TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Mark Gottfried resigned as Alabama’s basketball coach Monday, leaving in the middle of his 11th season amid criticism of both the team’s play and the departure of a star player.
The school said Gottfried will immediately be replaced by assistant coach Philip Pearson. Alabama’s next game is at Arkansas on Thursday.
Gottfried, who played at Alabama, said he quit during a meeting with athletic director Mal Moore.
“It has been a wonderful decade for me and my family, and I love the University of Alabama, but I feel that it is in the best interests of everyone involved,” Gottfried said in a statement released by the university.
The Crimson Tide’s record this season is 12-7, 2-3 in the SEC.
Gottfried’s teams have missed the NCAA tournament the last two years, and he was criticized over the recent departure of point guard Ronald Steele, a preseason first-team AP All-America two years ago, who later was hit by injuries. The school blamed Steele’s departure on a recent injury, but Steele said there was more to his decision than that.
Gottfried signed a six-year contract with Alabama in 2005 that made him the school’s first $1 million basketball coach and gave him a larger salary than that of football coach Mike Shula. The contract ran through 2011 and included a buyout if he were fired, but any financial terms tied to his resignation were not released.
Moore said the school would begin trying to find a new coach immediately.
“Out of respect for our players and coaches, I will not comment on the progress of our search until it has concluded,” Moore said in a statement.
The 45-year-old Gottfried took over at Alabama in 1988, replacing David Hobbs. He began a streak of five straight appearances in the NCAA tournament in 2002, reaching the round of eight in 2004 in the program’s deepest tournament run, including a victory over top-ranked Stanford.
The players got the news when they arrived for practice Monday afternoon. Gottfried spoke to the team.
“He just told us that he really loved us and that we were like one of his children and to just continue to play hard and make the best of this season,” freshman JaMychal Green said. “It was emotional. Coach Gottfried shed some tears and hugged every one of the players.
“He basically was saying that Alabama means a lot to him and that even though he’s not coaching, he’s still going to be there to support us and cheer us on while we’re playing.”
Senior Alonzo Gee said the news was “depressing.”
“We are kind of shocked about it right now, still,” he said.
Gottfried hasn’t been able to beat state rival Auburn lately. The Tigers have won four of the last five meetings, including an 85-71 victory on Jan. 17.
His current team was left short-handed with the departure of Steele following Richard Hendrix’s early departure to the NBA after last season.
Including three seasons at Murray State, Gottfried has a career record of 278-155 for a winning percentage of .642 in 14 seasons.
Gottfried started 98 straight games at Alabama as a player from 1985-1987. He was known for his 3-point shooting, and the Tide made the NCAA tournament round of 16 all three seasons.
Pearson, who lettered at Alabama in 1993, became an assistant coach with Gottfried at Murray State in 1997 and joined Gottfried’s staff when he took over at Alabama.
“This was obviously not what I expected today when I came here to work,” Pearson said. “It’s a tough situation and obviously Mark and I are very close. I worked with him for 14 years and Coach Moore called me in today and asked if I would take over the team for the rest of the season.
“Certainly, I told him that I would. This Alabama basketball program is something that is very special to me.”
Pearson said the team’s 90-minute workout Monday afternoon was “a little awkward.”
“We are going to do all that we can to make the best of a challenging and tough situation,” he said.
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Comments » 53
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
hahahahhahaha
TommyJack writes:
Took them long enough.
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
No way Pearl would go to Bama!
Jagob38 writes:
Wish they would have waited until after we played them.
SemperVol writes:
Yea, Pearl is gonna leave for a job in the same conference, with less fan involvement, less money available for recruiting, smaller arena, and a $hittier town...
You're gonna have to do better than that, zz-top.
CHS52VOL writes:
Coach Gottfried, you made a huge mistake parking in Coach Saban's parking space. That'll teach you not to mess with King Nick!
Coach Gott Fried!
TommyJack writes:
Ingore trolls.
murrayvol writes:
He's an Alabama guy. Fulmer was a Tennessee guy. That's how it rolls.
volaboard writes:
CHS- That was his nickname in high school. No joke. Feel bad for him. He is a great guy. Heard that Saban was pissed that Coleman Coliseum was dead this past weekend when a boat-load of recruits were in Tuscaloser.
givehim6 writes:
Bama will be looking at NBA coaches thay can throw a cool 4 mill at.
shoalcreekvol writes:
You saying Notre Dame has "less fan involvement, less money available for recruiting, smaller arena, and a (crappier) town" than UF?
Maybe a smaller arena (don't know) but their stadium has about 100 years more history and tradition than the urinal that you call The Swamp.
Throw in the fact that Notre Dame is Urban Meyer's dream job and there is no comparison.
SemperVol writes:
I'm not so sure Notre Dame doesn't have more money pumped into the football program than Florida.
There's alot of half-wits with deep pockets (like Regis Philbin) that probably pump more money into South Bend athletics than any other school...
Around the country, there may be even be more mindless Notre Dame fans than any other school... sadly. Could be wrong, just the way it seems.
Oh, and ND has no conference affiliation.
What exactly did I bite?
beavbullvol writes:
I agree with 90% of your post except you left out the key element of the town...Having been to both stadiums and stayed extended periods of time in both towns, South Bend is absolutely disgusting with horribly unattractive coeds. While Gainesville is no booming metropolis, at least they have eye candy every where you look!!! If I'm Meyer, I'm staying at UF (additionally, if I'm Meyer, I'm not writing this post :) ).
