Jim Harrick Resignation

03-29-03

I’m Chuck Wilson with an ESPN Radio Extra Point,

When Jim Harrick resigned Thursday as University of Georgia basketball coach, he termed it a “retirement”. Perhaps he meant it, perhaps not. But what if he wanted to coach college basketball again, would a school hire him? ESPN Colleague Linda Cohn says “yes” and she’s not alone. Many believe there always would be a college so desperate to win that a coaches’ on-court success would outweigh everything else. I disagree. The direct involvement of the school president in the hiring of Jim Harrick at Georgia has sent a message no administrator will miss, and the message is clear; don’t hire a coach with a history of ethical misconduct. If you do, and the deal goes bad, it won’t just be the athletic director on the hot seat. It’s all a matter of risk and reward; and the ugliness of the Harrick episode has increased the risk factor for all who follow. The next college president who makes such a hiring mistake won’t keep his job.

I’m Chuck Wilson