Tubby Gets the Job
UK recently offered Tubby Smith the job as the UK basketball head
coach, and Tubby finally accepted. Vince Dooley, the University
of Georgia Athletics Director Vince Dooley, told reporters recently
that he expected Smith to make a quick decision. He also said
the he had started thinking about replacements for Smith as the
head coach.
Dooley was quoted as saying,"It's my understanding he has been offered the job. Coach Smith is now thinking about it and trying to make a decision. I'm sure it will be very quickly, as quickly as possible."
Smith would be the first black head coach to take control of the men's basketball program at Kentucky. As an assistant coach with Pitino on Pitino's two first Kentucky teams, Tubby is more than qualified to take over the program at Kentucky. After his six seasons as head coach, he has compiled a 124-62 record. Four of these seasons were at Tulsa, and two of them were at Georgia.
Opening statement: "This is an important and special occasion to announce my coaching staff. I think we have put together one of the best coaching staffs in the country. Two of them were with me at Tulsa and Georgia so they have had a big hand in the success that we've had over the last few years. I am so thrilled and happy that they were willing to join me here at the University of Kentucky to help continue, build and develop an outstanding program."
On Mike Sutton: "We go way back. He's been pretty involved in our program. Mike Sutton comes with me from Georgia and he was at Tulsa with me. His position will not be able to recruit off campus. He understands the game extremely well and has coached at all levels. He's done a great job everywhere he has been."
On Shawn Finney: "Shawn has been with me at Tulsa and at Georgia as an assistant for the last two years. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. He will be one of the coaches involved in recruiting. He has done a whole lot of things in our program and I know he will continue to do great things at the University of Kentucky."
On George Felton: "We go way back to the days when I was coaching high school ball and he tried to recruit a player of mine. He ended up hiring me even though he didn't get the player. We developed a great relationship. After years of working his way through the ranks, he got the head coaching job at South Carolina and asked me to join the staff. He turned the program around down there. The school had not been to postseason play in 15 years and we went to the NCAA Tournament. From that point on, he had an outstanding career. I feel very fortunate to have George Felton join me here as an assistant coach."
On the staff as a whole: "I think we have put together a staff that will be outstanding in all areas. It's not just the recruiting and coaching, but all elements - the wellbeing of the players and the academics. We are going to break up the duties and assignments but we really haven't gotten that far. We will designate people according to their strengths. I just believe everyone should pitch in and get the job done and we will go from there."