Saturday, April 12, 2008

OSU now must turn to plan B

By By Jeff Latzke - Associated Press Sports Writer

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Oklahoma City — Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder opened the second phase of his search for the Cowboys' next basketball coach Friday after Bill Self decided to stay with national champion Kansas instead of returning to his alma mater.

Holder said he put forth his best effort to lure Self back to Stillwater, and now will look for another candidate who fits a similar mold.

"I think he's a leader of men as well as a basketball coach. I'm looking for somebody like that," Holder said Friday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

Holder said he appreciated the opportunity to interview Self and felt "he was more impressive than I thought he would be." In his first high-profile coaching search since taking over as athletic director, Holder said he felt he owed it to Self and to Oklahoma State fans to pursue the former Cowboys player and assistant.

"He's really the only OSU graduate in the coaching profession that's achieved at his level," Holder said.

The two met for about two hours Wednesday night near Kansas City, Mo., but Self instead agreed to a contract extension to remain with the Jayhawks.

"I couldn't overcome what he's got there at Kansas," Holder said. "The lure of coming home wasn't strong enough."

Holder picked Self's brain for other candidates he'd recommend to succeed Sean Sutton, who resigned last week, and he hoped Self would carry through on a promise to provide him several names. He also has been consulting others familiar with Oklahoma State's basketball program to find the right fit to continue the school's basketball tradition.

While it's easy to look at coaching records, Holder said he's looking for the right personal qualities.

"I'm getting a lot of good advice. We've got a lot of great resources," Holder said.

Holder said he's aware that college basketball's signing period for recruits opens next week but while he'd like to have a coach on the job immediately, it's more important to get the right person for the long term.

"There's a lot of research to be done, a lot of people to talk to, and that doesn't happen quickly," Holder said.

The ideal candidate for Holder would also be comparable to Henry Iba, who won two national titles in 1945 and 1946 when the Stillwater school was still known as Oklahoma A&M. Iba picked up 655 of his 767 career wins in 36 years at the school and coached U.S. Olympic teams to two gold medals and one silver.

He also was the mentor to Eddie Sutton, who led Oklahoma State to its most recent Final Four appearances in 1995 and 2004 with son Sean as an assistant.

"He's our foundation," Holder said. "You talk about wrestling here, you're going to talk about Ed Gallagher. You talk about basketball and you talk about Henry Iba."

Holder has said he was heartbroken when Self declined his offer to coach at Oklahoma State, but that feeling subsided a day later. He compared it to his experience when recruits turned him down during his run as Oklahoma State's golf coach, during which he guided the Cowboys to eight national championships.

"I'm a positive kind of person and kind of a fatalist," Holder said, "so I believe that the right coach is out there for us."

Comments

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

My heart bleeds for thee...NOT!!!!!

I used to be indifferent when it came to OSU, but, after the crap they pulled with the timing of the firing of Sutton during Final Four week and the resulting distraction to KU (I still believe it was a distraction to some degree), I hope their search turns out to be a REAL struggle. Their plan to hire Self and "bring him home" backfired. I don't think the timing was a coincidence at all with Self (and the 'hawks) in the Final Four. It was a selfish (no pun intended), self-serving (again...no pun intended) act to steal some of the spotlight away from a fellow Big 12 school on a national stage. I honestly believe that OSU screwed up by firing Sutton prematurely.

OK, wow...I feel better.

April 12, 2008 at 5:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

jayhawkinatl you sound like a mean drunk. Christ we just one the national title and Self picked KU. What do you want?

April 12, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

DallasHawk (anonymous) says...

I have lost any respect I had for osu over this issue. I don't mind them going after a coach after the entire season has ended. I'm sorry the first round of the NIT gets over so early in March, but at least have the decency to wait until after the final four to try and get your name in the media. Beak Em'

April 12, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

trvlronda (anonymous) says...

I agree with what has been said, however, there is a "reason" the coaching spot gets vacated right before the Final Four. The Final Four is one big job fair. If you need a coach, they are all there, ready to be interviewed--unless they are in the games. It's one one of the few times that an AD has such great resources to find a new hire. Although OSU was targeting our coach, I am sure he was picking the brain of several others in San Antonio.

April 12, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Brock (anonymous) says...

I predict that, one day, Self will take a job coaching in the NBA and will make legit big bucks. He will get fired - as all NBA coaches eventually are - and THEN he will go home to Stillwater.

April 12, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUFan90 (anonymous) says...

Rosy thoughts there Brock...

April 12, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Just had to vent, KGPhoto. Don't get me wrong...I'm grateful for the national championship and for Self staying put. Just not a fan of OSU anymore...that's all.

April 12, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Sparko (anonymous) says...

I think Self stays until a building and complex is named for him. OSU should look at Jankovich. Davidson's coach is also worthy of a huge upgrade in salary. I think Sean Sutton should have been given more time, however. He needed recruiting help, though. Not sure I would want to play for a man that angry.

April 12, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

OSU could hire Matt Doherty and give him another chance. Doherty was totally screwed by North Carolina and deserves another chance to coach in a power conference.

April 12, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kataboom (anonymous) says...

it would be a sin if they didnt talk to self. the firing of sutton was harsh & premature but they cant live in the past. just look forward & im all for a good coach & good team at osu. that just makes kansas better when the big 12 gets better.

April 12, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuhwks (anonymous) says...

I think they are going to go after Kevin Stallings at Vanderbilt.

April 12, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

nobody1793 (anonymous) says...

OSU should hire Bryant Reeves. Now that would be fun.

April 12, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kansas22 (anonymous) says...

Big Country! Now that should be their #1 target... Of course I'm kidding but for some reason those people down in Oklahoma love that big mullet.

April 12, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )