Hazzard, Hirsch Seeking Settlements

Walt Hazzard has been keeping busy.

He played in a round-robin tennis tournament over the weekend. The week before, he was in Philadelphia visiting his family and taking part in a celebration of city basketball. The top attractions were Wilt Chamberlain and Hazzard, among the greatest high school basketball players in Philadelphia history.

Hazzard’s attorney, Jerry Roth, has also been busy lately.

Roth is negotiating with UCLA officials about the two years that were left on Hazzard’s contract when he was fired. There are meetings scheduled this week between Roth and Elwin Svenson, UCLA’s vice chancellor-institutional relations, to settle the issue of Hazzard’s contract.

Both sides are tight-lipped.

Hazzard indicated that he had something to say, but not right away.

“The Walt Hazzard story has not been told yet,” he said. “The timing isn’t right.”

The university fired Hazzard March 30 after his fourth season as UCLA coach.

“We are contractually obligated to pay Coach Hazzard two years compensation,” said UCLA Athletic Director Peter Dalis.

So what’s the problem?

According to Hazzard’s former assistant, Jack Hirsch, the problem has to do with money that Hazzard believes the university “guaranteed” him in addition to his base salary.

“Walt’s problem, obviously, is going to be the shoe money,” said Hirsch, who estimated the money Hazzard was to have received from Reebok shoes at more than $100,000 and perhaps close to $500,000.

Dalis would not say what amount is in question.

This may prove to be a sticky issue. Whatever the sum from Reebok that Hazzard would have received as UCLA’s coach, it was UCLA’s decision to fire him, which is causing Hazzard not to get it.

In addition, Hazzard still has the car UCLA leased for him. Dalis said the university is talking to the leasing agency about the matter and said it should be no problem. Hazzard also has his set of keys to the J. D. Morgan Center and Pauley Pavilion, but they are at his home waiting for someone from UCLA to pick them up and Dalis said the keys are no issue.

Dalis also said he understands that Hazzard may be somewhat bitter by the experience.

“It was not an easy decision,” Dalis said. “He was understandably hurt by this.”

Hirsch, who was Hazzard’s top assistant at UCLA for four years, is also out of a job, and his attorney is also negotiating with university officials.

Dalis said that Hirsch was not fired, but that his contract had expired. Hirsch said he had two years left, just as Hazzard did. Hirsch said he learned he was fired by reading it in the newspapers.

“Nice way to find out, huh?” he said. “Doesn’t the athletic director have an obligation?”

Dalis said that he thought Hazzard should have told Hirsch his contract was not being renewed. Hirsch, however, said his was not the only mishandled firing at UCLA.

“First of all, the firing of Hazzard was ugly,” he said. “They have every right to fire him, but the way it was handled. Before they even let him know, they were looking for a new coach.

“They’re not exactly approaching him with any hands-out, nice-guy approach. Where is the Bruin family we heard so much about?”

Hirsch contends that UCLA’s difficult nonconference schedule led directly to Hazzard’s firing. He doesn’t know if new Coach Jim Harrick will find it any different.

“It’s funny that a Harrick--who gets this job eighth-hand, really--and I have nothing against Harrick, but he’s no different than Hazzard. What’s going to make him a better coach? You know what makes you a better coach? Talent and an easier schedule.”

Hirsch said he is no longer bitter, just disillusioned, but he hopes that UCLA listens to his side of the story.

“I know everything that has gone down,” he said. “I know more than Walt knows. In the four years, what I know and what I have seen, I’m just . . . All of this is being saved for the right time and the right moment. We’ll see what happens.”