Kentucky Sticks With Its Coach : College football: Curry will be back to coach Wildcats despite 22-45 record in six seasons as coach.

A picture in the 1995 Kentucky football media guide shows a smiling C.M. Newton shaking hands with a happy Bill Curry after the Wildcats clinched a berth in the 1993 Peach Bowl.

The long-time friends were again side-by-side on Monday, under more somber circumstances.

Curry and Newton, the Kentucky athletic director, were facing a room filled with reporters ready to answer rumors that Curry might be fired.

Newton was the first to admit Curry’s tenure has fallen short of expectations.

“I fully recognize that a 4-7 record (this season) is not satisfactory and I further recognize that Coach Curry’s overall record (22-45) at Kentucky is not satisfactory,” Newton said.

Newton explained that he felt he had two choices: bring in a new coaching staff and undergo a what he expected would be a five-year rebuilding process, or keep Curry.

The only question was whether Curry could deliver.

In six seasons at Kentucky, Curry’s best was 6-6 in 1993. Last year’s squad fell to 1-10, the school’s worst record since 1982. But Curry still has Newton’s confidence.

“I have every expectation that our team will continue to improve and accomplish winning seasons and be in contention for post-season bowl games,” Newton said.

Firing Curry would have been expensive because he has three years remaining on his contract, at about $305,000 per year.

“I intend to complete my contract and get the job done,” said Curry, whose wife, Carolyn, also was in attendance.

Newton said changing coaches now would “disrupt the continuity we have among our current players and playing schemes.” He said he reached a final decision Sunday evening, and it was supported by UK president Charles Wethington.

“I’ve gone around the landscape on this thing,” Newton said. “But it wasn’t that hard when you sat down and looked at it.”

Newton said the most difficult part was dealing with the “negativism” surrounding the program because of the losing seasons.

“We’ll fight through the negatives,” he said, adding that he was concerned about empty seats at games and student apathy about the program.

Curry took full blame for the program’s shortcomings, saying “there is no excuse for not winning.”

He said he had made mistakes and would take responsibility for correcting them.

Kentucky appeared poised to turn things around this season after splitting its first six games. But the Wildcats lost three straight road games before returning home to beat Cincinnati 33-14 and then losing to No. 5 Tennessee 34-31 last Saturday.

“It was frustrating as hell, but it was exciting, too,” Curry said of the team’s finish.

Newton said he had evaluated all six seasons under Curry.

“It bothers me that it has taken so long to get where we are,” he said, adding that he thought the 1-10 season was an “aberration.”

Newton said he hopes the program can get some relief in future schedules, with the season opening against non-conference teams such as Louisville, Indiana and Cincinnati before Southeastern Conference play.

Newton also addressed a criticism of him not being able to make a coaching change because of his friendship with Curry.