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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Paul Krebs/Dan Dakich Press Conference Notes
April 12, 2002 | Men's Basketball
April 12, 2002
BGSU Director of Athletics Paul Krebs
"It's great to be here, and it's great to be here with the gentleman sitting to my right. A week ago, we were looking for a new coach. Our search is over, we have found our coach."
"As a Bowling Green grad, you know this is a great university and a great place to live. Our fans support our basketball program. Under Coach Dakich's leadership, we have developed one of the finest basketball programs in the Mid-American Conference. As I said when Dan left the program, he has done more on behalf of this university - tirelessly promoting the not only the basketball program and the athletic department, but the entire university. I am delighted that he and his family are back at Bowling Green."
"This is a man who believes in many of the things that I believe in: student-athletes graduating, student-athletes doing things the right way, values, leadership and hard work."
"I can't thank Paul and Dr. Ribeau enough for giving me back this opportunity. This is a wonderful place to be, and I couldn't be more excited about being back to what I consider home. It was an emotional press conference a week ago, and it is just as emotional now. But, it is certainly a thrill."
Was it easy to come back?
"In one sense, it was an easy decision to make. But, for a lot of reasons, it was a very difficult decision. Bowling Green is a very easy place to come back to."
"I'm not going to go into all of the things that went on (during the past week). West Virginia is a great institution, a great place to be, and Morgantown is a dynamite city. As the week went on, things just got to this point."
"I just felt that this was in the best interests of my family, myself and probably West Virginia. They can get somebody that can do their job better than I can do it. And, hopefully, it's the best thing for Bowling Green."
It was reported that you uncovered NCAA violations. Is that accurate?
"As they (West Virginia) said in their release, there was an alleged infraction. And, I'm confident that they handled it right, and that they will handle it right. They have a very good compliance staff and administrtion. But, as they said in their release, the athletic director (Ed Pastilong) and I discovered something."
Was that the biggest factor?
"No."
What was the biggest factor?
"I don't know that there was one. You don't make these decisions lightly. As we went through things, you just decide what is in the best interests of you and your family, and this is what I felt was (in our best interests)."
Have you had a chance to meet with the BGSU players yet? What was their reaction?
"We just finished a long meeting, about a two-hour meeting. Understand that these are very bright kids. I think the basketball team is hurt a little bit that I left. And, I don't blame them, and I told them that. I think there are a number of things that need to be discussed. I have a lot of respect for these kids, and they have some issues and I don't blame them."
How do you go about mending fences and reassuring them that you will remain loyal?
"I think that's difficult. And, I think we will do that through communication. The advantage I have, as opposed to a coach coming in, is that we've had good relationships. Now, that's an advantage and that's a disadvantage. The disadvantage is, there's a loyalty factor that they have to come to terms with, am I staying? It would be one thing if these kids were just here to play basketball. But, these are kids that are student-athletes, they're bright, and they have great ideas. And, they have questions as well, and I respect that a great deal?"
How did the process work with coach Dakich's returning to BG?
Krebs: "Dan and I have always had a good relationship. Given the great success we had this season, we knew there were going to be opportunities, and we were up-front in communicating with each other about those opportunities. When the situation arose at West Virginia, an opportunity for Dan at a wonderful university and a Big East school, we had dialogue. When he was at West Virginia, he called me with some questions, and we continued to talk as friends. And, had he stayed at West Virginia, quite frankly, we would have continued talking over the weeks and years as friends."
"Dan called me last night and indicated that he was leaving West Virginia. At the time that he told me he was leaving West Virginia, I offered the job to him."
How much did the dispute over the contract at WVU having not been signed play a part?
Dakich: "There wasn't really a dispute over the contract. I thought West Virginia's people handled things well, and I thought my people handled things well."
There are reports that, after evaluating the situation, you wanted more money and they were willing to offer more years. Is that accurate?
"No. What happened was this: We did not have a basketball workout until yesterday (Thursday). We had weightlifting, but we had not had one single basketball workout until yesterday. I sent my attorneys to see the (WVU) President and his legal counsel on Wednesday about the contract. In terms of the weight workouts, five kids were late on the first day. From that point on, everybody was on time, and everybody did what they were supposed to do. And, yesterday, I went to only one individual workout, and then I had a meeting with the President in the afternoon. So, to say I evaluated the basketball team and then made this decision is just not accurate."
Did you know anything about the possible NCAA violation when you took the job?
"No."
Is that why other coaches withdrew their name from consideration for the job?
"You'd have to ask them. West Virginia has a great reputation as a school, and it has a great history as a basketball program. When you go into communications about things, they asked me if I had any things in my NCAA docket, and we discussed that as well."
At what point did you make your decision?
"It was kind of an ongoing thing. As you make a decision of this magnitude, it's hard to sit down in one specific moment and decide, 'what is the best thing for me and for my family?' It took a while."
Are the possible violations something that will set the WVU program back?
"I think West Virginia will do a very good job with it. I think they already have."
To Paul Krebs: Do you have Dan's name on a contract?
Krebs: "No, we do not, but Dan has meant a great deal to our program. We have had two of the best years in the history of Bowling Green basketball in the last three years. We are delighted, not only to have Dan back as a coach, but to have Dan and (his wife) Jackie back in the communitiy. These are wonderful people who care passionately about the community, the university and our basketball program, and I'm very excited to have them back. I believe I speak for President Ribeau when I say that as well."
What are the terms of the contract at BG?
Krebs: "The details are yet to be worked out. It will be a five-year deal, with a base salary of $125,000, and there will be incentives. And, I am confident that we will work out the details in the next few days."
Are you worried about Dan leaving in the next year or two, if he has another successful season and an opportunity comes along?
Krebs: "Dan will have more successful seasons. I expect Dan to have a successful season next year, and the year after that, but Dan has to speak for Dan in terms of his future."
Dakich: "I told these guys here (players) that I made a mistake in terms of them. I didn't realize their feelings relative to me, and I'm committed to staying with these guys."
"In closing, I'd just like to thank Paul again, and Dr. Ribeau, and my wife for putting up with me."
