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Coaches wonder what Vols' Green did to deserve firing

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 24, 2001

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Temple coach John Chaney had some harsh words for the University of Tennessee at the NCAA South Region, sharply criticizing the school Thursday for buying out the contract of Jerry Green.

Would Chaney advise a friend in coaching to stay away from UT's basketball program?

"I would advise him to get a 50-year contract there," Chaney said emphatically in the hallway outside Temple's locker room at the Georgia Dome.

"And I would tell my friend to have them (UT) put some money for the contract in escrow, and put it in a Swiss bank because I just don't trust them. You can't trust presidents and you can't trust fans.

"So coaches should feel loyalty only to themselves instead of feeling loyal to a school or loyal to fans. Because it all boils down to winning and losing. If that's the only measuring stick, then coaches should be just like politicians, who go around lying to everybody. So coaches should only be loyal to themselves. I think you have to get a good contract and have everything spelled out."

Tennessee athletic director Doug Dickey anticipated that the school would take a hit nationally when Green's $1.1-million buyout was announced this week. But Chaney's comment about putting money in escrow in a Swiss bank doesn't make a lot of sense.

It's not as if UT left its coach broke and destitute. Green took the money and ran.

Chaney, whose Owls face Penn State today in the South Region semifinals, has been coaching at Temple since 1982. During that time frame, UT has had four coaches and is looking for a fifth. Chaney won 90 games in his first four years at Temple, to 89 for Green. One significant difference is that Chaney was 5-0 in the first round of his first five NCAA Tournament appearances at Temple. Green was 2-2 in the first round.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and Penn State's Jerry Dunn also expressed concern about the coaching turnover at schools with 20 wins. Izzo said the coaches have to be accountable.

Last spring, Izzo turned down an offer between $15-million and $20-million to coach the Atlanta Hawks. The Detroit News reported he makes about $1.1-million per season at Michigan State. That's a far cry from the $7,500 salary he made when he came to the Spartans as a graduate assistant.

"When you start having 20 and 22 wins and you get fired, well, I don't know all of the circumstances," Izzo said.

"Were there other reasons? I don't know that. I'll be honest because I think we have something to be blamed for, too.

"Coaches want higher salaries. Coaches want longer-term contracts. The higher your salary is, the more pressure that's on you. So it's a double-edge sword. If you get paid a lot of money you are expected to win immediately."

Dunn called the situation at Tennessee "puzzling. "

His own situation is puzzling as well. Despite leading the Nittany Lions to the Sweet 16, Dunn is not secure. His contract runs out at the end of this season, although he is expected to sign an extension.

When told of Chaney's remarks that coaches shouldn't trust school presidents, Dunn said "I have a great deal of respect for Coach Chaney."

Jim Haney, executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, hasn't been among those criticizing UT. He told USA Today that coaches who are paid large salaries must generate money and enthusiasm by fans that generates even more money for the program.

Chaney said: "Your loyalty should be to yourself, not to fans."

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