One and done at UA: Altman out after day
Posted on Wednesday, April 4, 2007
FAYETTEVILLE — Spurned again.
Dana Altman, the basketball coach Arkansas hired Monday after whiffing on at least five others last week, stunned the university Tuesday by quitting to return to Creighton.
Altman began expressing misgivings about taking the job early Tuesday and, after a series of conversations with school officials, informed UA Chancellor John White of his decision to leave about 5: 15 p. m., White said.
Altman, a Nebraska native, said it was “totally a family decision” to return to the Omaha, Neb., school where he coached the previous 13 seasons. He said he was too hasty in accepting the Arkansas job.
Altman apologized publicly to the UA administration, players and fans.
“This is a decision that was tough,” Altman said. “I poured my heart and soul into Creighton University for 13 years, and in the final analysis, I just can’t leave. I truly believe when I made this decision that Arkansas is a special place.
“ I had other opportunities before, and I always turned them down. I got a little bit further this time, and I do apologize for that. I hope Chancellor White, [Athletic Director Frank ] Broyles, after they get over the disappointment of my decision, will understand that this is something I am doing for my family. I just wish I had come to that decision earlier.”
A source close to the situation said the unsteady academic standing of some players caught Altman off guard but that he did not believe it was the overriding reason why Altman left.
Academic shortcomings did not play a role in his decision, Altman said.
Altman was used to recruiting high-level students because Creighton has lofty academic standards. Many public universities have less-stringent admissions requirements and make occasional exceptions for athletes with borderline grades. Arkansas is one of those schools.
Arkansas will approach the renewed search differently. Broyles handled it himself last week. Much of the search this time will be turned over to a firm that specializes in searches.
Arkansas will contact Parker Executive Search of Atlanta to see if it’s available. Parker describes itself on its Web site as a firm that specializes in conducting executive searches globally for corporations, universities and collegiate athletics.
Kentucky, Iowa and Minnesota used Parker Executive Search in the last month.
Money will not be a constraint in the hiring, White said.
Broyles tried but failed to land at least five high-profile coaches before hiring Altman. Texas A&M’s Billy Gillispie, Kansas ’ Bill Self, Southern California’s Tim Floyd and Marquette’s Tom Crean all refused offers from Arkansas.
In Altman, Broyles found an experienced coach with a winning background like he had targeted but without the star power name he originally had hoped to land.
Arkansas fired Stan Heath on March 26.
Broyles returned from Augusta, Ga., on Tuesday night where he had gone for an annual trip to the Masters golf tournament. Broyles, White and other school officials were to meet late into the night to chart the search’s direction.
“We’re looking for a new head coach,” White said in an impromptu news conference outside Walton Arena. “We’ll have a much better plan on this tomorrow as you might expect. I don’t have a lot of experience in this. I can’t go to page 13 ‘This is how you handle a situation like this.’
“[Altman ] is embarrassed. He said, ‘I’ve caused you embarrassment.’ I said, “ You haven’t caused me embarrassment. You caused me disappointment. I’m disappointed you didn’t recognize what you were going to have to come to grips with before you came here. But long term, you’re going to have to do what’s best for your family. ’”
Broyles said he was “disappointed” and was “confident we will find the right coach for this program.”
Broyles and his wife, Gen, and Altman and his wife, Reva, ate dinner at White’s house Monday night. White said he sensed then that Altman was uncomfortable.
White said he checked with Altman on Tuesday morning to make sure he was doing OK and that’s when Altman said he was considering leaving. White spent roughly two hours in the afternoon trying to talk him into staying, telling him to “understand the implications professionally and personally.” Broyles talked to Altman by phone, and others whom White would not name also tried to dissuade Altman from leaving.
Altman gave his final decision about 5: 15 p. m. A plane from Omaha picked him up shortly after 7 p. m. in Fayetteville and flew him back to Omaha where he was to meet with Creighton players Tuesday night.
“We’re back in the market,” UA System Board of Trustees member Stanley Reed said. “We’re disappointed and we’ll just continue the search to try to get the best coach for Arkansas.”
How the upheaval will affect the program is unclear but seemingly unfavorable in the short term.
A major prep basketball tournament is scheduled to be played in Fayetteville this weekend. It’s ordinarily a recruiting blessing to have elite prospects in the UA’s backyard, but it could be a curse when those players see a rudderless program adrift for the time being.
Also of concern is what might become of current players. Arkansas will have seven seniors and could be favored to win the SEC West next season if everybody returns. But the coaching collapse could prompt some to transfer.
At least four players were considering leaving when Heath was fired. Most agreed to wait to see who was hired and then said they would stay Monday.
Assistant coach Glynn Cyprien is the only coach still on board. He met with the players briefly Monday night.
“It’s a hurting feeling to see we had a coach and were going to move forward,” junior Gary Ervin said. “Today we took a couple of steps back.”
White said he wished Altman well but was hopeful that the Razorbacks and the coach would one day cross paths.
“The No. 1 priority is doing what’s best for you and your family,” White said. “I’m looking forward to meeting you in the Final Four and beating the socks off you.”
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