Times staff, wires
Monday, March 14, 2011
Florida coach Billy Donovan staunchly defended his friend and former UF assistant coach John Pelphrey on Monday, a day after Pelphrey was fired as head coach at Arkansas.
Donovan, who worked with Pelphrey from 1994 to 2002, said he felt bad for him and was surprised he wasn't given at least one more year because of the stellar recruiting class he has coming in next season.
"You know, John's situation, I feel bad for him,'' Donovan said. "It's an unfortunate situation because I'm not really sure, I mean, (former coach) Stan Heath, I think, took two teams to the NCAA Tournament. And they make a change. Then John goes in there and goes to the NCAA Tournament with all of Stan's players and does a good job coaching them. He's in his third year with his entire team, returning with a top-five recruiting class, that doesn't make sense to me."
Pelphrey made his feelings clear on his way out, saying he didn't feel he was given enough time to complete a turnaround.
"I do not agree with the decision (Sunday) to make a change," Pelphrey said. "Obviously, I would have liked more time. It takes time to build stability in a program. Every situation is different. This situation was different.
"I know we were really close to reaping some of the rewards of all our hard work."
Meanwhile, Minnesota coach Tubby Smith addressed reports he was close to replacing Pelphrey by saying he expected to return to the Gophers despite a disappointing fourth season.
SOONERS FIRE COACH: Oklahoma fired coach Jeff Capel after he followed a trip to the NCAA Tournament's region finals with the program's first back-to-back losing seasons since 1967. Capel was 96-69 in five seasons but 17-36 the past two.
LAMAR: Steve Roccaforte was fired as coach after a 13-17 season and a 76-78 five-season tenure.
LOYOLA OF CHICAGO: Coach Jim Whitesell was fired after posting a 109-107 mark in seven seasons.
Information from Times wires was used in this report.