FOR HARRICK, IT'S MARCH SADNESS.Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer November was excruciating. The Pacific-10 season brought more pain. For deposed UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX basketball coach Jim Harrick Jim Harrick (born July 25, 1938 in Charleston, West Virginia) is a former college basketball head coach who coached at Pepperdine University, UCLA, the University of Rhode Island and the University of Georgia. , however, March is the toughest time of all. ``My spirits go up and down, but this is the hardest time because it's the most exciting,'' Harrick said. ``I like to watch the tournament games, but it's hard to adjust from being a coach to a fan.'' Harrick's uncertain future accentuates his angst. He has applied for several jobs - Louisiana State and Brigham Young - but received no takers. At least a dozen schools have coaching vacancies, but how many are willing to hire a coach who was fired five months ago for breaking an NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association rule and lying about it? ``It would be easier if he had something to do,'' said Harrick's oldest son, Monte. ``He's in a limbo state and that makes it difficult to move on. You can only play so much golf.'' Idle time The duration of time a device is in an idle state, which means that it is operational, but not being used. leaves room for memories and bitterness, so Harrick stays as busy as possible. He plays golf, keeps up coaching contacts and has been doing five-minute college basketball College basketball most often refers to the American basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA. History
His three grandchildren, Morgan, Mikah and Brooke, are the best diversion. ``They have been a great escape for dad,'' Monte said. ``They're the only people in the world who couldn't care less what you do, and they still love you. They've been a great relief.'' Harrick's wife, Sally, was hit hardest by the Nov. 6 firing and her spirits remain low. ``Sally has her days,'' Harrick said. ``It has really been hard on her, devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. .'' The Harricks spent last weekend watching NCAA Tournament NCAA Tournament can mean: Men's Sports
It was a family reunion Often an annual event, a family reunion takes place on a specified day each year for the purpose of keeping an extended family closer together. Some reunions may be held less often. unlike any other. ``Our reunions have always been in March, with people flying in from all over the country to wherever UCLA was playing,'' Monte said. ``This was hard. What else can you talk about?'' Harrick recently agreed to a settlement with UCLA that pays him approximately two-thirds of his $134,000 base salary. Bruins athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic Peter Dalis said it was the same offer UCLA made on Nov. 5, when Harrick was given the option to resign or be fired. ``I'm not happy with it,'' Harrick said. ``But it was closure. You have to try to put it behind you.'' His dislike of Dalis has not diminished (``He hurt a lot of people''), and he has rarely watched the Bruins play (``I have other things to do''). But he saw enough late in the season to pick them for the Final Four. ``We thought before the season started that we'd be one of the top five teams in the country, with maybe the second-best talent,'' he said. ``I'm elated that Cameron (Dollar) and Charles (O'Bannon) are having big years. Cameron is playing the way we always thought he could.'' But when asked for his impressions Steve Lavin, Harrick said: ``Don't ask me that.'' Things have turned ugly. In recent newspaper and radio interviews, Harrick and former assistant Mark Gottfried, now coaching Murray State, insinuated that if Lavin had been more loyal during the NCAA investigation in October, Harrick would have kept his job. ``(Lavin) is a sensitive subject,'' Monte Harrick said. Lavin's only role in the investigation, UCLA officials said, was telling the truth about who attended the infamous recruiting dinner at Monty's. ``It's like coach (John) Wooden says, people are funny and they do funny things,'' Lavin said. ``After what we've been through, the least of my concerns is what the coach at Murray State thinks. This is just consistent with all the other hurdles we've had this year.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: ```My spirits go up and down, but this is the hardest time because it's the most exciting. I like to watch the tournament games, but it's hard to adjust from being a coach to a fan.'' - Jim Harrick former UCLA coach |
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