Fox: ‘I don’t want anyone thinking I’m leaving, because this is where I’m going to coach’
ATHENS — Although the rumor mill has linked his name to various coaching openings in the past month, most recently UNLV’s, Georgia men’s basketball coach Mark Fox insisted again Tuesday that he has no interest in any other job.
“I don’t want anyone thinking I’m leaving, because this is where I’m going to coach,” he said.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last week that Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity had opened discussions with Fox about a new or amended contract.
“Greg and I had an initial conversation, and I trust him,” Fox said Tuesday. “He knows this is where I want to coach. . . . Right now we’re spending our energy on getting information for Travis [Leslie regarding the NBA draft], coaching our team, recruiting. And when we have time, I guess we’ll finish that [contract] discussion.”
McGarity, seated nearby, nodded his head in agreement.
“I really feel like this is a place where we can win at a very high level,” Fox said. “But to do that, we have to take our time and do it the right way.”
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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92 comments Add your comment
Positive Person
April 5th, 2011
10:45 pm
I agree 110% with the Future Alumnus of UGA.
Georgia fans please quit acting like you know why Georgia will never be a top program because the fact is, you don’t. Most of you probably have only known that UGA even has a basketball program because of the past two years, so you are no “experts” by any means.
Supporting the team and enjoying their progress is WAY more fun than being an old fart d-bag, trust me.
GO FOX! GO DAWGS!
ViningsMike
April 5th, 2011
11:09 pm
Coach Fox has already turned this program around. He needs to stay and reap the rewards. We don’t want him going anywhere else.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
April 5th, 2011
11:15 pm
GT fans pretend to be UGA fans to gain some recognition. LOL. But they are nothing but buzzards and jockitch’s.
Tech Realist
April 5th, 2011
11:17 pm
no other team wanted fox. He’s coming out with some “bold” statement just to get a raise from the AD for a mediocre season–it will probably work. They waste more taxpayer money in the UGA ath dept than anywhere in the state.
sports
April 5th, 2011
11:28 pm
this is BULL$HIT drummed up by the ajc sports writers…coach Fox knows where where he wants to coach. Those writers are just trying to deter recruits. This is same old ploy they hide behind!
The Grinch
April 5th, 2011
11:33 pm
Tech Realist
April 5th, 2011
11:17 pm
“They waste more taxpayer money in the UGA ath dept than anywhere in the state.”
Could you share with me the contracts and buyouts of Gailey and Hewitt? BWAAAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Hoopster
April 5th, 2011
11:52 pm
Fox has a track record……….of doing well with others players. He had success at Nevada with Trent Johnson’s recruits. Once they left, it was all down hill. You better be careful what you wish for.
Chuck UGA
April 6th, 2011
12:12 am
If McGarity and the Athletic Board doesn’t step up, then that will be further proof that there is no commitment to winning in Men’s Basketball at UGA. With Harrick, we would have been annual NCAA Tourney participants, but that was not to be. I will believe in GA Basketball when I see action from the AD. Right now, I am not convinced the mint julep-sipping crowd is actually interested in the sport. Those are the people that need to step aside and keep quiet while UGA Athletics attempts to moves into the 21st century like what has been done with football.
Chuck UGA
April 6th, 2011
12:14 am
Tech Realist and other morons, the Athletic Association and their coaches at UGA are NOT supported with taxpayer funds. We actually write donation checks every February and sell out our tickets unlike your school.
Fox is a Con Man
April 6th, 2011
12:32 am
Fox is not a gentleman.
Do not throw integrity around unless you know how he runs his program from the inside.
It is SOOOOO obvious that no other school expressed interest in Fox as McGarrity is in no hurry to discuss a contract extension. If another school had called, McGarity would have had to rush the issue. He is taken his sweeeeet time.
Boobie Bowden
April 6th, 2011
3:10 am
UGA, first last and always, the least of the east – in all endeavors – including pathetic fan support.
Joe B.
April 6th, 2011
7:02 am
Hey guys, if more alums acted like I did, the athletic department may not be such a trainwreck. Just keep giving your money to support mediocrity.
Why do you think the Cubs have sucked for 100+ years? Because their fans do not care about winning, they just like going to the decrepit old stadium.
You idiots who keep contributing money to the Hartman Fund are supporting ineptitude. Some people like investing in things that bring returns. Some people like investing in things because they are marketed to by an institution to which they feel they owe some loyalty. The latter are simply suckers who are too stupid to realize that they are being duped. You should wake up.
suwaneedawg
April 6th, 2011
7:53 am
Joe B.
