Raveling Decides He Can’t Go On as USC’s Coach : Basketball: Charlie Parker takes over on interim basis after his boss quits because of near-fatal car accident.

USC basketball Coach George Raveling announced his retirement Monday, citing injuries he suffered in a near-fatal auto accident Sept. 25. Charlie Parker, one of his assistants, was named interim coach for the season.

“I do not believe that remaining on as head basketball coach, while not fulfilling my professional responsibilities, would be fair to the university, the student body, my coaching staff and the players,” Raveling said in a statement read at a news conference by his attorney a week after Raveling’s release from the hospital.

“Although my health is improving, my present physical state does not allow me to work the sidelines in my accustomed manner.”

Raveling, 57, suffered nine broken ribs, a broken collarbone and pelvis, and a collapsed lung in the accident. He spent nearly seven weeks in the hospital, including 10 days in intensive care, and was expected to sit out at least six more weeks. The Trojans will open their season Wednesday night at the Sports Arena against New Mexico State in the Preseason National Invitation Tournament.

“As I have previously stated, it has been my intention to conclude my college coaching career at the University of Southern California,” said Raveling, who did not attend the news conference and had his attorney, Jerry Roth, read the statement. “The present state of my physical condition has brought me to this point sooner than I had expected.”

Said Parker, who has coached with Raveling for the last seven seasons, “Coach Raveling was the program. He established a program that now deserves a lot of respect across the nation. When people talk about USC basketball, they talk about George Raveling. And, when they talk about George Raveling, they talk about USC basketball.”

Parker and another assistant, Jack Fertig, have been coaching the team in Raveling’s absence.

Athletic Director Mike Garrett said Raveling began to consider retirement nearly two weeks ago. Since then, Raveling and USC have worked on an agreement for the school to buy out the final two years of his five-year contract. Terms of the buyout were not disclosed.

“George Raveling will be missed,” Garrett said. “He is a very recognizable person who has made USC’s basketball program very visible and very competitive. But what may be most important is, like many people have said before, he’s an educator.”

When Raveling was released from USC University Hospital last Tuesday, he told friends that he was 95% sure that he would not return to coaching. It was not until Monday morning, however, that he told his team.

“When I first saw him in our meeting room (after the team’s customary 6 a.m. practice), I thought that he had come to give us an inspirational speech for our first game,” junior guard Burt Harris said. “Then when I heard the word retire, I knew it was serious.”

Players said they all cried after Raveling told them.

“I was hurt and shocked when I first heard him say that he was retiring,” senior forward Lorenzo Orr said. “I mean, I still can’t come up with the words about my feelings inside. Coach Rav meant so much to all of us.”

Sophomore guard Stais Boseman said: “I was real sad when I first knew about it. I know it’s kind of selfish, but the whole team wants him . . . we need him. But, we also know that he has to take care of his health and that’s more important for him right now.”

Raveling’s retirement also surprised one of his colleagues, Jim Harrick of UCLA.

“I’m a little surprised but he had a very, very close call and I’m sure it was tremendously traumatic for him,” Harrick said. “When I first heard about it this morning, I thought he’d only (step aside) for one year. But George Raveling is a man of many, many talents. He will always find something he can do successfully.”

In his eight seasons at USC, Raveling had a 115-118 record but he was 26-62 in his first three seasons during the Trojans’ rebuilding stage. Over the last four seasons, USC had a 77-40 record, and four consecutive postseason appearances.

In 1991-92, Raveling coached the Trojans to a school-record 24 victories, an NCAA tournament bid and a No. 8 ranking in the final Associated Press poll. For his efforts that season, Raveling was named the 1992 national coach of the year by several organizations.

In his 22-year college coaching career, Raveling became one of only a few coaches to have taken three schools to the NCAA tournament. He coached at Washington State from 1972 to 1983, compiling a 167-136 record. At Iowa, where he coached from 1983 to 1986, he had a 54-38 mark. His overall record is 336-292, with six NCAA tournament appearances and two National Invitation Tournament bids.

He plans to remain involved with other basketball organizations, among them the Black Coaches Assn.

GEORGE RAVELING’S COACHING RECORD

School Years W L Pct. Wash. St. 1972-83 167 136 .551 Iowa 1983-86 54 38 .587 USC 1986-94 115 118 .494 Totals 22 Yrs 336 292 .535