Doherty Named North Carolina Coach
C H A P E L H I L L, N.C., July 11, 2000 -- Matt Doherty received a telephone call
early Tuesday morning. On the other end was Michael Jordan, telling
his former North Carolina teammate and friend to follow his heart.
Doherty, a starter on North Carolina’s 1982 NCAA nationalchampionship team, took Jordan’s advice later in the day, leavingNotre Dame after one season to become coach of one of the morestoried college programs in the country.
“Michael said you have to do what is best for your family. Thenat the end of the conversation, he said, ‘Who knows, if it doesn’twork out with you maybe they will have to go outside the [Carolina]family,’” Doherty said, ending a 12-day search for BillGuthridge’s replacement. “Right then, I made my mind up. I wantedto be the head basketball coach at the University of NorthCarolina.”
Doherty said he first talked with North Carolina athleticdirector Dick Baddour late Thursday night, taking a cell phone callin a Wal-Mart aisle. He interviewed over the weekend on the UNCcampus, and accepted the post at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
‘Numbing Experience’
“It’s a numbing experience,” Doherty said. “Kind of surreal.You dream it and wonder if you’re going to wake up.”
Doherty, 38, was scheduled to sign a six-year contract at$350,000 a season, Baddour said, adding that additional money wouldbe coming from a deal with Nike.
Doherty had four years remaining on a five-year deal at NotreDame, but Baddour said there was no buyout.
Doherty became the leading candidate after last week’s decisionby Kansas coach Roy Williams not to take the job at his alma mater,according to James Moeser, incoming Carolina chancellor.
Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl and Philadelphia 76ers coachLarry Brown, who both played for UNC under Dean Smith, took theirnames out of the running Monday.
Assistant to Williams
Doherty, an assistant to Williams for seven years, led theFighting Irish to a 22-15 record and a second-place finish in theNIT in his only season there.
“He is a great choice for this program because I think hemaintains the same character, quality and integrity that has alwaysmarked Carolina,” Moeser said. “He is the right person to keepthis program No. 1 in the country.”
About 75 reporters, 100 basketball supporters, Guthridge andformer coach Dean Smith, and some North Carolina players attendedDoherty’s news conference. He received several standing ovations.
Doherty broke down and cried 10 minutes into his opening remarkswhen he thanked Williams.
“Someone I want to thank that some people may be a little soreat is coach Williams,” Doherty said, stopping to wipe away tears.“If it wasn’t for coach Williams I wouldn’t have learned thenuances of Carolina basketball. It’s one thing to learn them as aplayer, it’s another to learn them behind the scenes.
“I know a lot of people are sore he’s not here, but he lovesNorth Carolina basketball more than anyone can imagine.”
Hires Notre Dame Assistants
Doherty brought his three Notre Dame assistant coaches with him,replacing North Carolina assistants Phil Ford, Dave Hanners and PatSullivan.
“These are the guys that have put me in a position to besitting before you now,” Doherty said of Doug Wojcik, FredQuartlebaum, Bob MacKinnon and David Cason.
Not every player was pleased with the coaching turnover.
“Obviously I am hurt by that,” junior forward Jason Capelsaid. “Getting to know one new person is one thing, but havingfour new people is tough for anybody to handle. It’s going to be alearning process. But you have to grow up and get accustomed tochange.”
Notre Dame Fans: Stay Here
Doherty met with Irish players for about 20 minutes Tuesdayafternoon in South Bend, Ind. Hand-drawn signs taped to windows onthe campus implored Doherty to stay.
“The only place for Coach D is ND,” one sign read.
Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White said the school is“seriously disheartened” by Doherty’s departure and wished himand his wife well.
Doherty was a star at Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville,N.Y., and a member of the ’82 NCAA championship squad that featuredJordan, James Worthy and Sam Perkins. Williams also was anassistant on that squad.
Doherty and former UNC players Jeff Lebo and Randy Wiel werementioned as candidates still in the running Tuesday to replaceGuthridge, Smith’s longtime assistant who led the Tar Heels to twoFinal Fours in three years before announcing his retirement June30.
Wiel flew in Tuesday from a coaching clinic in Spain tointerview with Smith, Guthridge and other basketball officials.
Wiel noted that Doherty is a high-profile coach.
‘Very Popular’
“Matt’s been at Notre Dame and people see him all the way inCalifornia,” he said. “Matt has a big upside. Matt’s verypopular, he’s a good coach, he’s coached a year and proven he coulddo it.”
North Carolina officials were determined this week to keep thejob in the school’s basketball family after Williams’ emotionaldecision Thursday to remain with the Jayhawks. Williams had been anassistant at UNC before taking the Kansas job in 1988.
The 1999 UNC basketball media guide listed 26 NBA and collegecoaches who were either former Tar Heels players or coaches. ButDoherty will become the first former player at UNC to become coachsince Monk McDonald in 1925.
South Carolina coach Eddie Fogler, an assistant with Williamsand Guthridge under Smith, withdrew his name from considerationFriday. Karl and Brown said the timing of the vacancy was not goodfor them.
Doherty, also a former assistant at Davidson, will take over themantle of the Tar Heels program left by Smith, the all-timewinningest coach in Division I with 879 victories and NCAA titlesin 1982 and 1993.