Coach steps down after 14 seasons: 'I had no other choice' (2000)

UA coach Dick Tomey ended weeks of speculation about his future last night by announcing that he would resign after 14 seasons.

Tomey revealed his plans after the Wildcats' 30-17 season-ending loss to in-state rival Arizona State before 54,297 spectators at Arizona Stadium. The defeat assured Arizona of its second straight nonwinning and bowl-less season.

After an emotional talk with his players, assistant coaches and staff that lasted about 30 minutes, Tomey informed the media in the locker room of his decision to step down.

"I told them I couldn't continue because of the public debate, because it's so difficult for my family, the team, the assistant coaches and their families," said Tomey, his eyes red and his voice barely audible. "I had no other choice."

Tomey, 62, was in the second year of a five-year contract that runs through 2003. It was not immediately clear how the remaining years of the $510,000 annual contract would be resolved.

The contract contains a $200,00 per year buyout clause. But it is unclear if the University of Arizona owes Tomey the money, since he resigned.

Many of the UA players broke from the locker room in tears, and the scene was even more emotional inside, where the remaining players embraced one another and their coaches.

"For him to say that he's leaving, it hurts," said senior quarterback Ortege Jenkins. "This is a man who emphasizes family and manhood. You don't find coaches like him around the country."

Jim Livengood, UA athletic director, said last night that Tomey's decision came as a surprise to him. Livengood told reporters minutes after the game that he and Tomey would meet Monday to discuss the direction of the program.

Livengood said he and Tomey had talked several times last week while he was in Maui, Hawaii, with the men's basketball team. The subject of a resignation never came up, Livengood said.

"This was strictly his decision," Livengood said.

UA President Peter Likins, who has been a strong supporter of Tomey's, was out of the country in the Middle East and is not expected to return until tomorrow.

Rumors surfaced all week that Tomey would either resign or retire no matter the outcome of last night's game. When asked earlier this week by the Arizona Daily Star about reports that he planned to retire, Tomey replied: "That's erroneous."

Tomey was criticised this season when his team lost five straight after starting out 5-1. It was the first time since 1958 that Arizona lost five consecutive games in a season.

Arizona finished this season 5-6 overall and 3-5 in the Pac-10. In 1999, the Wildcats finished 6-6 after starting out the campaign as a consensus Top 5 program.

Tomey, who had been the winningest and longest active Pac-10 coach, finishes his UA career with a 95-64-4 record. During that time, he guided the Wildcats to nine winning seasons and seven bowl games.

His 1998 squad established a school record for wins in a season with a 12-1 mark, which included a 23-20 win over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. In 1993, the Wildcats also tied for the Pac-10 title with a 10-2 mark.

But the thing that has dogged Tomey throughout his 14 years at Arizona was that he never guided the Wildcats to a Rose Bowl. The 1998 season was the closest the Cats came.

"I appreciate the opportunity I was given at the University of Arizona," said Tomey, who is 158-110-7 during his 24 years of coaching, including 10 seasons at Hawaii. "I have coached tremendous Wildcats over the years."

But this year has probably been the most difficult for Tomey. Attendance dwindled at Arizona Stadium from a high of 56,562 per game in 1994 to 49,439 this season. Many fans and boosters have been vocal about his lackluster teams.

Tomey admitted earlier this week that he was growing tired of the criticism that has seemed to surround the program throughout his tenure.

"I know that it has been very frustrating for him," Livengood said. We talked about that." 

Terrance Harris