TommyJack writes:
Excellent points, Creek. But you need to ignore that KNS stooge.
dcvoller writes:
Hey gatorzz,
Meyer will leave for his "dream Job" within the next 4 years! Sorry to see Gottfried go, Steele leaving sealed his fate.
tennecwingrider writes:
We'll probably read another story like this soon for Felton at GA. Both of these programs will be looking to update and compete with TN, FL, KY, in 2010. The bar has been raised.
The_the writes:
the bar isn't very high right now. btw, already looking ahead to next year?
99gator writes:
stole my thunder.
felton will be the next gone. he and gottfried were rumored to be fired last year and found a way to avoid the ax.
if you thought it should have been done last year, you should not wait til this year.
SemperVol writes:
That's exactly right.Heard a business owner say once...
"Fire the goon the first time you think about it."
Go4Two writes:
Don't think Bruce will be heading to Bama however I do believe several big time big money Basketball schools will come calling at year end. Mikey sent the message this year better win or you are out. My guess is Bruce has grown fond of his big house and extra pocket cash. As a coach you strike when the iron is hot Bruce will be hard to keep if the right school comes calling
99gator writes:
gatorzz
i don't think meyer is going to notre dame anytime soon either......
however, meyer leaving florida for notre dame
and
pearl leaving tennessee for bama......
are not comparable under any criteria anyone would care to use.
alabama basketball is not notre dame football. bruce pearl was never an assistant at alabama. bruce pearl can not be quoted on the record as saying "alabama is his dream job". no one connected to alabama in any way has any association with pearl. one of meyer's closest coaching associates is lou holtz.
i could go on and on.
drone#208075 writes:
Colemen is too dark for Pearl.
chrisw2967 writes:
I did read in the ESPN magazine this week that after the season was over that the NBAs Washington Wizards are going to make a run for Pearl at the end of the year.
yeavols#228407 writes:
I second that...the Troll is quite possibly a KNS plant in the guise of a gator fan. What sensible gator would be trolling the VOL forum 7 days a week, 24 hours a day?
senracjr writes:
Bama set to offer Memphis coach 4 mil to be their coach... word is Saban said he will quit if they offer another coach as much money as he makes. Plus he said No coach can visit unless he approves it.
kbart4033#247331 writes:
Get ready for Tubby! He has been itching to get back in the SEC. Goodbye, Minneapolis; Hello, Tuscalopolis!
TommyJack writes:
Exactly. It ain't logical.
senracjr writes:
But he said he approves it if the coaches want to visit school other than SEC schools.
JMP_Vols writes:
I heard it was not Ronald Steele's decision to sit out the remainder of the year.
Godfrey was doing everything in his power, on and off the court, to lose his job.
Who knows? And really, who cares?
TommyJack writes:
Quite so, LawCo.
Waldorf writes:
99 -
The only fear I would have if I was a Florida fan is that if there is one school outside of the SEC that is as crazy as us and is wants to win like we do....it would be the Irish.
They also have deeper pockets too. What exactly is Meyer's tipping point? $6M? $7M? And will Florida match it because at this point, I have no doubt ND will pay whatever it takes.
yeavols#228407 writes:
http://espn.go.com/college-football/
Kifffin Express on ESPN
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Could hve at least waited till the doldrums start on Feb 6th.
gohawks1 writes:
Mark gott fried.
ssukonic#254241 writes:
ya know what though.....gator99 is a pretty good poster (for a gator) and at least has some class. Gatorzz really gives his team a bad name. He just confirms how many fans they have who must have had poor training by their mothers! :-) Callin' it like I see it. Gatorzz, your time would be better spent taking a class in how to have some class vs. posting here.
The_the writes:
you talk of his lack of class and then take a shot at his mom? priceless.
TommyJack writes:
I-pee is on his game.
Underparvol writes:
You maybe right. But the Bammer's better get ready for inferior talent. But, what the heck, it's a lot warmer in Tusaloosa.
abnermc writes:
Finebaum said next coach would be Donovan.!
Sovol writes:
You usually do.
oldvolsfan writes:
pervert
Nuthinbutorange writes:
Most excellent, Sovol. Nicely done. That dipwad's worse than the freakin' Energizer Bunny. Bet he doesn't have the cute little bunny tail, though. Gator bit it off.
PoochPuntOn3rdDown writes:
Please tell me you are just kidding.....
murrayvol writes:
I sense the doldrums might be different this year.
gnm53108 writes:
hahahaha
I heard he had to go because his family tree forked.
CHS52VOL writes:
An article by Kevin Scarbinsky in The Sports Section of today's Birmingham News, states, "Meanwhile, Alabama can go about the business of trying to put together a basketball program its football program can be proud of."
Note to Coach Mark Gottfried's replacement...better keep Coach Saban happy! Coach Bobby Knight is being discussed as a possible candidate to replace Coach Gottfried. Don't think there is room on that campus for those two inflated egos. Saban and Knight? Are you kidding me?
shoalcreekvol writes:
Agreed about the babes. There's really no language in which "Hoosier" and "hottie" are synonyms.
shoalcreekvol writes:
Relax, the fact that your program didn't start varsity football until 1990 doesn't mean you don't have tradition. You're still one the only school whose football team has racked up 106 violations in one NCAA investigation. Now that's tradition that even the Peckerheads can't claim.
shoalcreekvol writes:
His dream job already came calling (Iowa) and he said no.
shoalcreekvol writes:
ROTFL
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