Howland ON:
By Jon Gold
Inside UCLA, LA Daily News
March 30, 2010 2:40 PM
On the dismissal of J'mison Morgan:
"It had been I decided it was in the best interst of both our program and for him that he leave for and transfer. He's in good academic standing, he'll have two years of eligibility left. He'll probably transfer back somewhere closer to home."
On Danny Daniels leaving for Gonzaga as the Zags' top assistant coach:
"Donny Daniels is going to be leaving effective immediately to go to Gonzaga as an assistant for Mark Few. He'll be in tomorrow - he had three wisdom teeth pulled - and he did a terrific job for me and this program for seven years. He was really a key impetus for all the success we've enjoyed. He'll be going to another outstanding program with a very good tradition and history. It's where I started my coaching career 29 years ago."
Are you looking to get a veteran staff guy?
"I'm not even worrying about that until our recruiting is done this year. There won't be a look at staff until late in the month."
With Bobo leaving, opens up another scholarship. How many do you want to use?
"I'd like to use all our scholarships up. That gives us three at least."
Was it any one thing?
"It's just there's a point in time where you have to move forward, and I just felt it was in our best interest in the program, as well as for him. He's leaving here in good standing academically, he'll be better for the experience here, not only as a player but as a person."
Any discussions about players leaving for NBA Draft?
"Not really. I'm actually meeting with our team here in about 45 minutes for a brief team meeting, and I'll be having individual meetings with our players tomorrow. I don't anticipate anybody testing the waters this year."
Any possibility anybody else can transfer?
"At this time, I don't see that, but anything is possible."
Did you try to retain Donny Daniels?
"I support him 100 percent on his decision. You'd have to ask him about his mindset. I will always consider Donny a good friend, and more importantly a very, very good coach. He was a part of three final fours here. I really appreciate all his hard work and dedication. Financially, he'll probably make a little bit more relative to cost of living. Financially, it's a step up for him."
Any other coaching changes right now?
"At this time, nothing to announce."
Any preliminary ideas for a replacement?
"No, I'll be getting a lot of phone calls relative to that. There won't be any rush to do anything. We're not allowed to go in the spring because of the AAU Tournaments, but I'll be out as many days I can be out."
Any chance Joe Hillock will leave to coach CSUN women?
"It is a possibility. He'll fight for that and I'm supporting for that. That's a great job and he was the coach at Southern Utah for several year, and he'd like to get back into coaching."
Thoughts on Steve Lavin getting hired at St. John's?
"I'm very happy for Steve. St. John's has got an outstanding tradition and history. It's going to be obviously exciting for him after being out of coaching for seven years to jump back into the biggest media market in the country."
Have you ever had two players leave in the same year?
"At Northern Arizona, I had about four of them in my second year. The next year after that, we had a pretty good year, too."
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