wej News: 76-DAILY Advertising: 764-0554 One hundred seven years of editorf'dfreedom Monday October 13, 1997 I -~~~,$o u f42..- ,-e . ~i ~- - AM .;:. I I Successor expected within JJO days By Dan Stillman Daily Sports Writer University Athletic Director Tom Goss said yesterday that the national search: for a new basketball head coach would be short, but not that short. "It will probably take me about 10 days to decide," Goss said from his ice yesterday evening where he was Irking on the search. Many have ; speculated that Ben Braun, University of California at, Berkeley bas-? ketball coach x and former - Easter n Mi c hi g a n University coach, will be' raun the replace- ment. But Goss' The short said he has not contacted any- liSt one about the position and Ben Braun: Braun said last Head coach at night he has not Cal. Former coach heard from t EMU. Michigan. Phil Ford: "I have not 'Assistant coach at been contacted North Carolina. by anyone from the University Kelvin Sampson: of Michigan," Head coach at Braun said in a Oklahoma. written state- ment. "My focus has been n our fall recruiting efforts and the start. practice this week." After announcing the firing of head coach Steve Fisher on Saturday, Goss" placed first-year assistant coach Brian Ellerbe in charge of the team until he hires a replacement. Unless a new coach is hired, Ellerbe, who served as head coach at Loyola College in Baltimore, Md., for three sea- sons, will lead practice, which starts Saturday. Goss surprised some by choos- W Ellerbe over 10th-year assistant ach Brian Dutcher. When asked about his decision, Goss See COACH, Page 7A Goss wants to 'change the program By Heather Kamins and Jim Rose Daily Staff Reporters Months of controversy and speculation culminated in the firing of Steve Fisher as Michigan men's basketball coach, Athletic Director Tom Goss announced Saturday. Goss said the decision was entirely his own and that Fisher was never offered the option to resign. "I have decided that it is time to make a change in the head men's basketball coach at the University of Michigan;' Goss said. "To change the program was my decision. To hire a new coach will be my decision." A national search for a suc- cessor will begin immediately and conclude as soon as pos- sible, Goss said. Assistant coach Brian Ellerbe will serve as interim coach and lead practices, which are sched- uled to begin Saturday. Goss met with Fisher on Friday afternoon for a gener- Inside Players say Fisher was a scapegoat, Page 18 Fans have mixed reac- tions, Page 38 Success marked Fisher's tenure, Page 38 Cblumn: Goss acted quickly and made the right decision, Page 38 al discussion on the future of the program. He said he had no prior intention to fire him. "I didn't know. I was very open-minded. I was ready for the meeting to go either way," Goss said. Saturday's announcement came just two days after the release of a 250-page report detailing a private law firm's investigation into the University's basketball program. The seven-month investigation uncovered only three minor viola- tions, despite prior allegations of major NCAA infractions. Goss said, however, that the report did not directly influ- ence his decision on the coach's future. "That report was not the driving factor. I took the report and I set the report aside on the table," Goss said. "I talked with Steve more in terms of philosophies, where we want to head as a team, and as an Athletic Department." At the time of the report's release, Goss and University President Lee Bollinger said there were problems within the program that needed to be addressed, and therefore neither would comment on the security of Fisher's job. Former Michigan player Loy Vaught, a member of the 1989 NCAA Championship team that Fisher guided through the tournament, suggested Fisher was being used as a scapegoat. "My feeling is that he might be taking some heat for things that were kind of out of his control," said Vaught, who is now with the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA. "It's very unfortunate because I know Steve Fisher and I can say that he doesn't cheat. It's just real unfortunate that he had to be forced to leave." During the first month of his tenure, Goss repeatedly has stressed the importance of making players and coaches accountable for their actions, while creating "an environment to help student-athletes realize their potential - academical- ly, athletically and socially. "What we need to have here at Michigan is a program that is clearly focused on the student-athlete. I don't even know See FISHER, Page 7A 1989 v 1997 1992V 1989: President George Bush hosts the NCAA cham- plons coached by Steve Fisher. 1992: Fisher celebrates after the Fab Five lead the Wolverines to victory over Ohio State in the Final Four. 1997: Friends hold a pep rally titled 'We Believe in Steve' to show their support for coach Fisher amidst alle- gations of NCAA violations. FILE PHOTOS What happened: The University released a report Thursday about the Michigan men's basketball program, which was found to have no major violations. Goss met with Fisher on Friday afternoon to discuss the future of the program. Fisher met with team members Saturday morning to tell them that he was fired. * Goss met with the media Saturday afternoon to announce Fisher's dismissal. What's next: *'Goss will search for a new coach. Fisher's contract, which will expire in 2000, will be honored, totaling about $400,000. Students 'come out' at annual pride day Book to honor Williams By Christine M. Palk Daily Staff Reporter f The sudden downpour Thursday fternoon brought out sunshine and rainbows for Friday's National Coming Out Week rally. The rally, sponsored by the Queer Unity Project and the Michigan Student Assembly's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Affairs Commission, brought NCOW to an end. closet to see that there are people who support them and people who have come out and made it through just fine," Trudell said. "Our goal is to get the word out that we're here and we're vocal and we won't stay in the closet just because it might offend someone's conservative sensibilities." The rally was kicked off with a speech by University Dean of Students E. Royster Harper, who spoke about the N 'U' English Department compiles friends' memories, feelings on domestic violence By Reilly Brennan For the Daily Seeking to memorialize the life of Tamara Williams while uniting members of the University community, the English department plans to assemble a book to honor the late LSA senior. The book will be assembled not only to serve as a memorial, but also to provide a forum for writ- ers to address the issues arising from the murder. Williams was stabbed to death on Sept. 23 by her boyfriend Kevin Nelson. She left behind a 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Kiera. The murder received widespread attention and raised awareness of domestic violence issues on campus. Williams had taken some English classes, said JoAnn Peraino, secretary in the English department. The collection will be presented as a chapbook, or a small collection of work from different genres - poems, prose meditations, essays and .poten- tially the visual arts. The project will be supervised by John Whittierm Ferguson, an associate English professor and the department's director for undergraduate studies. _, m . - I