April 5th, 2011
6:05 pm
Coach, take if from a Dawg alum. You might as well go as soon as someone gives you an offer. You just saw what happened with a kid from Georgia, who has a BROTHER on the team. He picked the bottom of the ACC’s shoe over the Dawgs. You will simply never have a chance at sustained success in Athens. The kids just don’t have loyalty to their state school.
If this moron is a UGA Alum I will kiss your Aunt’s arse. No doubt a techie with a lot of time on his hands and little brain activity.
BYRDDAWG
April 6th, 2011
8:17 am
Mcgarity was @UF when its b-ball was irrelevent & now it’s a power with 2 NCs under Billy Donovan! Mark Fox will build our program to at least an every other NCAA tournament team!! This state’s talent can compete with any!! To the nay sayin haters on here you’re a JOKE….CMF is already 2-o against TECH so go ponder that!
phil
April 6th, 2011
8:18 am
Some of you guys certainly do get angry when your fellow fans express the ole first amendment right to free speech….I bet not a one of you is a republican, gun totting, first amendment loving type…except when it doesn’t suit you….not a one…
That said, Coach Faux isn’t very good, folks….being all positive and sugary sweet isn’t going to turn our basketball team into a good one….we can’t win a single game in the NCAA tourney, and haven’t in some 15 years, and yet we’re supposed to somehow be relevant? What kid with any sense would want to play for us? I realize most of them have little sense, but honestly….
And any of you, for a second, who don’t think Faux will bolt the second he gets the right offer are nuts….NC st and UNLV were good jobs 20-25 years ago…not now….
Then again, after what I’ve seen from Faux, he won’t be getting any good offers…so we’re safe with him and continued mediocre play until he’s finally fired in 2-3 years…..
phil
April 6th, 2011
8:20 am
BYRD – i just finished pondering those Tech wins…it took all of one second….why? Tech is horrible…haven’t you noticed?
Dawg
April 6th, 2011
8:23 am
Nolte was not as highly recruited by UGA as this media outlet thinks. For godsakes he averaged 15 points at Milton High School (Whoopty Frickin Do!!!). UGA is starting to get good at getting in state talent. Marcus Thornton was Mr. AJC last year. Kentavious Caldwell Pope is a McDonalds All American this year. Plus if UGA can pick up Kevin Ware, things could not be any brighter at Steagman Coliseum.
Dawg
April 6th, 2011
8:26 am
Joe B****, If you hate UGA so bad go root for whoever wins the national championship. I am Dawg and will always be a Dawg no matter what.
dmr
April 6th, 2011
8:31 am
Everyone should read JOE B.’s comments. Give it serious thought. Take a deep breath. Collect themselves. Then, all together now….”HEY JOE! YOU’RE AN IDIOT!”
I feel better already.
BYRDDAWG
April 6th, 2011
8:38 am
doctor phil, that TECH team that you said was soooo horrible was….on the road but not at home where they beat the mighty NC Tarheels by 20!!! If you can’t see an improvement in our b-ball team under CMF from the D Felton era you’re not worth arguing with! just sayin….
UGASlobberknocker
April 6th, 2011
8:57 am
Joe B..with fans like you..who needs enemies?
Joe B's dog
April 6th, 2011
8:58 am
Even I cant stand the moron. Someone, please rescue me from this idiot.
DawginLex
April 6th, 2011
8:59 am
Some of the comments on here are from folks who are dumber than a mushroom.
Mark fox is not leaving UGA.
He wants to coach here for a long time.
You haters are too stupid to realize it is possible to do something at UGA that hasn’t been done since Hugh Durham-a coach stay for a long time and have success.
Just shutup and watch.
DawginLex
April 6th, 2011
9:01 am
Joe B,
Regarding being duped:
I bet your wife feels the same way………………..
Joe B's psychiatrist
April 6th, 2011
9:04 am
Joe, obviously, you are off of your medication again. You need to refill that lithium prescription asap before you say anything else stupid and reveal your true ignorance. Call me for an appt..
Dawg fan my arse
April 6th, 2011
9:06 am
Joe B couldnt spell diploma, much less have one. Go hate on YOUR alma mater, Hahira Jr High.
gdawginkalamazoo
April 6th, 2011
9:07 am
Coming off the first 20+ win season this decade and people are hating on a second year coach who WANTS to coach at UGA and believes he can win here. What’s wrong with you people?
Bag of Rocks
April 6th, 2011
9:08 am
I’m smarter than Joe B.
phil
April 6th, 2011
9:45 am
LOL @ Bag of Rocks…
BYRD – Yes, we’re better than we were under Felton…that’s obvious. We still aren’t winning anything that matters though…beating Mercer and losing in the first round of the ncaas does not, however, equal success….a step in the right direction? yes, I’ll give you that. And I’m willing to wait and see what happens the next 2 years….Do I expect a lot? No. Talk is cheap, just like all this talk about the football players changing their diet, working harder, caring more….means nothing until they go on the field and actually beat florida and a majority of the others we lost to last year….
