PawneeSports
02-15-2006, 04:31 PM
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(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Former Missouri head basketball coach Quin Snyder sits among a sea of microphones Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, as he discusses his resignation at a news conference in Columbia, Mo. The university will investigate the circumstances that led to Snyder's sudden resignation last week. Snyder stepped down Friday, a day after vowing to finish his seventh season with the Tigers.
Updated on Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006 2:34 am EST
Written by: R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer
University will investigate handling of Snyder's departure
Feb 14, 9:12 pm EST
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Quin Snyder said he resigned because he was about to be fired at Missouri. That was news to the school president.
Just a few hours after the school announced it would investigate the handling of Snyder's departure, the former basketball coach seemed to offer a compelling reason to support that decision.
Making his first public comments since stepping down after his forced resignation four days earlier, Snyder said Tuesday night that he quit after a university official sent by athletic director Mike Alden told him top administration officials had agreed to fire him after this season.
"I was informed very clearly that a decision had been made and that I would be terminated," Snyder said. "At that point the conversation shifted to 'You'll have the opportunity to resign and the ball's in your court.'
"At that point my thought process went to the best thing for myself, and the kids."
Elson Floyd, president of Missouri's four-campus system, said he had not been consulted on a final decision regarding Snyder. After watching Snyder's televised 45-minute news conference that took place at a local hotel, Floyd quickly issued a rebuttal statement.
"I am startled to hear that anyone suggested the president of the university had any role in the events surrounding the discussion with Coach Snyder," Floyd said in a statement. "I was never consulted prior to this reported conversation."
The Kansas City Star has reported that basketball analyst Gary Link, also a special assistant to Alden, delivered the news to Snyder. Alden has said he sent Link simply to "gauge how he's doing."
Snyder reiterated his point.
"I couldn't comment on Mike's conversation with Gary," Snider said. "What I can say is exactly what I have said, and to me how very clear it was. The gentleman I was speaking to is someone I know and I think it would be difficult to misconstrue something he said."
Snyder said he spoke to Alden by telephone later Friday and wasn't complaining about his treatment, considering a settlement agreement that will pay him more than $900,000. That includes a buyout of $574,000 plus money in an annuity from basketball camps and shoe contracts since 2003, when his last contract was negotiated.
"It's been seven of the very best years of my life," Snyder said. "I'd do it again in a second. It's not been without its challenges."
Alden was out of town Tuesday night and did not return a telephone message from the AP.
Snyder said he was told there was no way he could save his job, making his decision to leave with six regular-season games to go easier.
"I asked the question: Can this change?" Snyder said. "If we win the rest of our games, if we win the Big 12 tournament? I was told, 'No, we're moving on."'
Snyder stepped down Friday, a day after vowing to finish his seventh season at the school. Soon after making that vow to reporters, he said he had the conversation with Link.
The school's investigation will be headed by Chancellor Brady Deaton and apparently will begin with an interview of Link, who has had no comment about his role in the matter.
Snyder was upbeat during his farewell address, smiling often, continuing to refer to Missouri as "we" and even showing up five minutes early. He was notoriously slow to emerge from the locker room on game day.
"You can't find too many guys who can get their first job in the Big 12," Snyder said. "That's a challenge, an opportunity and a privilege."
Only one of Snyder's former players, junior guard Thomas Gardner, attended the news conference and then met privately with the coach afterward. He said other players did not attend because of school commitments.
"I just decided I could handle school, and that it was important to be here for Coach," Gardner said. "My relationship with Coach has been a lot stronger than some of the players, and that's the reason I showed up."
Missouri won its first game without Snyder, ending a six-game losing streak behind interim coach Melvin Watkins, and is 11-11 (4-7 Big 12) headed into Saturday's game at No. 22 Kansas. Players were convinced after that game that Snyder had not quit on them.
"We knew Coach Snyder wasn't that type of guy," Gardner said. "It would have been easier for him to quit earlier in the season, but we've been through so much we knew he didn't quit."
