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Penders is not a shoe-in for top job

Sports Commentary

Barrett Goldsmith

It was official. Then it wasn't. It was a done deal, and then it was not even close.

Rumors about the hiring of a new head coach for UH men's basketball flew around the radio talk show circuit, the Internet and even national television — but they haven't yet become anything more than rumors.

During its coverage of the NCAA Tournament late Sunday afternoon, CBS announced that former Texas head coach Tom Penders was "expected to take over" as the new head coach for Houston.

UH has been searching for a head coach since former head coach Ray McCallum accepted a reassignment within the Athletics Department after four disappointing seasons with the program. 

Athletics Director Dave Maggard announced the reassignment March 8, two days after the Cougars' final game of the regular season.

Several news outlets, including The Houston Chronicle and ESPN.com, reported that Penders had been offered the job.

Though Penders is schedule to meet with Maggard today, no evidence indicates that any offer has been made to the former Longhorn. 

"No job has been offered," Maggard told the Chronicle. "I think there have been some assumptions made here. Nothing has been offered to Tom Penders or anybody else."

Penders helped turn around a moribund Texas basketball program, leading the Longhorns to eight NCAA Tournament appearances in 10 seasons before resigning in 1998 with four years remaining on his contract.

A handful of players complained about Penders and his coaching style that season, and some questions surfaced about his handling of private academic records. Penders took over as the head coach of Washington as season later, but again resigned in 2001. He has been an analyst for ESPN and the Westwood One radio network since his exit.

Other candidates in contention for the job include Brigham Young assistant and former UH player Dave Rose, Sam Houston State head coach Bob Marlin and Arizona assistant coach Josh Pastner.

Some names, such as former Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy and current Texas-El Paso coach Billy Gillespie, have been mentioned as possible choices but are not likely to take the job because of budgetary reasons.

Though Maggard has insisted that money won't be the deciding factor, the department's budget situation could prevent the program from offering a top-dollar salary that might be necessary to hire a marquee name.

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