Arizona's Tomey Calls It Quits
Dick Tomey ended 14 seasons as head coach at Arizona on Friday night by resigning moments after the Wildcats' 30-17 loss to Arizona State.
Tomey, 62, was under considerable pressure after his last two teams went 6-6 and 5-6.
He told his players of his decision in the locker room after the loss.
"I just told them that I didn't think I could continue because the public debate has become so difficult for my family, for our team, for our coaches and their families," Tomey said. "I have no other choice and that's all I'm going to say. If I have something smarter to say I'll say it later."
Tomey was 95-64-4 at Arizona. He was 158-110-7 in 24 seasons at Arizona and Hawaii and has the most victories of any coach at both schools. He had three years remaining on his contract.
His best years were 1993, when the Wildcats were 10-2 and beat Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, and 1998, when they were 11-1 and beat Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.
Despite his success, he could never get the Wildcats to the Rose Bowl. Arizona is the only Pac-10 game that has never played in that game.
This season, Arizona got off to a 5-1 start, but lost its last five games. It was the first time the Wildcats had lost five in a row in one season since 1958.
Tomey, his eyes red, embraced wide receiver Bobby Wade for a full minute in full view of reporters after the game. Several players were in tears.
"It was very emotional," senior quarterback Ortege Jenkins said. "The man is the winningest coach at this school and in Hawaii's history, so for him to say he's going to leave, to step down, it hurts. The reason you come to play for Arizona is to play for Tomey."
Jenkins said the players, not Tomey, were to blame for the five-game losing streak.
"We're coached by a great coach, but the players are the guys who make the plays, and we're the guys that don't make the plays," Jenkins said.
Wade, a sophomore, was crying as he spoke about his coach.
"It's definitely disappointing," he said. "As a young player, a lot of guys think we let him down. We know it's a team effort."
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