Harrick Now Has Georgia on His Mind

Jim Harrick restored his reputation at Rhode Island. Now he’s back on the coaching A-list.

Harrick was hired Wednesday as basketball coach at Georgia, completing his comeback from a recruiting scandal that led to his firing at UCLA three years ago.

“From the beginning, we said our commitment would be to hire a proven head coach,” Georgia Athletic Director Vince Dooley said. “Obviously, we’ve far surpassed that expectation.”

Dooley checked with the NCAA before hiring Harrick, who guided UCLA to the 1995 national championship but was fired the next year for his involvement with an illegal recruiting dinner.

Harrick paid the tab and allegedly lied to cover up that more players were at the dinner than allowed by NCAA rules. After sitting out the 1996-97 season, he spent two years at Rhode Island, leading the Rams to the NCAA tournament both seasons.

“There were mistakes made and I’ve discussed this with Coach Harrick,” Dooley said.

Harrick, who has long maintained that he didn’t deserve to be fired by the Bruins, acknowledged that mistakes were made and that he learned from the experience.

“That which does not destroy you only makes you stronger,” said Harrick, who replaces fired Ron Jirsa. “I’ve grown from that. I’m a better coach and a better human being.”

Harrick, 60, who received about $350,000 a year at Rhode Island, was given a four-year contract with Georgia worth an estimated $550,000 annually in salary and benefits. The school also will set up a yearly $100,000 annuity, similar to the deal for football Coach Jim Donnan, that would be paid in full if Harrick fulfills his contract.

Harrick said it was a “no-brainer” to accept the offer, citing the Southeastern Conference’s strength. Georgia President Michael Adams was vice president of development at Pepperdine when Harrick coached there. The two are close friends, but Adams stressed that the decision to hire Harrick was made by Dooley.

The Georgia players, coming off two poor seasons, were ecstatic.

“It’s unbelievable,” center Robb Dryden said. “Everybody knows Coach Harrick. When I heard the news, I was like, ‘He’s coming here?’ That should do volumes for us.”

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Jim Harrick’s Career at a Glance

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Season School Record Pct. Postseason 1979-80 Pepperdine 17-11 .607 NIT 1980-81 Pepperdine 16-12 .571 None 1981-82 Pepperdine 22-7 .759 NCAA 1982-83 Pepperdine 20-9 .690 NCAA 1983-84 Pepperdine 15-13 .536 None 1984-85 Pepperdine 23-9 .719 NCAA 1985-86 Pepperdine 25-5 .833 NCAA 1986-87 Pepperdine 12-18 .400 None 1987-88 Pepperdine 17-13 .567 NIT 1988-89 UCLA 21-10 .677 NCAA 1989-90 UCLA 22-11 .667 NCAA 1990-91 UCLA 23-9 .719 NCAA 1991-92 UCLA 28-5 .848 NCAA 1992-93 UCLA 22-11 .667 NCAA 1993-94 UCLA 21-7 .750 NCAA 1994-95 UCLA 31-2 .939 NCAA Champion 1995-96 UCLA 23-8 .742 NCAA 1997-98 Rhode Island 25-9 .735 NCAA 1998-99 Rhode Island 20-13 .606 NCAA

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Career

School: 19 years

Record: 403-182

Pct.: .689

Postseason: None