Frieder Says He Wanted to Coach Michigan in NCAA Tournament

Bill Frieder, the former Michigan basketball coach, said Thursday from Atlanta that his intentions were good Wednesday in announcing that he was moving on to Arizona State next season and that he had hoped to coach the Wolverines through the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. tournament.

Instead, Bo Schembechler, Michigan’s athletic director, immediately relieved Frieder of further duties and appointed Frieder’s assistant, Steve Fisher, to coach Michigan in the tournament, beginning tonight against Xavier of Cincinnati at the Omni in Atlanta.

“It was just a tough, tough crucial situation that happened extremely fast,” Frieder said.

“When we made the decision to take the job, we fully intended that we would not take the job until the end of the Michigan season. Then, of course, the word started to leak out. And to make a long story short, we decided to go ahead and make an announcement, rather than coming into Atlanta trying to disguise it and not being up front with it.

“I’m going to stay (in Atlanta) and watch the team,” he added. “I’m going to completely be in the background and stay out of the way. Then I have to get on to Arizona State and get recruiting.”