Wallace may address retirement
| Rainbows roll, 66-53 |
Advertiser Staff
University of Hawai'i men's basketball coach Riley Wallace is expected to make a retirement-related announcement today, according to several athletic department staff members.
Wallace, 65, is expected to remain UH's head coach throughout the rest of this season.
Wallace, in his 20th season as head coach of the program, declined to comment last night when asked about today's announcement. A clause in his contract states that this will be his final season as head coach.
However, Wallace has been vague about his retirement plans, hinting that he may not be ready to leave the program.
Also, athletic director Herman Frazier has not made any official announcements about Wallace's status, or the possibility of a selection committee to find a replacement.
Wallace said he was contacted by ESPN college basketball reporter Andy Katz yesterday because Katz heard that Wallace was announcing his official retirement. Wallace said he denied the rumor to Katz, who reported on ESPN.com that a source close to Wallace said he would announce his retirement today effective at the end of the season.
Wallace met with his players after last night's 66-53 win over Tennessee-Martin. The players confirmed that there will be an announcement today. It will come approximately two weeks after Wallace and Frazier met in a closed-door meeting.
Frazier is not expected to attend today's announcement because he is en route to Arizona with other UH and Western Athletic Conference officials for the Fiesta Bowl.