George Ivory said Wednesday evening he will take his name out of consideration for the head men’s basketball coaching position at Mississippi Valley State and remain in the same role at SWAC rival Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Ivory said he was not offered the Valley job as of Wednesday evening, but even if that changes, he will stick with the Golden Lions. He planned to contact Valley officials this morning about his decision.
“I appreciate everything Valley has done, but the timing is not right,” Ivory told The Commercial. “I look at the situation at UAPB and the success we’ve had, and that’s all I can base it on.”
He said a discussion he had Tuesday with UAPB interim chancellor Calvin Johnson made him feel good about his opportunity in Pine Bluff. Ivory is entering is fifth season leading the Golden Lions with the start of a contract extension through the 2016-17 season. Ivory received the extension before he was considered for the Valley job.
“It never was about the money,” Ivory said. “Anytime someone is loyal and believes in you, that’s good enough for me.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
But his alma mater came calling, and Valley named Ivory one of three finalists for the position vacated by new Morehead State coach Sean Woods.
A message from The Commercial seeking comment left for UAPB athletic director Lonza Hardy Jr. on Wednesday evening was not returned.
Ivory had been concerned with the dealing of an Academic Progress Rate his team received last year. He said he was assured UAPB would try to correct in a more timely manner the APR of 899, for which the NCAA placed the Lions on public notice. The minimum to avoid penalties is 900.
“We’re still trying to correct the forms,” said Ivory, who blamed the low score on an error in a roster that was turned in. “I got a commitment that we will make those changes. The kids shouldn’t be penalized.”
UAPB could face more severe penalties if the score hasn’t improved. Grambling State and Southern were ineligible for the SWAC tournament this past season for poor scores.
On the court, Ivory faces a good situation with the Lions. Nine players from his 2011-12 team are expected to return in a quest for Ivory’s first regular-season and second tournament championship. If he were to accept an offer from Valley, he would have to replace seven seniors and work with three players who were freshmen this past winter.
He also hopes to have available swingman DaVon Haynes, who transferred from Bowling Green in time for the spring 2011 semester. Haynes met his one-year transfer sit-out requirement, but the NCAA never cleared him to play this past season.
The decision also makes things easier on Ivory as he begins his three-day basketball camp at H.O. Clemmons Arena today.
“I think it would have been tough trying to decide whether to go or stay while I got camp,” Ivory said. “I feel it’s time now to be the Golden Lions’ coach for the next four or five years.”
The camp will include elementary, middle and high school-aged boys. It was a youngster who apparently inspired Ivory to stay.
“A little kid about 10 years old said, ‘Coach, I’ve been reading about you,’” Ivory said. “When a kid that age reads about you and tells you that he wants you to stay, that means a lot. I’ve always been appreciative of our fans, the fans always have been appreciative of our program, and we’re headed for bigger and better things.”