BASKETBALL: Felton second on Georgia’s list

Kyle Hightower

By Kyle Hightower

Herald reporter

As the University of Georgia sifts through the rubble left by the scandal and departure of former basketball coach Jim Harrick, the hunt for his replacement continues to heat up as rumors have made it all the way to the Hill.

As reported on several national news sources last week, Western coach Dennis Felton, fresh off his third-straight trip to the NCAA tournament as well as former Chicago Bulls coach Tim Floyd continue to be frontrunners.

Felton had a scheduled interview with Georgia’s president Sunday, his second interview with the school this weekend in New Orleans.

Calls to get confirmation from Western’s athletics department or Felton were unsuccessful yesterday. Although Felton’s presence in New Orleans was confirmed by Herald sources and an ESPN.com report.

Sources also say Felton is probably the second of three finalists for the position along with Creighton’s Dana Altman and Floyd. All three interviewed for the position within the past week, sources said, with Floyd the first to be called in.

Felton, 39, has 5 1/2 years left on a seven-year contract that pays him in excess of $400,000 per season

Floyd, the son of longtime Southern Mississippi basketball coach Lee Floyd, had a 243-130 record while coaching at Idaho, New Orleans and Iowa State, with five NCAA tournament appearances. He coached the Cyclones for four years, and his team went 12-18 in his last season – his only losing season in 12 as a college coach.

But he is most recently known for replacing former Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson before resigning with three years still left on his contract.

Floyd withdrew from the Clemson search last week.

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