Arkansas system president says Richardson out

Nolan Richardson lost his attempt to return to Arkansas when the university's president upheld a decision to fire the only coach to win a national basketball title for the school. <br><br>President

Friday, March 22nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Nolan Richardson lost his attempt to return to Arkansas when the university's president upheld a decision to fire the only coach to win a national basketball title for the school.

President B. Alan Sugg said Thursday he could find no evidence that Chancellor John A. White or Athletic Director Frank Broyles discriminated against Richardson, who also coached at the University of Tulsa.

``Based on my review, I am firmly convinced that the termination of your employment agreement by John White in consultation with Frank Broyles was legal and fair,'' Sugg wrote Thursday in a letter to Richardson.

White said a search committee could meet next week to begin searching for Richardson's replacement. Creation of the panel was put on hold while Richardson appealed.

``We hope that it's over, but one never knows in a situation like this,'' White said. ``I just hope that cool heads will prevail and we'll move on with what's best for the University of Arkansas.''

Sugg said Thursday that he and university lawyers researched Richardson's case and interviewed a number of witnesses after meeting with the coach for three hours on Monday. He rejected Richardson on all counts.

White took Richardson at his word when he said publicly Feb. 23 and 25 that he wanted the university to buy out the last six years of his seven-year, $1.03 million a year contract. In a bizarre Feb. 25 news conference, Richardson also criticized reporters and fans and said he was treated differently because he is black.

On Feb. 28, Richardson was remorseful and said he wanted to remain as coach. The apology came too late.

Sugg said in his letter Thursday that he found that Richardson had told a radio announcer and a Bud Walton Arena official privately on Feb. 22 that he wanted out.

``Your privately making similar remarks ... supports my conclusion that your public remarks were not spontaneous, but were made after thought and deliberation,'' Sugg wrote.

``The damage of these remarks was compounded by your similar comments on Feb. 25, 2002. Therefore, I am upholding the decision of Chancellor White to terminate your employment as the head coach.''

He said he had personal and professional respect for Richardson, which made the decision difficult.

It wasn't clear when or whether Richardson would sue. The appeal to Sugg was seen as a prerequisite for any action through the courts or government agencies.

``We're not going to move in haste. We'll consider all options carefully and in due course,'' Richardson lawyer John Walker said. ``It'll be awhile before we choose to do anything. We won't make any announcement about it. We'll just do it if we do it.''

For a time, and with input from several others, Richardson tried to develop a variety of conditions under which he might stay at the university, Walker said. One set of suggestions, obtained by The Associated Press, demanded that Broyles resign and that Richardson be allowed to take a year off.

``We were asked by emissaries, purportedly representing the university, what conditions would be appropriate in order to resolve this matter,'' Walker said.

Walker and university lawyer Fred Harrison said Richardson never presented the demands to Arkansas.

White said after Richardson's initial public remarks that he believed Richardson was just blowing off steam. Later, however, White said he decided to buy out the last six years of the coach's contract at $500,000 per year, as the contract allows.

Richardson coached at Arkansas for 17 years and took the team to the NCAA tournament in 13 of them; the Razorbacks went to the NIT in two other years. The Razorbacks advanced to the Final Four in 1990, 1994 and 1995, beat Duke for the title in 1994 and lost to UCLA in the 1995 championship game.

In 22 years as a head coach, including five years at Tulsa, Richardson has a 508-206 record.

After Monday's meeting, Richardson held a televised news conference and referred to the Razorbacks as ``my team.'' He criticized the decision to release him, saying Arkansas could have won the SEC tournament if he had remained.