Pittsburgh's Willard To Resign

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

February 1, 1999 / 3:36 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

Pittsburgh basketball coach Ralph Willard, under fire for a string of unsuccessful seasons and the arrest of a freshman guard, is leaving after the season.

Today's announcement came two days after the Panthers (11-9) upset No. 23 Miami 60-54 but less than a week after it was learned that athletic director Steve Pederson was evaluating the coach.

Willard, 52, has a 60-75 record in four-plus seasons -- the second-worst mark of any Pitt coach this century. He has failed to take Pitt to the NCAA tournament, something predecessor Paul Evans did five times in eight years.

In addition to his disappointing record, Willard has been under increasing pressure since the Jan. 16 arrest of freshman guard Fred Primus on theft charges during a road trip to Villanova.

Despite signing Willard to a five-year contract extension in May 1997, athletic director Steve Pederson failed to give Willard a vote of confidence following the Primus incident. Willard signed the extension after Boston Celtics coach Rick Pitino tried to hire him as general manager. Willard formerly was an assistant coach under Pitino at Kentucky and with the New York Knicks.

Since Willard signed the extension, the Panthers are 22-25 and have seen several promising players, including 7-foot center Mark Blount, leave with eligibility remaining to turn pro or transfer.

According to athletic department sources and players who did not want to be identified, Willard's relationship with Pederson has been visibly strained this season.

Primus' arrest and a slump that saw the Panthers lose nine of 13 since moving into the Top 20 left Willard looking drawn and tired, though he has not complained of any physical problems.

Asked if it is fair to blame a coach when a player make an egregious error in judgment, Pederson said last week, "Could things have been done to prevent it? Sometimes they could have been done and sometimes not."