April 7, 2008
Albuquerque Journal
Neal a Candidate at Toledo
By Mark Smith Journal Staff WriterUniversity of New Mexico associate head men's basketball coach Craig Neal is being listed as a candidate for the coaching vacancy at the University of Toledo, but says he won't interview for the job.
It's the second time in less than two weeks a school has listed Neal as being one of its candidates.
On Saturday evening, Neal told the Journal, "there's nothing to write about. I know the guy (Toledo athletics director Mike O'Brien) from my Iowa days, and that's it. I'm not involved, I haven't talked to him, I haven't interviewed with him, I'm not going to."
When told a Toledo newspaper listed him as a candidate, Neal said, "I never filled out the application for the job. I sent them a résumé because the guy's a friend of mine. ... It's just a common courtesy."
O'Brien could not be reached for comment. Neal's résumé, released by Toledo, included a cover sheet that read "Mike, hope this reaches you OK. Good talking to you (and) would like to discuss job more if possible? Best wishes, Craig Neal."
It did not include an application.
Among his references, Neal listed both Lobos head coach Steve Alford and UNM president David Schmidly.
The Toledo Blade reports that Neal is one of 36 applicants trying to take over for Stan Joplin, who was fired after the Rockets went 11-19 this season.
Most of the top names are Division I assistants, including Wisconsin's Greg Gard, Michigan's Mike Jackson and Notre Dame's Gene Cross.
The Journal has learned that Buzz Peterson is the top candidate. Peterson, now director of player personnel for the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats, was the head coach at Tulsa, Tennessee and Coastal Carolina.
The Blade reports that Peterson and Cross will be interviewed.
Neal has just started the second year of a four-year contract with UNM under which he makes more than $250,000 a year. Last week, Alford and UNM athletics director Paul Krebs both said they were discussing a contract extension for Neal.
Alford agreed to a three-year extension this week that will take him through 2015-16.
Like Alford, Neal has no buyout in his contract.
If Alford were to leave New Mexico and if the new coach chose not to retain Neal on his staff, Neal would still be paid through the remainder of his contract, according to UNM spokeswoman Shannon Garbiso. The contract extends through 2011.
Krebs says there is nothing in the contract that states Neal would get the Lobo head coaching job if Alford were to leave New Mexico.
On Saturday, Krebs said he didn't "know anything about" if Neal had applied at Toledo.
Joplin reportedly made between $170,000-$180,000, but O'Brien has said they are looking to increase that figure.
The Journal has learned that the total package will be in the neighborhood of $300,000, depending on who is hired. The school is undergoing a $30 million renovation of its arena and wants to attract a coach who can put fans in the stands.
The Rockets averaged about 4,600 fans this season.
On March 24, Missouri State athletics director Bill Rowe said Neal was a candidate for that opening, but he was "going to go in a different direction."
Neal says the school contacted him, not visa-versa.
Missouri State hired Purdue assistant Cuonzo Martin the following day.
In late February, Neal, trying to dispel rumors of the staff leaving for other jobs, said that "we're not going anywhere." On Saturday, he reiterated that.
"I'm not going (to Toledo). I'm not going to go anywhere. I'm good and everything's fine."