Richardson meets three hours with U. of Arkansas president

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Nolan Richardson's bid to keep his job as Arkansas coach will be decided by the middle of the week.

Richardson and university President B. Alan Sugg met for more than three hours Monday, and Sugg said he would decide in a day or two whether to overturn Chancellor John White's decision to buy out the last six years of Richardson's contract for $500,000 a year, about half its face value.

"I'm still in the process of reviewing Dr. White's decision to terminate," Sugg said. "I have a great deal of personal and professional respect for Coach Richardson. This is a tough issue, and I'll do my best to make the very best decision that I can."

Richardson, who wants to remain as the Razorbacks' coach, said the session was a "good meeting."

"We presented our side. When you have a lot to talk about, it takes time," he said.

At a news conference after the meeting, Richardson released university documents that he said showed that, less than two weeks before his contract was terminated, Sugg and White held him in good standing.

Richardson said he believed Sugg was "unaware of the ... evidence that would discount the recommendation" of White to buy out Richardson's pact.

Richardson said he was certain that Sugg was "under tremendous pressure to uphold this earlier decision to terminate me."

John Walker, Richardson's lawyer, said he was hopeful Sugg would be fair in the face of a "very strong athletic director with a reputation for outlasting presidents and chancellors."

"I do not believe that it will be easy decision," Walker said.

On March 1, White said he was buying out Richardson's contract after the coach said publicly and privately that was what he wanted. Richardson has said he wants to remain as coach.

Richardson's contract gave the university the right to end the coach's employment without giving an excuse.

Richardson coached Arkansas for 17 years, leading it to the NCAA tournament 13 times and the NIT twice. His run included a national championship in 1994, a runner-up finish the next year and another Final Four appearance.