Doherty Interviews for Fla. Atlantic Job

[Guest BasketBull.]

This is like Bill Gates getting a job at 7-11....

Apr 14, 7:14 PM EDT

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) -- Former North Carolina coach Matt Doherty interviewed for the vacant position at Florida Atlantic and appears to be the front runner of the school's five finalists.

Doherty toured the campus and met with athletic director Craig Angelos and school president Frank Brogan on Wednesday. It isn't known when the school expects to announce a new coach.

The 43-year-old Doherty succeeded Bill Guthridge at North Carolina in 2000, but he lasted just three seasons, going 53-43 before resigning after the 2002-03 season.

He had previously served as head coach at Notre Dame for one season (22-15), and was an assistant for seven seasons at Kansas under current North Carolina coach Roy Williams.

Those previously interviewed by Florida Atlantic were former Brigham Young coach Roger Reid, Georgia Southern's Jeff Price and Norfolk State's Dwight Freeman. Former Tennessee coach Buzz Peterson had been slated to interview before he accepted the head job at Coastal Carolina on Wednesday.

Florida Atlantic is trying to replace Sidney Green, who was fired last month after his third straight losing season.

Angelos said he and Brogan, both of whom are on the search committee, will meet to discuss the candidates.

"Everything will be put into the pot, mixed around, and contemplated," Angelos said.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BKC_FLORIDA_ATLANTIC_DOHERTY?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=SPORTS

[Brad]

Instant name recognition for the Owls...that would be a terriffic hire on that alone.  Amazing how fast that guy fell.

[DawgPound]

That cow picture is scarier than the cat picture.

FAU is interviewing some guys who have big school experience.  They could make some early noise in the SunBelt, which is not an easy basketball conference.

[Brad]

FAU is interviewing some guys who have big school experience.  They could make some early noise in the SunBelt, which is not an easy basketball conference.

If someone made some early noise in the SunBelt, would anyone hear it?

<here hear>

[KNIGHTTIME]

If someone made some early noise in the SunBelt, would anyone here it?

[TripleB]

If someone made some early noise in the SunBelt, would anyone here it?Good point...I don't think FAU is going to pay enough money though.   He will not coach for $140,000.00/year.   Probably makes close to that at ESPN...

I would think that's all up front before going in for the interview. Why waste his and their time .........

[sdgukhsdgl]

which brings up the interesting question.... if FAU has the resources to go out and get Daugherty, a big name, what kept us from going out and getting a big name in our search??

[TripleB]

which brings up the interesting question.... if FAU has the resources to go out and get Daugherty, a big name, what kept us from going out and getting a big name in our search??

Maybe we were more focused on getting the right coach rather than the right name .... Maybe we can get Hugh Durham if Coach Mac doesn't work out. Is he a big enough name?

[Guest S. &nbsp;Bien]

Uh, the one thing you should know is that Dougherty's name is mud right now in big college athletics.  He did two naughties on his way out the door.

First, he coached one year at ND after signing a five year contract and booked to NC.  Pissed off the ND alum and fans, but it was forgiven because NC was considered his dream job, and his first year at ND was rather average.

Second, he goes to NC and takes a Final Four team and builds them into the dumps.  In the process he closes off the team, doesn't consult with Dean Smith (another no-no) then got run out of Chapel Hill.

After that Dougherty wasn't going to be in line for any big name job.  The NC, and ND alum and power brokers smeared his name so bad that FAU was probably his only decent destination.  By no means is Matt a sure thing, he's proven that he can motivate, and is a decent recruiter but that doesn't do much in lower tier conferences.  Look at Hugh Durham's second stint at Jacksonville.   A legendary coach with massive credentials could barily keep them winning.  I think it was a good pick-up for FAU, but overall it wasn't like they went out a plucked a big, big name.  They got a guy that's got a checked past, with marginal success who took a job like NC which most would consider impossible to lose at, and made it a losing program.   Again, a decent grab for FAU because he can recruit but don't give it to much credence.

[ChiTownBull]

The clouds gathered quickly for Matt Doherty at North Carolina, so it's fitting he'll get a chance to restart his career in the Sunshine State.

Doherty, who resigned as coach of the Tar Heels after the 2002-03 season, will become the new men's basketball coach at Florida Atlantic on Monday, sources told ESPN's **** Vitale.

Doherty toured the campus and met with athletic director Craig Angelos and school president Frank Brogan on Wednesday.

The 43-year-old Doherty succeeded Bill Guthridge at North Carolina in 2000, but he lasted only three seasons at his alma mater, going 53-43. Many of his top recruits helped North Carolina win this year's NCAA title.

Doherty recruited Sean May, Raymond Felton and Rashad McCants, who helped the Tar Heels win this year's national championship under coach Roy Williams.

Upon his dismissal from North Carolina, Doherty said he made major mistakes by changing everything from assistant coaches, to office computer equipment, to the lobby entrance when he took over the storied program three years ago.

In the end, those changes contributed to Doherty losing his job, as several factions -- including some of his players who complained about his coaching style -- turned on him in the final moments before his resignation.

Doherty was The Associated Press national coach of the year in his first season after leading the Tar Heels to a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. But the team slumped badly in 2001-02 after sophomore Joseph Forte entered the NBA draft and Doherty was unable to prod football/basketball players Julius Peppers and Ronald Curry to join the team for the ACC season.

The Tar Heels finished 8-20 overall, 4-7 in the ACC. But the program took a huge swing upward with the addition of freshmen Felton, McCants and May. The Tar Heels won the Preseason NIT and were on their way to a likely NCAA bid before May suffered a broken foot that forced him to miss the entire ACC schedule.

Doherty was a teammate of Michael Jordan's at North Carolina in the early 1980s when Williams was an assistant under Dean Smith. Before becoming coach at UNC, Doherty coached Notre Dame for one season (22-15) and was an assistant for seven seasons at Kansas under Williams.

Florida Atlantic fired Sidney Green last month after his third straight losing season.

Doherty's hiring would give Florida Atlantic two high-profile coaches; Howard Schnellenberger has been the Owls' football coach since the program's inception in 2000.