Coaching void leaves TSU players, recruits in limbo

Men's basketball program remains without a staff

By JEROME SOLOMON, Houston Chronicle

It didn't take long for Ronnie Courtney to land softly. A couple of weeks after being let go by Texas Southern, he became head basketball coach at Fort Bend Bush High School.

Meanwhile, TSU has yet to start conducting interviews for its head coaching position. Classes begin Aug. 27.

Worse yet, the school has done little to help Courtney's final recruiting class prepare for the upcoming school year.

"I've just been waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting," guard Chris Berry said by phone from his home in Compton, Calif. "I'm trying to get everything on the right track to get down there, but it's not looking so good."

Berry, who signed a letter of intent with TSU last spring, said he called athletic director Alois Blackwell after Courtney was fired to see if his scholarship would still be honored. Blackwell told him the search for a new coach was the priority.

After hearing nothing for a while, Berry called again because of his concerns about housing and travel. This time he said he was told where to find some housing information on the school's Web site — so he assumes his scholarship with the school is still good — but he is unsure how payment is supposed to be arranged or if he will be reimbursed if he makes any down payments.

Blackwell said Thursday the school is honoring the scholarships, but he hasn't yet talked to all four of Courtney's signees. Blackwell says he has sent letters to all of the players and signees indicating TSU will honor the scholarships.

As for the new coach, Blackwell said he has not yet started interviewing candidates. Alumni speculation is centered on Calvin Murphy, who is thought to be the front-runner for the position. Alumni association members mention former Tigers guard Kevin Granger as a candidate, and several assistant coaches around the country have made inquiries about the position.

Blackwell's description of his ideal coach sounds a lot like Murphy, the former Rocket and a Basketball Hall of Famer, who has said he is very interested in the position.

• "I need somebody that can get the players they get — at whatever level they are coming out of high school — and be able to develop them in the program to be Division I players."
• "I need a person that can come in and be able to recruit and be able to get the next-level players as well. To at least have a shot to get them."
• "I need somebody that's going to be able to help raise money for their program. Someone that knows and has some experience in fundraising."
• "Another thing I need is somebody who can hold basketball camps and be able to start relationships with players at younger ages and hopefully be able to eventually bring some of that talent into the program."
• "And I need somebody that can bring people into the stands and some attention to the program."
Berry said Blackwell told him he is looking for a coach who runs an up-tempo style.

As much as he likes fast-paced play, Berry is looking forward to a faster pace off the court.

"Maybe if they hired a coach, it would be better, because it would be his job to be concerned about his players," Berry said. "Right now, nobody there seems to care. I'm looking forward to learning about the new coaching staff."

Meanwhile, the link to the bio of the men's coach on the TSU athletics Web site reads: "The 2007-2008 Coaching Staff has yet to be determined."