JiMuzik
Sophmore
http://www.cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/8696537
Who are the most unemployable coaches in college basketball? We came up with 10. Actually, we came up with about 50. But we whittled it to 10.
FYI: Dave Bliss doesn't make the list. Let someone else pick the wings off that fly.
1. Jim Harrick Sr.: No (UCLA) explanation (Rhode Island) necessary (Georgia).
2. Clem Haskins: The most egregious case of academic fraud in NCAA sports occurred under his watch, which is why Minnesota fired him in 1999.
3. Nolan Richardson III: Nolan's son was forced to resign from Tennessee State in 2003 with a 23-41 record, but losing wasn't why he quit. Nolan III had to go after admitting to police he had tried to use weaponry to settle an argument with an assistant coach. Luckily for everyone involved, the assistant was gone by the time Nolan III returned to the gym with a handgun.
4. Tony Harvey: The former Missouri assistant was let go last summer after the Ricky Clemons-induced scandal. Harvey makes this list, and not fellow ex-Mizzou assistant Lane Odom, because Harvey was hired at Missouri primarily because of his connection to stud recruit Robert Whaley. And because Harvey was fired by McNeese State in 1998. And because he was charged with DWI in 2000. And because ...
5. Jan van Breda Kolff: His power forward at St. Bonaventure had a welding certificate. Who knew the NCAA required more than that? In JVBK's defense, he says he didn't know his power forward lacked a junior college degree. Which means he's a liar ... or an incompetent. Take your pick.
6. Mike Jarvis: He was fired in 2003 for running St. John's basketball into the ground. The accusation of under-the-table money from ex-player Abe Keita is an added bonus.
7. Craig Esherick: If only the rest of college basketball would view Esherick as glowingly as Esherick views Esherick. Before being fired last year by Georgetown, Esherick told the Washington Times that the school was "lucky to have (me)." After applying for the New Mexico State vacancy this spring, Esherick told The Albuquerque Tribune, "I'd be a heck of a coach for them." Just like he was with the Hoyas? Rent a Porsche and return a Kia, you get arrested. Do what Esherick did to John Thompson's program, you get fired.
8. Ray Lopes: After the Jerry Tarkanian era, Fresno State hired Lopes in 2002 with one mandate: Stay clean. Lopes started badly. His first recruit at FSU, Terry Pettis, had numerous off-court issues before being accused of murder in 2004. Local police said Lopes wasn't cooperative enough in their investigation of Pettis, who is currently on trial. Lopes ended badly, too -- resigning this spring after admitting his staff had broken NCAA rules regarding telephone contact with recruits.
9. Jim O'Brien: The humanitarian ex-Ohio State coach once gave $6,800 to the family of a recruit from a war-torn land. The recruit happened to be 7-feet-3. A coincidence, surely, but still ... O'Brien was fired last summer. The ongoing investigation into nanny Kathleen Salyers' claims of cash and academic fraud doesn't target O'Brien, but it targets his former top assistant. Considering how easy Thad Matta is making the OSU job look, O'Brien's legacy gets less and less impressive with each passing day.
10. Steve Lappas: Lappas didn't win enough games -- or friends -- at Villanova or Massachusetts to get another chance. At least not another good chance.
Who are the most unemployable coaches in college basketball? We came up with 10. Actually, we came up with about 50. But we whittled it to 10.
FYI: Dave Bliss doesn't make the list. Let someone else pick the wings off that fly.
1. Jim Harrick Sr.: No (UCLA) explanation (Rhode Island) necessary (Georgia).
2. Clem Haskins: The most egregious case of academic fraud in NCAA sports occurred under his watch, which is why Minnesota fired him in 1999.
3. Nolan Richardson III: Nolan's son was forced to resign from Tennessee State in 2003 with a 23-41 record, but losing wasn't why he quit. Nolan III had to go after admitting to police he had tried to use weaponry to settle an argument with an assistant coach. Luckily for everyone involved, the assistant was gone by the time Nolan III returned to the gym with a handgun.
4. Tony Harvey: The former Missouri assistant was let go last summer after the Ricky Clemons-induced scandal. Harvey makes this list, and not fellow ex-Mizzou assistant Lane Odom, because Harvey was hired at Missouri primarily because of his connection to stud recruit Robert Whaley. And because Harvey was fired by McNeese State in 1998. And because he was charged with DWI in 2000. And because ...
5. Jan van Breda Kolff: His power forward at St. Bonaventure had a welding certificate. Who knew the NCAA required more than that? In JVBK's defense, he says he didn't know his power forward lacked a junior college degree. Which means he's a liar ... or an incompetent. Take your pick.
6. Mike Jarvis: He was fired in 2003 for running St. John's basketball into the ground. The accusation of under-the-table money from ex-player Abe Keita is an added bonus.
7. Craig Esherick: If only the rest of college basketball would view Esherick as glowingly as Esherick views Esherick. Before being fired last year by Georgetown, Esherick told the Washington Times that the school was "lucky to have (me)." After applying for the New Mexico State vacancy this spring, Esherick told The Albuquerque Tribune, "I'd be a heck of a coach for them." Just like he was with the Hoyas? Rent a Porsche and return a Kia, you get arrested. Do what Esherick did to John Thompson's program, you get fired.
8. Ray Lopes: After the Jerry Tarkanian era, Fresno State hired Lopes in 2002 with one mandate: Stay clean. Lopes started badly. His first recruit at FSU, Terry Pettis, had numerous off-court issues before being accused of murder in 2004. Local police said Lopes wasn't cooperative enough in their investigation of Pettis, who is currently on trial. Lopes ended badly, too -- resigning this spring after admitting his staff had broken NCAA rules regarding telephone contact with recruits.
9. Jim O'Brien: The humanitarian ex-Ohio State coach once gave $6,800 to the family of a recruit from a war-torn land. The recruit happened to be 7-feet-3. A coincidence, surely, but still ... O'Brien was fired last summer. The ongoing investigation into nanny Kathleen Salyers' claims of cash and academic fraud doesn't target O'Brien, but it targets his former top assistant. Considering how easy Thad Matta is making the OSU job look, O'Brien's legacy gets less and less impressive with each passing day.
10. Steve Lappas: Lappas didn't win enough games -- or friends -- at Villanova or Massachusetts to get another chance. At least not another good chance.
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