,'' he said, ``but the athletes received financial aid.
``I've had only a month to recruit since taking the William and Mary job, but at this late date, I'm pleased with the players I have brought in.''
The three signees:
Christopher Horne, a 6-foot-4 guard, the leading scorer (1,606 points) in the history of Penn Hills High School in Pittsburgh.
Terrence Jennings, a 6-3 guard from Fork Union who averaged 10 points and eight rebounds.
Terry Fitzgibbons, a 6-10 center/forward, who averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks per game for Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y.
``I have 12 players on scholarship now,'' he said, ``and I might bring in a transfer with the one scholarship I have left.''
Also in the fold for Woollum's first season is practically the entire roster from last season, including key players Matt Verkey, David Cox, Kurt Small, Steve Purpura and Carl Parker.
In taking the W&M job, Woollum said he was coming home.
A William and Mary grad, he coached at Newport News High and Ferguson High, and assisted Sonny Allen in coaching Old Dominion to the Division II national championship.
At Bucknell, he won or shared in eight conference championships, had six 20-victory seasons and seven consecutive winning seasons while taking his team to two NCAA Division I tournaments.
Woollum said next season's W&M schedule will be highlighted by a home game with Nevada-Las Vegas, a date made possible because the Running Rebels, under terms of NCAA sanctions, aren't allowed to play non-conference games at home next season.
CLUB NOTES: Next Monday's speaker will be Charlotte Hornets coach Allan Bristow, with former Washington Redskin Danny Copeland coming in on July 18. . . . ACC commissioner Gene Corrigan will be the featured speaker at the Sports Club's annual scholarship banquet at the Holiday Inn Executive Center on July 11, when 22 area student-athletes will each receive a $2,000 scholarship. Admission will be $15 a person. For more information, phone 497-9583. . . . The Sports Club's 21st annual charity golf tournament will be held Broad Bay Point on July 18.
by CNB