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Sources: SMU offers coaching job to Doherty

Friday, April 21, 2006
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News

SMU officials offered the men's basketball job to Florida Atlantic coach Matt Doherty, sources said. Doherty is contemplating taking the position and is talking with his staff in Boca Raton, Fla. and people familiar with SMU.

Doherty was picked by SMU officials over former Arizona State and Mississippi coach Rob Evans. Both coaches interviewed with SMU incoming athletic director Steve Orsini this week.

Doherty and Orsini weren't available for comment.

If Doherty declines the job, SMU would then focus on Evans.

The SMU vacancy occurred when Jimmy Tubbs was fired in early April.

Doherty and SMU officials were talking about terms of a contract and certain changes that need to be made within the basketball program.

SMU officials would like to renovate aging Moody Coliseum and add a practice facility. SMU has raised close to $4 million for the project and needs a total of $12 million to complete it.

On Thursday, SMU president Gerald Turner said he hopes to have a new coach hired by next week.

Doherty and several other coaches who talked to SMU about the job expressed concern about the ongoing NCAA investigation. Retiring SMU athletic director Jim Copeland is handling the investigation with the NCAA.

SMU has completed its investigation into potential rules violations committed by Tubbs.

Turner said recently the NCAA is examining the schools findings.

Doherty coached at Florida Atlantic one season, after being away from the game for nearly three seasons. Doherty coached at Notre Dame (1999-2000) and North Carolina (2000-03) prior to Florida Atlantic.

He was away from the game for a few years and he worked at ESPN and CSTV before landing the Florida Atlantic job in April 2005.

Doherty led his team to a 15-13 finish. In five seasons as a head coach, Doherty has had only one losing season.

The offer to Doherty was somewhat of a surprise because Evans was a teammate of Turner's at Lubbock Christian. When Turner was the president at Ole Miss he hired Evans.

But Orsini wanted to make a splash with his new hire and Doherty with his North Carolina and Notre Dame roots appears to be it.

While I think Fraschilla and Evans are capable coaches, I think Doherty might be just what the program needs. He reportedly is a very good recruiter and a serious disciplinarian, and I don't think that's a bad thing. Anyone who worries about the guys getting their feelings hurt should watch Bobby Knight or Gary Williams or Billy Donovan or Bill Self run a practice.

Accept the offer, Coach Doherty, and start recruiting like a madman!

AND he's a big time name that gives the program instant credibility. See George O'Leary (UCF), Mike Price (UTEP) and John Calipari (Memphis). Now the question is if Doherty can have the instant success here like the other guys have had elsewhere.

I am really liking Orsini right about now! He did the same thing at UCF, bringing in a great coach (O'Leary) who unfortunately had some baggage, but turned the program into a winner. Orsini doesn't shy away from high profile guys that SMU used to stay away from or couldn't get.

This would be a great hire for SMU, with big media both local and nat'l. Go get em' Orsini!

Woooooo Hooooooo! Great news!

This is DMN online sports front page in big FONT.

SMU officials would like to renovate aging Moody Coliseum and add a practice facility. SMU has raised close to $4 million for the project and needs a total of $12 million to complete it.

When does the clock start ticking for his two years to turn these guys into a post-season tourney team or else get fired?

Well since he is known for his recruiting, let him recruit his guys and give them a chance.

I hope we still get the two 2007 guys, Sloan and Malone I think...cause they looked like studs. Unless Doherty can do better, I hope those kids still decide to come to SMU. I also hope this is enough for Morris and Fall to not transfer.

2112 wrote:Woooooo Hooooooo! Great news!

Settle down, amigo. The job has been offered - no hire has been made.

regis wrote:AND he's a big time name that gives the program instant credibility. See George O'Leary (UCF), Mike Price (UTEP) and John Calipari (Memphis). Now the question is if Doherty can have the instant success here like the other guys have had elsewhere.

Not unless SMU drastically changes the model and admissions.

If Doherty is who Orsini wants, I hope he takes the job. Otherwise the chorus of "the sky is falling" will be insufferable.

Ok, let the honeymoon begin. It won't last long around here. Why is Doherty making facility demands? McClown says facilities don't matter. Chuck Cooperstein said it well last night on his show. He said Moody is a disaster, it needs more than a coat of paint just to bring even close to yesterdays standards (ie 1990), much less today's standards.

I assume Doherty will get the standard 4 year contract from SMU right and 2 years to succeed right? No excuses.

Since we're screwed with DISD recruits it is my hope that Doherty can stock SMU's roster with guys from ACC/Big East country and the rest of the southwest. Hopefully Doherty will take the job.

the article said changes in the athletic program not facilities. Sounds like Doherty wants to change the Model to my ears.