The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Margison Meets With Media To Address UAB Head Coaching Position
3/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 26, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB interim athletics director Richard Margison said Sunday that while he feels a "sense of urgency" to find a new men's basketball coach for the Blazers, he will not put a specific timetable on his search.
Margison spoke Sunday afternoon to the media for the first time since he was informed Saturday night by Mike Anderson that Anderson had accepted the head coaching position at the University of Missouri after four seasons directing the UAB program.
"I do not have a specific timetable (to fill the position)," Margison said. "I think it is really a mistake to set an arbitrary timetable because then, I think it builds expectations and I think the process simply has to play out. Do I have a sense of urgency? Yes, I certainly do, but a specific timetable, no.
"Mike has done an outstanding job at UAB and we are extremely proud of what he and our players have accomplished these last four years," said Margison. "We are appreciative of all of his efforts during his time as UAB's head coach and certainly wish him the very best."
Margison said Anderson informed him late Saturday that he had agreed in principle to accept the head coaching position at Missouri. Margison said UAB had previously had every intention to work to keep Anderson as the Blazers' head coach.
"We were committed to keeping Mike at UAB and we had been working with him, laying out an aggressive financial plan," Margison said. "We had asked to be able to respond to any options that came his way. We didn't get that opportunity, and now, we are looking toward the future.
"We have a list of potential candidates in mind and we will be working diligently through that list to identify the next men's basketball coach at UAB.
"We intend to hire an outstanding coach with a solid track record, someone who can recruit and coach student-athletes for success on the court and in the classroom," said Margison. "We are looking for a coach who is committed to Conference USA and UAB for the long haul, and someone who will reach out to the UAB and Birmingham communities.
"We have not defined all the parameters of the search yet," said Margison, "and frankly, I don't want to get too many specifics out there about the kind of coach we're looking for next because I think coaches can come to you in a variety of ways, Coach Anderson being an example coming here as an assistant, Gene Bartow coming to this University many years ago from a very prominent program as a head coach.
One thing Margison feels sure of, however, is that he believes there will be a quality pool of candidates to consider for the position.
"Having confirmed the announcement today, we'll receive overtures from people who will find this job very attractive, and I think this job is a very attractive basketball job. And I think that is a credit to people like Gene Bartow and Mike Anderson. I fully expect that there will be a number of good, quality coaches interested in this position.
Anderson leaves UAB after four seasons in which the Blazers compiled a record of 89-41 and earned postseason tournament berths in each season. UAB has made an NCAA Tournament appearance in each of the past three seasons.
