Solomon leaves for Bonnies' post
By ANDREW SOUKUP
Sports Writer
When St. Bonaventure started looking for someone to clean up the mess of an ugly basketball scandal, it turned to a Notre Dame assistant coach.
Anthony Solomon, formerly a three-year member of Mike Brey's staff and a 15-year assistant coach, was named head coach of the Bonnies' beleaguered basketball program May 6.
"St. Bonaventure is a tradition-rich basketball program that really excites me," Solomon said. "With my 15 years of experience in the coaching profession, I feel that I have prepared myself for this opportunity."
At Notre Dame, Solomon coached the guards and handled a majority of the recruiting. Brey promoted Rod Balanis, Notre Dame's former director of basketball operations, to fill Solomon's spot.
"He's hungry, well-connected and, most importantly, well-respected," Brey told the Associated Press. "I can't emphasize enough how the Solomon family will be such a positive for the Bonaventure community."
Solomon replaces Jan van Brenda Kolff, who was fired in April after the Atlantic 10 Conference learned Bonnies center Jamil Terrell was ineligible because he violated junior college transfer rules.
The A-10 Conference then ruled St. Bonaventure had to forfeit six league victories and banned them from postseason play. In response, the players voted to not play their final two games of the season.
Both St. Bonaventure president Robert Wickenheiser and athletic director Gothard Lane resigned in addition to van Brenda Kolff's firing.
But St. Bonaventure's new athletic director, Paul Grys, had high praise for Solomon, who takes over a team that finished 13-14 last year.
"Anthony Solomon has the leadership experience and character that are critical to St. Bonaventure," Grys said.
The appointment is Solomon's first college head coaching job. He is also the first black head coach of any sport at St. Bonaventure.
Notes:
u Former Arizona forward Dennis Latimore will transfer to Notre Dame and can begin playing for the Irish in 2004-05.
A 6-foot-8, 240-pound player with two years of eligibility remaining, Latimore must sit out an NCAA-mandatory one year before he can play for the Irish.
u The Irish landed their first verbal commitment of the class of 2008 in 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward Robert Kurz.
The Philadelphia high school junior visited Notre Dame's campus a little over a week ago and decided to verbally commit to the school. Brey cannot comment publicly on Kurz until he signs a binding letter of intent in November.
But the 6-foot-8, 210-pound Kurz is considered one of the top 100 prospects in the nation because he is a strong forward who has a solid medium-range jumper.
All Sports Stories for Friday, July 11, 2003
