UT gets OK to talk with 49ers' Lutz

Tom Whitestone, Charlotte's associate athletic director for media relations, confirmed early Monday afternoon that UT has asked for and been granted permission to talk with Lutz.

Charlotte finished a 21-8 season after losing to North Carolina State in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday.

Lutz has a career record of 135-83 since becoming head coach of the 49ers in 1998.

He signed a one-year contract extension in 2003 and his contract in Charlotte runs through the 2008-2009 season.

Mike Anderson of Alabama-Birmingham is another name mentioned early and often since Buzz Peterson's firing.

Alabama-Birmingham athletic director Watson Brown said Tennessee officials had not been in contact with him as of 4:30 Monday afternoon.

"Nobody has," Brown said. "Not a soul."

The Blazers spent the weekend in Boise, Idaho, for the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament.

UAB destroyed LSU in the opening round and then lost to an athletic Arizona team on Saturday.

Bob Knight of Texas Tech and Bruce Pearl (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) are two other coaches getting mention.

Former Tennessee coach Ray Mears has some fond memories of Knight.

He remembers watching a fiery, young Knight run drills at Stokely Athletics Center when Tennessee basketball was in one of its heyday periods of the late 1960s.

Knight was an up-and-coming coach at Army, not yet a legend, but already well-respected in the coaching ranks.

Even then, helping Mears at UT summer basketball camps, Knight's focus was on defense and hustle.

"He's a good man and he's an excellent coach," Mears said. "I'll definitely vouch for him as a coach."

More than 35 years ago, Mears liked Knight's drive and appreciated his military-style love of discipline and hard work.

"He came in and helped us when he was at Army," Mears said. "We're good friends, at least we were good friends back then."

Mears ultimately spent 15 seasons as head coach at Tennessee and compiled a 278-112 record to rank as the all-time winningest coach in the program's history.

Knight has gone on to become one of the winningest coaches the game has known.

Three national championships came at Indiana and the 64-year-old Knight has his Texas Tech team in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

Tennessee is testing the waters to see if Knight might consider a return appearance in Knoxville.

Champ Search, the firm hired by UT athletic director Mike Hamilton to help find Peterson's replacement, remains in contact with people close to Knight.

Tennessee wants a quick resolution to its search, but Knight and Pearl aren't cooperating. They keep winning.

Mears, known as a great coach with a showman's ability to create interest in "Big Orange" basketball, still loves and follows the game.

He attended many of UT's home games this season and looked on as the Peterson era ended with a 61-59 overall mark in four years.

"I was a little disappointed Buzz didn't stay longer," Mears said. "I didn't think he got fair chance and probably should been back another year."

Pearl Speaks: During a teleconference call Monday, Pearl was asked about his interest in other coaching jobs, not mentioning UT specifically.

"If an opportunity presents itself for me and my family (I would go)," he said. "It's got to be such a great opportunity my players will come to me and tell me I can't pass it up. It will have to be that good because I'm that happy at Milwaukee.

Mark Burgess covers Tennessee men's basketball. He may be reached at 865-342-6277.