
Posted Mar 28, 2007 by Brett McMurphy
Updated Mar 29, 2007 at 07:01 AM
Just two days ago, Stan Heath was no where to found on the University of South Florida’s coaching search radar.
On Wednesday, though, that all changed. Heath told The Tampa Tribune that he will meet with USF AD Doug Woolard this weekend in Atlanta about the Bulls’ coaching vacancy. Woolard and consultant C.M. Newton contacted Heath Wednesday about the job.
Heath, who expressed an interest in USF’s job hours after getting fired at Arkansas Monday, continues to say he wants to learn more about the Bulls’ situation.
“The important thing to me is look at the school and do some homework on the school,” Heath said. “Just really figure out what it’s going to take to get the program to a level that the fans and I would be very happy with.”
If Woolard is serious about Heath, Woolard may have to act fast. Heath told me he’s also been contacted by two other schools – he wouldn’t indicate which ones – and likely will meet with them in Atlanta.
With three NCAA Tournament appearances in six years as a head coach and three Top 15 national recruiting classes at Arkansas, Heath definitely will be a popular person in Atlanta this weekend.
Now that Winthrop’s Gregg Marshall turned USF down and South Alabama’s John Pelphrey and Fran Fraschilla have removed their names from consideration, there are a number of former and current head coaches trying to get involved with the USF job.
Several of these have been previously reported, so bear with me, but here’s the list of those who have indicated an interest publicly and privately – Pat Kennedy, Steve Lappas, Cliff Ellis, Mike Jarvis, Tic Price, Jim Wooldridge, Melvin Watkins, Wayne Morgan and Tom Green.
The list of those who were contacted by USF, but ultimately weren’t interested, include Marshall, Pelphrey, Alabama’s Mark Gottfried, UMass’ Travis Ford, VCU’s Anthony Grant, Xavier’s Sean Miller and Air Force’s Jeff Bzdelik.
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Reader Comments
Por (Pete Kay) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
The guy USF should bring in to rebuld this program is Lappas. He has the Big East ties (5th winninngest coach in conference history), an NIT title with Nova - put Manhattan college on the map before that - and was about to turn around Umess until he got hosed when new AD from KY brought in his guy Ford (who won with Lappas’ players).
Suggest removalHe can build this thing - oh by the way in case anyone cares, his kids graduate too!
PS I am not his agent, just a fan
Por (Stephen Blackehart) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
Well I hope Heath is a heck of a recruiter. I had no idea USF had no practice facility for the basketball team. They just built that huge athletic center, right next to the SunDome, and didn’t build anything for basketball!? How did THAT happen?
Suggest removalHave you heard any talk that such a facility is in the works?
Por (Claudel Olivier) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
When he gets to Atlanta, just get Heath in a room and don’t let him leave until you have a signed contract. Heath has a stud ready to go wherever he ends up. I would be happy with a decent player at this point! Really I just want to go to games thinking we have a legitimate chance of winning. Is 8-8 or 7-9 in the Big East with 17-20 total wins too much to ask?
Suggest removalPor (Dave Weber) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
You know I’d feel better if the title was “Woolard Will Hire Heath in Atlanta.”
Suggest removalPor (Gary Stephen) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
“I’m crazy enough to like a challenge”? I love this guy! That’s the perfect attitude for anyone taking over men’s basketball at USF.
Suggest removalPor (tina curry) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
what is the problem with USF finding a coach is it the money or area.
Suggest removalPor (Ken Webb) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
Claudel- who is the player Heath has in his back pocket? I agree with you that jsut seeing a true blue chipper would be great and long overdue.
Suggest removalPor (Brett McMurphy) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
Stephen, there are proposed plans to build a new basketball practice facility. But there also are plans for a new baseball, softball and soccer stadiums, new football practice fields, etc. So I’m not sure exactly where in the pecking order the hoops practice facility ranks.
Suggest removalPor (Claudel Olivier) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
Dave, I am with you! Ken, I cannot divulge my sources. Let’s just say kids can be very loyal (look at Bob Huggins - he recruited and did not even have a job yet). Stephen, 3 Top 15-20 recruiting classes in a row! Does that not sound like a recruiter? How about Mo Pete, Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell (those were his, but you will not hear that from Izzo)?
Suggest removalPor (Claudel Olivier) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
A total compensation package of 750K could land this guy. Arkansas was paying him 775K! Do it Doug! Don’t let him out of that room!
Suggest removalPor (Claudel Olivier) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
Brett,
Suggest removalDo you think if DWs top 3-5 coaching candidates have a practice facility as a stipulation it could get moved up the pecking order? In the next ten years I might not be able to recognize my campus (2003 grad)!
Por (Martin Bahl) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
Brett: Do you think Rick Pitino told John Pelphrey and Travis Ford to stay away from USF because:
a) He thinks the USF job is lousy and advised them against it for the good of their careers
b) He doesn’t want proteges competing and recruiting against him in the same conference
c) both of the above
d) none of the above
You may have already written or blogged about that but I was wondering what you thought about it if you haven’t touched on it already.
Suggest removalPor (Phil Canto) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
Is it just me or has this whole process become absurd? Hopefully we’ll find our coach for the next 20 yrs. But if we don’t, this ordeal should put the university’s athletic department on notice…Have we had this much trouble finding a MBB coach in the past? Or is the program in such a state to warrant these consequences? It seemed that Paschal and Greenberg were willing to leave their respective programs after success at smaller schools. RM certainly upgraded…
Suggest removalPor (Paul Neumann) on March 29, 2007 (Suggest removal)
I live in Miami and follow the Univ of Miami program very closely. They are in the # 1 conf ACC, and don’t have a “practice facility”. They practice in the arena they play in.
That is no big deal. A few other ACC teams are the same way.
Suggest removalPor (Stephen Blackehart) on March 30, 2007 (Suggest removal)
Brett,
Suggest removalIf you’re covering the story, any chance you could ask Woolard about the proposed facilities? Frankly, I’m surprised that the best basketball conference in the NCAA would admit USF, with such a gaping hole in our competitiveness there. Where do they practice now?
Por (Hector Jimenez) on March 30, 2007 (Suggest removal)
Brett….is it also possible that the ex-Michigan coach, Ammacker, is being considered by Woolard? And, why does no one consider him as a possibility here at USF?
Suggest removalPor (Wayne Jacobus) on March 30, 2007 (Suggest removal)
Please just get it done with Heath.
Suggest removalPor (melonie corbin) on March 30, 2007 (Suggest removal)
I think USF should look hard at Jeff Bzdelik from the Air Force.
Suggest removalPor (Tony Grier) on March 30, 2007 (Suggest removal)
Brett,
Tom Jones did a piece today mocking the coaching situation…He did mentioned former Georgetown coach John Thompson as a possible candidate…
I can see it now Georgetown comes the Sun Dome, a sell out every time they visit, ESPN’s Big Monday would televise it every time home or away, father-son story one for the ages….And I bet John would entertain the idea…His personal life is in order and the down payment on the retirement home can be made sooner than later…
It wouldn’t be like a re-tread because his son would motivate him to win games or lose his legacy during the father-son competition that it would create in the Big East…I think we should have at least asked him. Maybe we did. What do you think?
Suggest removal