New Florida Coach Up to His Waist in Gators

Don DeVoe knew he was heading into troubled waters when he became Florida’s interim basketball coach last Halloween.

But after three month’s of constant turmoil, DeVoe now admits he never imagined the problems would be this extensive. He has landed in a veritable maelstrom of discontent after agreeing to succeed the ousted Norm Sloan.

The situation reached a low point last Thursday when star center Dwayne Schintzius quit, saying he would not play for “Captain Ahab.” Earlier, starting forward Livingston Chatman quit.

Suddenly, a team many thought would challenge for the Southeastern Conference title is in last place (2-7, 6-10). Throw in a five-game losing streak and here’s a man in desperate need of Gator-aid.

“I would never accept an interim position again,” said DeVoe, forced out himself at Tennessee after losing in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament. “I never envisioned the polarization that had already taken place before I arrived -- the various factions, the different loyalties. It’s been a tough scene for the players. You just have to handle it. You have to deal with the issues when they arrive. My concern right now is the future of the program.”

Whether DeVoe will be a part of that future remains conjecture. At one time he was thought to be in perfect position to secure the job full time. His clean-cut reputation pleased administrators after Sloan was forced out under the cloud of an NCAA investigation.

DeVoe also had a talented team, including the league’s best front line. But everything unraveled. First Chatman quit. He is now considering a transfer to Minnesota.

Then Schintzius and reserve Tim Turner were suspended by university officials after an altercation at a fraternity house. When the school reinstated Schintzius, DeVoe told him to get a haircut and lose weight before he returned. Schintzius elected to quit.

Even Sloan took a shot. A Florida newspaper quoted him as saying of the current regime, “They talk about caring for the players. They don’t care about the players. They care about their own images.”

While all this was going on, athletic director Bill Arnsparger reportedly was rebuffed by the Athletics Association when he tried to secure a long-term contract for DeVoe.

Arnsparger, on shaky ground with some alumni himself, remains optimistic about DeVoe.

“Your judgment is on his career,” said Arnsparger. “You never judge anyone on what they did today, yesterday or tomorrow but what someone does over the long haul. I think his team plays hard, and that’s important.”

DeVoe openly lobbied for the job during preseason. He appears less vocal now.

“I have no idea what will happen,” he said.

Some students already cast their votes. They boo him and chant, “DeVoe must go.” One group calling itself SADD (Students Against Don DeVoe) burned him in effigy last week.

DeVoe shrugs his shoulders at the criticism.

“It goes with the territory,” he said. “I’m not out to win a political contest. I’m out to coach the team.”

Oddly enough, DeVoe has found an ally in Schintzius’ brother Travis, a freshman center.

“I’d like to see him back next year,” said Travis. “He’s an excellent coach. If anything, we’re getting closer through all this. He stood up for what he thought he had to do. Dwayne is my brother, but I don’t think for him.”

Dwayne has been in trouble much of his career. Once he was involved in an incident where he swung a tennis racket at someone. Another time, he refused to go back in a game after Sloan had given him a rest.

NBA scouts have noticed. The latest incident could cost him a spot among the lottery picks in the draft.

“Certainly there are some questions about him,” said Marty Blake, who oversees scouting for the league. “He can correct all this by staying in shape and getting his act together for the Orlando Classic (an all-star evaluation camp beginning April 9).”

Even that may not be enough. The Orlando Magic was thought to be most interested in Schintzius. But general manager Pat Williams said, “We may just have to wait a year now to draft our center.”

DeVoe said he is “not here to point the blame at anyone.” But he added, “There has to be a change in attitude. If I tell him to get a haircut, I expect him to get a haircut. There’s nothing out of the ordinary I’ve asked.

“The whole thing is a matter of attitude. His image is not good. I don’t think that has ever gotten through to him. This entire issue has polarized the team. It saddens me to see the team suffering. We’re in position now where we could lose big-time.”