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'You Have To Let Him Go'

Published: Jun 5, 2007

College of Charleston athletic director Jerry Baker has a pretty good idea of what the past few days have been like for Florida AD Jeremy Foley and Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith. The circumstances are different, but Baker can relate to dealing with the fallout of a coach's sudden change of heart.

A year ago, Baker hired Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall to take over the Charleston program. However, after talking it over with his wife the next day, Marshall informed Baker that he wanted to remain at Winthrop.

Baker was shocked at first, but he quickly moved on.

"In our case, we thought Gregg Marshall really wanted the job," Baker said Monday. "My first reaction was just surprise. You can't spend too much time on it, because if the guy doesn't want to be there and wants to be somewhere else, you have to let him go.

"You have no choice but to move forward. Our program is more important than any one coach."

In a strange twist of irony, Baker eventually hired former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins, who led the Cougars to a 22-11 record last season.

Prior to Billy Donovan's waffling on his decision to leave Florida for the Magic, Cremins was probably the most notable college basketball coach to take one job and then go back to his old one days later. In 1993, Cremins returned to his alma mater to become head coach at South Carolina, but three days later he decided to return to the Yellow Jackets.

As for Donovan's change of heart, Baker considers Foley to be one of the luckiest guys in the game today.

"Florida is in a great situation," Baker said. "Either you get Donovan back or you get [VCU's] Anthony Grant. One of them is already great, and the other is on his way."

Scott Carter