The Morning Dish – Tuesday, May 25th
Richardson Testifies: Ex-Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson testified in district court yesterday in an effort to strengthen his discrimination lawsuit against the university. Richardson stated that he felt was doing a satisfactory job as coach in 2002 and had no reason to believe he would be fired for saying publicly that Arkansas could buy out his contract for $500,000. Richardson made these comments to the Lexington media after a loss to Kentucky and was fired by the school March 1, 2002.
Richardson, who said he did not want to be terminated, claims he was let go because he was black and outspoken. But Arkansas University system officials countered saying that Richardson was fired because he had publicly stated that he had lost faith in the program and repeatedly declared that he would leave if the school bought out his $1.3 million contract for $500,000 a year. The ex-coach signed a seven-year deal with the Razorbacks in 2000, but was in the midst of negotiating a public appearance package with school boosters in 2002.
The juryless trial is entering its third week, but U.S. District Court Judge William Wilson, Jr. hopes to conclude testimony by June 1.
Georgia State Goes Colonial: It won’t happen until July of 2006, but the entire Georgia State athletic program is moving to the southern friendly Colonial Athletic Association, it was announced Monday. The Panthers, who have been a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference since 1983, will become the 11th member of the conference. A 12th school, speculated to be Northeastern, may also join. Atlanta-based Georgia State sponsors 15 intercollegiate athletic teams.
Wooten Walks Away: Rutgers head coach Gary Waters announced yesterday that 6-1 sophomore point guard Calvin Wooten has left the program and will transfer to another school. No specific reason was given. In his rookie season as a Scarlet Knight, the Detroit native played in 13 games, averaging 3.5 ppg and 0.8 rpg. His second season in Piscataway was slightly better, with averages of 6.0 ppg and 1.6 rpg.
Gopher Assistant Hired: Coaching veteran Jim Molinari has joined the Minnesota men’s basketball program as an assistant coach. He will replace Mike Petersen, who exits for the women’s head basketball coaching job at Wake Forest. After a ten year with DePaul, Molinari was named head coach of Northern Illinois, where he posted an impressive record of 42-17. In 1991, Molinari joined the Bradley program as head coach, spending 11 years in Peoria and leading the Bears to an NCAA berth in 1996. Molinari was an NBA scout for the Raptors and Heat the past two seasons.
