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Friday, April 8, 1994
SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wildcats look for coach
Kansas State hopes hunt ends before Monday
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — At least one potential candidate believes Kansas State's search for a new basketball coach may be drawing to an end.
"People are saying they think something's going to happen this weekend, maybe tonight," Washburn coach Bob Chipman, who played at Kansas State in the early 1970s, said yesterday. "I think it's well known they would like to get something done before the national signing date."
In the meantime, Kansas State officials were said to be planning interviews this weekend. Tubby Smith of Tulsa is reported to be the front-runner for the coaching job.
A critical time is 8 a.m. Monday, the last time coaches can contact recruits
prior to Wednesday's signing date. Presumably, it would be much to Kansas State's advantage to have a coach named in time to place at least a few last-minute calls to prospects who may be wavering.
The job came open when Dana Altman, who had come under increasing criticism by many K-State fans, quit after four years to take the job at Creighton in Nebraska. The Wildcats, who made it to the semifinals of the NIT, were ironically the last Big Eight team to quit playing this year.
A 23-person advisory committee met earlier this week, but Kansas State athletic director Max Urick was contacting possible candidates last week at the Final Four in Charlotte, N.C. Other names being mentioned besides Chipman include Smith, Duke assistant Mike Brey, and head coaches Tom Asbury of Pepperdine and Larry Hunter of Ohio.
Some published reports have made Smith the front-runner. In three years at Tulsa, he is 55-35, including two victories in this year's NCAA tournament before losing to eventual national
champion Arkansas.
The Kansas City Star quoted an unnamed member of the search committee as saying: "He's the guy we want. I just don't know if we can come up with as much money as he can get by staying at Tulsa."
Chris Small, Tulsa's interim athletic director, had said Kansas State asked permission to talk with Smith, who was expected to be offered a pay hike by the Golden Hurtanes.
Chipman, a teammate of former Kansas State coach Lon Kruger in the 1970s, is 360-199 in 15 years at Washburn. He took the Ichabbs to the NAIA title in 1887 and has been to the final eight in the past two NCAA Division II tourneys.
"He tried to contact me in Charlotte," he said. "He had contacted others, and he felt it only fair I have an opportunity to visit. We had an informal meeting, basically like the other candidates he had in Charlotte."
Chipman confirmed he had met with Urick "only on an informal basis."
More players trying out NBA
The Associated Press
OVERLAND PARK — By carefully following all the new rules, undergraduates can go into the NBA draft for the first time this year without surrendering their eligibility.
The NCAA is hoping nobody surrenders it by accident.
"The core issue of entering the draft is not complicated," said Rick Perko, an NCAA legislative assistant. "But all the other issues related to it can be complicated."
m Dontonio Wingfield and sophomores Jason Kidd of California, 6-4, and Yinka Dare of George Washington, 7-1.
Legislation adopted at last January's NCAA convention is sweeping and simple: One time in his college career, a kid can declare for a professional basketball draft as an undergraduate without automatically losing his eligibility.
By yesterday, five already had,
including 6-foot-8 Cincinnati fresh-
If they do not like their offer or do not get taken, undergraduates can come back to school simply by petitioning their athletic director within 30 days. Previously, their eligibility ended the minute they declared for the draft.
There are a couple of big catches that NCAA figures figure most athletes will know all about: They cannot agree orally or in writing to a pro contract, and they cannot retain an agent.
Eligibility could be endangered, Perko said, by such things as "accepting anything from anybody wishing to represent him. This could even be a soft drink or a ride."
The NCAA has been mailing out thousands of advisories as the June
NBA draft, the first under the new system, draws near. The mailings went to every Division I basketball coach, athletic director, conference commissioner, compliance coordinator and athlete advisory panel.
Athletes can have relatives or legal guardians join them in talks with pro teams, and Perko said about 125 of the 300 Division I schools had set up advisory panels authorized by NCAA legislation several years ago.
Usually consisting of 3-5 people from the school's staff and faculty, the panels can give contract advice to athletes and even help in contract negotiations. A coach can be on the advisory panel but cannot take part in negotiations.
Other undergraduates who have declared for the draft are Jamie Brandon, 6-4 junior from LSU, and Sharone Wright, 6-11 junior from Clemson.
STREETSIDE RECORDS
In concert April 9th at The Hideaway
OPEN HOUSE
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
The University Daily Kansan business staff cordially invites students to an Open House. Come see what working for one of the best college newspapers in the nation is all about. We are currently accepting applications for the Summer and Fall. This is your chance to see what the Kansan advertising staff can do for you. Dress is casual. Refreshments will be served.
Monday, April 11, 7:30 pm Room 119 Stauffer-Flint