Here’s the article guys, it’s still worth picking up if you’re in the Gaston County or airport area. Nice pic and nice article previewing the NC State matchup.
CHARLOTTE — Charlotte 49ers head coach Bobby Lutz has enough to worry about this week as his team prepares to face N.C. State in the NCAA tournament.
The last thing he needs is a distraction. But that’s just what he got on Monday night.
That’s when a report on ESPN’s SportsCenter linked him to the University of Tennessee’s head coaching vacancy, a job that opened up when the school fired Buzz Peterson on Sunday afternoon.
In a segment on potential replacements for coaches who were fired this weekend, Andy Katz, one of the network’s top college basketball analysts, reported that Lutz is a candidate for the Tennessee vacancy. Lutz was adamant on Tuesday that the report was untrue and a bit unfair.
“Obviously, everybody has a job to do,” Lutz said of Katz’ report. “But I don’t like the timing of it, especially when there’s no basis in fact. It’s speculation. They may like me, I don’t know, but they haven’t called me.”
Katz went on to proclaim that Lutz “has a lot of people working for him to get this job.”
Lutz was so bothered by that angle of the report he contacted Katz to set the record straight.
“I don’t know what he meant,” Lutz said. “I called him and told him that’s not true. Now, there could be people working that think I’m the right guy, but I’m not directing that in any way, shape or form. I don’t have an agent.”
In 2002, Lutz signed a sixyear contract extension and this past summer he added another year, which runs his current contract through 2008-09. Financial terms have not been disclosed, but Lutz’s contract also requires him to notify athletic director Judy Rose if he’s contacted about a job. Rose told a local newspaper last month she knew Lutz was a hot coachng commodity and wanted to do all she could to keep him at Charlotte.
Peterson’s contract at Tennessee could have been worth up to $900,000 annually if all the incentives were met. According to an Associated Press report, Peterson was guaranteed a base salary of $220,000 plus $329,500 in radio and television services and $220,000 in endorsements for a minimum total of $769,500. The university is currently working out details on paying a $1.4 million buyout of his remaining contract.
As for Lutz, he’s guided the 49ers to five NCAA tournament appearances in his sevenyear tenure. This year, he was one of 10 finalists for the Jim Phelan National Coach of Year award.
Meanwhile, between film sessions and practices, Lutz understands that he may now have to answer questions from his own players on the subject.
“I haven’t talked to them, but I will if they want to talk about it,” Lutz said. “I’ll talk to the captains, I guess. But to be honest, I haven’t even thought about it before now. To me, it’s just not that important right now. I don’t want that to be a distraction this week.”
With the firings of Peterson at Tennessee, and Steve Lappas at Massachusetts and Pete Gillen’s resignation at Virginia — all on the same day — it’s likely that the coaching carousel will continue to turn and that Lutz’s name will continue to surface.
That’s what happens when your team goes 21-7 and you don’t coach in one of the major conferences such as the ACC, SEC, Big East or Big 12. The 49ers, instead, will play in the Atlantic-10 next season.
“To be honest, it is flattering to know that there are people who think I’d be a good coach somewhere,” Lutz said. “It’s a compliment to our program, coaches and players. The University of Tennessee is a great university. But I’m proud of the job I have and I’m focused absolutely on my team and preparing them this week.”
While ESPN reported that Lutz was a prime candidate for the Tennessee job, another name mentioned prominently is that of Winthrop’s Gregg Marshall, who has guided the Eagles to seven successful seasons and another NCAA Tournament bid this week.
It’s a pay site, though.
