UMass? Ford nixes interest in LSU job

[IE]

(Ticker) - Massachusetts coach Travis Ford on Tuesday said he is not a candidate for the vacant job at Louisiana State.

Ford just completed his third season at the school, leading the Minutemen to a 25-11 record and a slot in the National Invitation Tournament championship game, where they lost to Ohio State, 92-85.

?I would like make clear that I do not want to be considered for the head job at LSU,? Ford said. ?There has been a lot misinformation circulating about me and the job at LSU. I feel that it is necessary to state that I do not want to be considered for the job.?

Ford has posted a 62-35 overall record in three seasons at UMass. His 63.9 winning percentage ranks second in school history, behind only John Calipari, who led Memphis to the NCAA Tournament championship game this season.

 

[Cie]

LSU intends to hire Stanford's Johnson as head basketball coach

LSU intends to hire Stanford's Johnson as head basketball coach

LSU intends to hire Stanford's Johnson as head basketball coach

Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS -- LSU intends to hire Stanford's Trent Johnson, who led the Cardinal to the round of 16 in this year's NCAA tournament, as its new coach.

Several people at LSU familiar with the selection process said a formal announcement was expected by today. The people asked to remain anonymous because the hiring was not yet official.

Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby said in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Wednesday afternoon that Johnson was given permission to talk to LSU but had not yet resigned.

"LSU notified me that they wanted to talk with him this morning as I was leaving Tampa" following the women's Final Four, Bowlsby said. "The position probably pays twice what ours does so I expect he feels he has to listen. Trent has not informed me that he has accepted another position."

Johnson has been at Stanford for four seasons, compiling an 80-48 record.

He had said recently he hoped to remain at Stanford, and had been slated to meet with Bowlsby today to discuss a new contract.

Stanford hired Johnson in 2004 to replace Mike Montgomery, who left for the NBA's Golden State Warriors for two seasons and last week was hired by Bay Area rival California.

Johnson was an assistant at Stanford before going to Nevada and then returning to the Cardinal.

Stanford lost to Texas in the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament.

Stanford's twin 7-footers, Brook and Robin Lopez, announced last week they would hire agents and enter the NBA draft, forgoing their final two seasons of eligibility.

LSU went to the Final Four only three seasons ago, but failed to make the NCAA tournament in each of the last two years. The Tigers went 13-18 this season, and former coach John Brady was fired during the year.

Assistant Butch Pierre took over on Feb. 8 and led LSU to victories in five of its last nine contests, but the Tigers lost in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

This week, LSU also likely lost one of its best players when 6-foot-10 freshman forward Anthony Randolph announced he intended to enter the NBA draft. Randolph did not immediately hire an agent, however, leaving a slim possibility he could return for his sophomore season.

LSU considered a range of candidates, including Travis Ford at Massachusetts, Anthony Grant at Virginia Commonwealth and Oliver Purnell at Clemson. Ford and Purnell both withdrew from consideration Tuesday.

 

[LA Burns]

Not terribly thrilled with the hire, as Johnson doesn't seem the dynamic type needed to breathe life into the hoops program - hope I'm wrong, just seems that we could have gotten a younger, hungrier coach from a smaller school that would have infused more energy and life into the situation

 

[dawgball]

Is LSU a step up from Stanford? :shrug:

I wouldn't have thought so, but I'm sure it's all about the $$.

 

[Cie]

Is LSU a step up from Stanford? :shrug:

I wouldn't have thought so, but I'm sure it's all about the $$.

Agreed, I would think Stanford is a better gig than just about every SEC job, but $$ is the key.

I'm with Burns. I would have ben very pleased w/ Ford. Maybe even the VCU HC, who has experience coaching and recruiting in SEC territory.

 

[dawgball]

Agreed, I would think Stanford is a better gig than just about every SEC job, but $$ is the key.

I'm with Burns. I would have ben very pleased w/ Ford. Maybe even the VCU HC, who has experience coaching and recruiting in SEC territory.

Agreed on both points.

I think Ford is going to be a great coach for the long haul.