Sept. 10, 1997
Athletic Director Kevin White's Press Conference
ASU Athletic Director Dr. Kevin White spoke with the media Wednesday evening in his office. Here are some excerpts of the conversation:"There were a number of conversations over the last week or two that Bill and I had. We talked about the future and looked into the future and you're always evaluating programs. That's part of what we do. Bill's evaluating his program and his career, I'm sure. It just became more and more abundantly clear to me that we just really needed to move in a different direction. With all due respect to Bill, I think he agreed. We had that final conversation yesterday and we just felt it made sense to change the course of direction for the program. That's why we're here today."
"If I may say, with some emotion, that Janice and Bill have been wonderful ambassador's to the institution. They've been tireless workers and dedicated servants to ASU. They will be sorely, sorely missed. These things are difficult. I would hope they don't go too far. They're just great people."
"It is time for us to break camp, as they say, and to head in another direction and that is what this is all about."
WHAT IS THAT DIRECTION?
"We spent most of late last night and this morning visiting with key staff members and key senior officers of the institution to try and determine what makes the most sense. We're here on September 10th. That's not lost on any of us, I'm sure. Our plan, most immediately, is to take the next seven to 10 days to take a good, hard look at high-profile, sitting Division I head coaches and see who is movable from an emotional and contractual standpoint. What folks might represent the best institutional fit and make the most sense for the program at this point."
"At that juncture, again seven days to two weeks, if we don't feel that the right person is in place, I think at that point you'll see us appoint an interim coach and we'd move through this basketball season and embark on a national search sometime in late January or early February."
WAS THE LATEST INCIDENT WITH HOUSE AND HESTER THE LAST STRAW?
"That incident or any other incident that happens that relates to intercollegiate athletics on our campus isn't lost on me. To say that incident has nothing to do with anything or none of the incidents unto themselves aren't significant, I'd be less than honest. I think all the incidents that we had here are important. I felt that incident that you refer too had a bigger impact on Bill than it really had on me. I think for the first time I could see in Bill that really tore his heart out. That was a big deal for Bill. We need the guy at the front of this basketball program, as he's always been - enthused, determined, to provide us the vision and to take us back to where we think we need to go. I think the culmination of all these incidents really just kind of wore on Bill. Did it have an impact on me? I think it did. Did it have an impact on 180,000 alumni of the university? I think it did. Did it have an impact on everybody in our community? I'm sure it had. But, I think it's had the most significant impact on Bill Frieder. I think it really tore his heart out."
HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE TEAM?
"I talked with the players at 3:30 today. I thought we had a frank and candid discussion. The contents of the exchange were along the lines of 'We've got to work hard and stay together. We have an opportunity to change the direction of the program. We've got to work together. We've all got responsibility here. We all have to be accountable.' Those were the kinds of discussion items that I shared with the team."
CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT YOUR PROFILE OF WHO YOU WANT AS THE NEXT HEAD COACH?
"We need to get a seasoned, established, sitting Division I head coach that can come here and grab this program and make a turn toward the upper echelons of college basketball. We really feel that we've got a situation that, to use a bad cliche, is a sleeping giant. I think we're well situated in a great conference, perhaps the best conference in the NCAA as of late. We've got a great opportunity with our market, an emerging institution and with our facility. We're looking for just the right person."
"We certainly have a short list. I think if you endeavor to be in athletics administration, our staff has a short list. I think you always have to have a short list. It doesn't mean that those folks are movable or that they can transition here. Again, there are contractual issues. There are emotional issues - separating from their current situation. I can't tell you that. We have not tested the market, as I stand in front of you. In all fairness to this situation, Bill and I did not have a closure conversation until last evening. Today was the first day we really had a good chance to sit down and think about, 'OK, best case scenario what might we do? What might the time frame be? What's the plan of action?' We are becoming highly mobilized as we speak."
"We want it all. We want the whole package and we want it yesterday."