Ayers Promoted to Head Ohio St. Basketball Coach

After a nationwide search, Ohio State promoted from within today when Randy Ayers was named to succeed Gary Williams as the Buckeyes’ head basketball coach.

The selection of Ayers, Williams’ top assistant, was announced at a news conference by Athletic Director Jim Jones.

“We believe we’ve conducted a very thorough national search,” Jones said.

1st Black in Job

Ayers, the Buckeyes’ 11th basketball coach and the first black to hold the job, said he hopes to maintain “the honesty and integrity” of the school’s program.

“I feel a deep sense of gratification . . . for the high honor,” Ayers said.

The appointment must be approved by the university board of trustees.

The announcement ended a three-week search for a replacement after Williams resigned to take over at Maryland, his alma mater.

Although Ayers, 33, has never been a head coach, he was Williams’ top assistant after being elevated to full-time status in May, 1987.

Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson had been a front-runner for the job after two other candidates--Jim Crews of Evansville and Lon Kruger of Kansas State--withdrew from contention Friday.

But Richardson announced Sunday that he had withdrawn his name from consideration, saying he made his decision when he compared the comforts of Fayetteville, Ark., to the big-city living that would come with a job in Columbus.