I want to win as much as the rest of you, but I’ll be convinced that Fox is the guy to get it done when we actually get something done….aka, win an ncaa tourney game or 2 or win the sec east even….something, anything other than just 20 wins (which isn’t a big deal anymore), many of which are against the mercers and LSUs of the world….
I’m trying to be more open to success here….
UGASlobberknocker
April 6th, 2011
9:51 am
It was bad enough that Delta hasn’t had a flight on time since 1997. But now they are banning Bulldogs??!! I hope that doesn’t apply to charters for UGA
Just another reason to count down the days til Southwest gets here.
Reddawg
April 6th, 2011
9:52 am
I remeber tubby and his going to Kentucky.Dooly could have kept him but wasn’t willing to pay him.I’m glad we have the new ad.He is going to keep Fox around.
UGASlobberknocker
April 6th, 2011
9:59 am
$ was not a factor when Tubby left. Tubby was going to KY no matter what..it was a far better job ..and when he came here, he was recommended by the Ky AD, Newton, who told UGA then that he would come after Tubby if a KY opening came up. So no one was surprised.
Not denying that Ky could and would have spent more than GA, but Tubby left not for that reason, but to coach at one of the 4 or 5 blue blood programs.
UGASlobberknocker
April 6th, 2011
10:02 am
My basketball blue blood programs
Duke / UNC/ Indiana/ Ky / Kansas/ UCLA (still)
when one of those guys wants you..you go and you go immediately
Will
April 6th, 2011
10:04 am
Are we ever going to get a UGA football update? Basketball season is over already.
UGASlobberknocker
April 6th, 2011
10:18 am
My football blue blood programs based on recent success and also history back as far as it goes..Im sure there will be some disagreement but here is my opinion
A+ Deep Blue:
Alabama/ Ohio St/ Michigan/ No Dame/ Nebraska/ Oklahoma/ Texas/ USC
A..Light Blue a tick below the ones above..these teams will be in the top 25 8 yrs out of 10 and have a good history of conf and natl championships. Some have been off lately but history is good ..some have no history but have been great lately.
Fla/Tenn/ Ga/Auburn/ LSU/ Florida State/ Penn State/ Wisconsin/ Texas AM/ Va Tech/ Miami/
not quite there call it B+ .UCLA..Boise State, Oregon, Arkansas, Okla. State, West VA, Mich St, SC
truedawg
April 6th, 2011
10:57 am
Hey Dawg4ever… the Dawgnation just took a vote and the results are in: You are free to leave the dawgnation and NOT be a Dawg4ever. You are not a true Dawg fan and are one of the most negative people on the blogs concerning the Dawgs. Maybe you need to spend more time with your wife and see if she can make you smile. Apparently UGA can’t! Hope I never have to sit by you at a game.
Fox is a Con Man
April 6th, 2011
10:57 am
Fox is stuck here. He has a $2 million buyout. Who the heck signs such a stupid contract? A desperate man indeed.
truedawg
April 6th, 2011
11:04 am
Reddawg, you are dead wrong about Tubby leaving. Slobberknocker, you are closer to correct. After we fired Felton I was conducting some business with Tubby and was picking at him telling that we were looking for a Coach and some people in Athens would roll the red carpet back out for him. He spent 20 minutes telling exactly how his going to Lexington took place and how much he and Donna loved Athens. He loves Coach Dooley and CVD nor money had anything to do with Tubby leaving.
DawginLex
April 6th, 2011
11:16 am
Money could not keep Tubby in Athens.
Does anyone remember he was on Pitino’s staff?
Does anyone remember that he was hand picked by CM Newton the day after Pitino resigned?
Fox is going to stay in Athens. I hope he becomes a fixture like Donovan in Gainesville.
Bodda Getta
April 7th, 2011
10:12 am
Fox is wise in collecting his money now before ThUGA has to pony up a ton of cash for a new football coach next season.
Alabama | MrSEC.com
April 7th, 2011
12:28 pm
[...] staff. 5. Mark Fox says he doesn’t want anyone to think he’s leaving because Georgia “is where I’m going to coach.”6. Stephen Garcia’s issues at South Carolina could be good news for the Bulldogs.7. New [...]
Richt's Butt Cut
April 7th, 2011
8:14 pm
Do we really care? We lost in VERY poor showings in the 1st round of both tournaments. I dont get why hes so hyped??????