SMU contacts OU about assistant coach Tubbs

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SMU contacts OU about assistant coach Tubbs

03:23 AM CST on Wednesday, March 3, 2004


By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News



An SMU representative has contacted Oklahoma basketball coach Kelvin Sampson about the availability of assistant coach Jimmy Tubbs, a university source said Tuesday night.

Sampson, according to the source, told SMU not to contact Tubbs unless it was serious about offering him the position.

On Friday, Mike Dement was fired as coach and replaced by assistant Robert Lineburg on an interim basis. SMU athletic director Jim Copeland said he will not comment on any potential candidates.

Tubbs did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Tubbs, who owns a home in DeSoto, was an assistant under John Shumate and Dement from 1990-2002. He is considered a top assistant for his recruiting, scouting and game preparation. Tubbs recruited several top players for SMU and Oklahoma

Copeland said Monday he has been contacted by an estimated 12 to 14 candidates and hopes to hire a coach by the Final Four. A search committee is expected to be approved by SMU president Gerald Turner by the end of the week.