UGA coaching search remains a mystery

Athens — Dominoes are starting to fall in several schools’ searches for basketball coaches. By all indications, they are not falling Georgia’s way.

Kentucky’s late entry into the competition for candidates — it fired Billy Gillispie this past Friday — appears to have cast a Big Blue shadow on the proceedings. Numerous reports Monday had the Wildcats zeroing in on Memphis coach John Calipari in a deal that might be the richest college basketball has ever seen.

If true — and Memphis and Lexington media outlets are both saying it’s an all-but-done deal — that creates yet another formidable competitor for Georgia in the coaching marketplace. The Tigers reportedly were paying Calipari about $3 million per season.

The Bulldogs are believed to have narrowed their focus on Missouri’s Mike Anderson and Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel. But neither Georgia nor those coaches’ current employers will say whether the parties have met or even gotten permission to do so.

“My philosophy for years has been to refrain from comment on any of those questions that you have to ask,” said Oklahoma athletics director Joe Castiglione, considered one of the top ADs in America. “We just don’t get into any of it.”

Missouri issued a similar reply.

“Our policy is not to discuss personnel matters,” sports information director Chad Moller said. “If a school contacts us, it’s not our place to discuss whether or not we’ve granted permission. We understand Georgia has an opening, and we’ll respectfully refer you to them.”

But Georgia isn’t talking either.

“I’m not going to be able to tell you that one way or another,” UGA President Michael Adams said when asked if they’d gotten permission to interview either Anderson or Capel. “I haven’t commented on any person or location, and I’m not going to until we announce somebody. All I can give you is a polite no comment.”

Athletics director Damon Evans also did not return several messages seeking comment.

Media reports out of Memphis that Evans was meeting with Anderson’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, in Atlanta appear untrue. Evans was in Athens all day Monday.

If Anderson is indeed Georgia’s top target, Memphis’ opening could be a problem. Anderson’s agent lives there, and Anderson recruited the area extensively while working as Nolan Richardson’s top assistant at Arkansas.

Anderson’s contract would appear to make him more attainable than Capel for the Bulldogs. Anderson has two years remaining on a deal that pays him $850,000 annually. But Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton said talks are underway for an extension and pay increase. Published reports in Missouri said Anderson’s new deal would be worth about $1.3 million a year.

The only good news for the Bulldogs on Monday was at least one of their competitors has left the field. Virginia, thought to be interested in bringing the Duke graduate Capel back to the ACC, reportedly agreed to terms with Washington State’s Tony Bennett to fill its men’s basketball opening.

Capel has five years remaining on a six-year contract, worth $1.05 million annually, he signed just last year. The deal includes a $100,000 a year “stay bonus.” Castiglione vowed to remain “proactive” about keeping Capel in Columbia.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s basketball team presses on without a coach.

“They’re working out, staying busy,” said UGA’s Arthur Johnson, a senior associate AD who oversees men’s basketball. “The strength coach has them on a schedule, and they’re keeping their academic appointment. As far as the coaching search, they’re as anxious as we are to find out who it’s going to be.”