Wade Resigns as Basketball Coach at Maryland

Bob Wade, whose program has been under National Collegiate Athletic Assn. investigation for nearly three months, resigned as Maryland’s basketball coach, university President William E. Kirwan announced Friday at College Park, Md.

Wade, who completed three years of a five-year contract, will receive $120,000 for the remaining two years. A private foundation, which supports Maryland athletics, agreed to buy his house in Adelphi, Md., when Wade relocates.

Kirwan said that Wade and the university mutually agreed “that it was appropriate that he step down.”

The announcement came a day after Wade underwent back surgery at Sibley Hospital in Washington, where he is expected to remain for at least three more days.

Athletic Director Lew Perkins said a search committee headed by Dr. Irwin L. Goldstein, an acting vice president at the university in charge of academic affairs, will begin looking for a replacement. Perkins estimated that the search will take three to five weeks.

Ohio State Coach Gary Williams is considered the leading candidate for the job.

Wade and the Terrapin basketball program came under investigation by the NCAA and the university’s legal counsel in late February, when Wade informed Perkins that members of his staff had violated NCAA rules by providing a recruit with transportation to classes.