Eddie Sutton is coming out of retirement to replace Jessie Evans as San Francisco's basketball coach.
Hours after CBSSports.com first reported the development, USF announced Wednesday night that Evans is taking "a leave of absence" for the rest of the season and that the 71-year-old Sutton will lead the Dons on an interim basis.
"It'll be fun and I'm anxious because I enjoy coaching," Sutton told CBSSports.com Wednesday night by phone 45 minutes before he held a media teleconference. "It's going to be a big challenge, but surely I can steal a couple of wins."
A "couple of wins" would get Sutton to 800 in his career and he acknowledged the milestone is a motivating factor given how his career was halted in February 2006 after a drunken driving accident. Sutton retired after that season with 798 victories in 36 seasons at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma State. He reached the Final Four three times and ranks fifth on the all-time list for victories among Division I coaches -- trailing Texas Tech's Bob Knight (896), Dean Smith (North Carolina, 879), Adolph Rupp (Kentucky, 876) and Jim Phelan (Mt. St. Mary's, Md., 830).
Sutton will coach USF at Weber State on Friday night.
That'll be the Dons' first game since Evans -- according to USF athletic director Debra Gore-Mann -- requested and was granted a leave of absence. However, multiple sources have told CBSSports.com that Evans was forced into leaving Wednesday and that he will not return as coach regardless of what the term "leave of absence" might imply.
As for Sutton, he told CBSSports.com that he is committed only to finishing this season but added "he'd never slam the door" on the idea of possibly returning for a second season in 2008-09.
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| Eddie Sutton is two victories shy of career No. 800. (AP) |
"Nike used to have their basketball coaches meet in Southern California, and low and behold one day Sonny Vaccaro brought these two redheaded kids over," Sutton recalled while explaining how far his relationship with the Pumps goes back. "They were asking questions and I think some of the coaches didn't give them the time of day back then. But I talked to them for a while and I don't think they've ever forgotten that."
In other words, the Pumps were instrumental in bringing USF and Sutton together.
"For me, (the Pumps' relationship with Sutton) was key," Gore-Mann said. "Dana and I have a good relationship too."
Gore-Mann declined to offer many details about Evans' "leave of absence". She wouldn't say whether he had a health concern, an issue with the NCAA or whether he would even be considered to coach the team again next season.
"Those are private matters and I won't be addressing personnel matters today," Gore-Mann said. "We'll be in discussions. ... The men's basketball program, in particular, has been a work in progress."