Missouri was 42-42 under Snyder over his final three seasons.
(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Former Missouri head basketball coach Quin Snyder sits among a sea of microphones Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, as he discusses his resignation at a news conference in Columbia, Mo. The university will investigate the circumstances that led to Snyder's sudden resignation last week. Snyder stepped down Friday, a day after vowing to finish his seventh season with the Tigers.
Updated on Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006 2:34 am EST
Written by: R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer
University will investigate handling of Snyder's departure
Feb 14, 9:12 pm EST
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Quin Snyder said he resigned because he was about to be fired at Missouri. That was news to the school president.
Just a few hours after the school announced it would investigate the handling of Snyder's departure, the former basketball coach seemed to offer a compelling reason to support that decision.
Making his first public comments since stepping down after his forced resignation four days earlier, Snyder said Tuesday night that he quit after a university official sent by athletic director Mike Alden told him top administration officials had agreed to fire him after this season.
"I was informed very clearly that a decision had been made and that I would be terminated," Snyder said. "At that point the conversation shifted to 'You'll have the opportunity to resign and the ball's in your court.'
"At that point my thought process went to the best thing for myself, and the kids."
Elson Floyd, president of Missouri's four-campus system, said he had not been consulted on a final decision regarding Snyder. After watching Snyder's televised 45-minute news conference that took place at a local hotel, Floyd quickly issued a rebuttal statement.
"I am startled to hear that anyone suggested the president of the university had any role in the events surrounding the discussion with Coach Snyder," Floyd said in a statement. "I was never consulted prior to this reported conversation."
The Kansas City Star has reported that basketball analyst Gary Link, also a special assistant to Alden, delivered the news to Snyder. Alden has said he sent Link simply to "gauge how he's doing."
Snyder reiterated his point.
"I couldn't comment on Mike's conversation with Gary," Snider said. "What I can say is exactly what I have said, and to me how very clear it was. The gentleman I was speaking to is someone I know and I think it would be difficult to misconstrue something he said."
Snyder said he spoke to Alden by telephone later Friday and wasn't complaining about his treatment, considering a settlement agreement that will pay him more than $900,000. That includes a buyout of $574,000 plus money in an annuity from basketball camps and shoe contracts since 2003, when his last contract was negotiated.
"It's been seven of the very best years of my life," Snyder said. "I'd do it again in a second. It's not been without its challenges."
Alden was out of town Tuesday night and did not return a telephone message from the AP.
Snyder said he was told there was no way he could save his job, making his decision to leave with six regular-season games to go easier.
"I asked the question: Can this change?" Snyder said. "If we win the rest of our games, if we win the Big 12 tournament? I was told, 'No, we're moving on."'
Snyder stepped down Friday, a day after vowing to finish his seventh season at the school. Soon after making that vow to reporters, he said he had the conversation with Link.
The school's investigation will be headed by Chancellor Brady Deaton and apparently will begin with an interview of Link, who has had no comment about his role in the matter.
Snyder was upbeat during his farewell address, smiling often, continuing to refer to Missouri as "we" and even showing up five minutes early. He was notoriously slow to emerge from the locker room on game day.
"You can't find too many guys who can get their first job in the Big 12," Snyder said. "That's a challenge, an opportunity and a privilege."
Only one of Snyder's former players, junior guard Thomas Gardner, attended the news conference and then met privately with the coach afterward. He said other players did not attend because of school commitments.
"I just decided I could handle school, and that it was important to be here for Coach," Gardner said. "My relationship with Coach has been a lot stronger than some of the players, and that's the reason I showed up."
Missouri won its first game without Snyder, ending a six-game losing streak behind interim coach Melvin Watkins, and is 11-11 (4-7 Big 12) headed into Saturday's game at No. 22 Kansas. Players were convinced after that game that Snyder had not quit on them.
"We knew Coach Snyder wasn't that type of guy," Gardner said. "It would have been easier for him to quit earlier in the season, but we've been through so much we knew he didn't quit."
Missouri was 42-42 under Snyder over his final three seasons.