Michigan Fires Coach Ellerbe

A N N  A R B O R, Mich., March 13 -- After four years at the helm ofMichigan's basketball program, Brian Ellerbe was forced out, theathletic director said today.

"Brian took over this team in the midst of some trying times,and we all realize the challenges he has faced. I considered thisduring my evaluation of the team," Bill Martin said in a writtenstatement. He asked Ellerbe to step down Sunday.

"In the end, my decision was based on the fact that I did notsee the improvement in the program over the past four years that Ihoped for and that I believe is possible. I believe it is in thebest interests of our student-athletes and the basketball programas a whole to have new leadership at this time."

Coach: I Performed With Integrity

In a statement obtained by the Detroit Free Press earlier in theday, Ellerbe expressed his thanks for the opportunity to coach theWolverines.

"When I took this assignment, I knew our program faced severalissues that were left for us to deal with," Ellerbe said in thestatement on Free Press' Web site. "I also knew that returning theprogram to competitive standards commensurate with Michigan's richathletic tradition would not be done overnight.

"I am confident I fulfilled the guidelines established bypresident [Lee] Bollinger and Tom Goss by running our program withintegrity."

Search for Successor Begins

The Wolverines closed out a disappointing season with an 82-80loss to Penn State in the Big Ten tournament. Michigan finished theseason at 10-18 overall and 4-12 in the Big Ten.

Martin said he will create a small advisory committee of formerand current players and staff to help evaluate potentialcandidates.

On Monday, a source, who spoke to The Associated Press oncondition of anonymity, said the school would like to talk to RickPitino, Kentucky's Tubby Smith, Oklahoma's Kelvin Sampson or SetonHall's Tommy Amaker.

Pitino, who left the Boston Celtics this year, is eyeing areturn to college basketball. He led Kentucky to the 1996 nationalchampionship.