Honest injun. Mal said so..
http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1088327760276082.xml
Gottfried `happy' at Bama
Sunday, June 27, 2004 STEVE IRVINE *News staff writer*
TUSCALOOSA - Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore said Saturday that no one from Ohio State has asked permission to interview UA men's basketball coach Mark Gottfried.
News reports out of Ohio have mentioned Gottfried as a possible candidate for the vacant OSU head men's basketball job.
Moore acknowledged that Alabama's appearance in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight this past season increased the possibility that Gottfried's name could crop up for vacant coaching jobs. However, Moore doesn't expect Gottfried to leave his current job.
"I think Mark is very happy at Alabama and he has a very good contract," Moore said.
Gottfried signed a new contract worth $800,000 per year before this past season. His contract extends through the 2008-09 season.
Alabama advanced to the NCAA Tournament Regional Final in March before losing to eventual champion Connecticut. The Tide finished 20-13 in 2003-04 and is 119-75 in Gottfried's six seasons as the head coach. Alabama won the 2001-02 SEC title and has advanced to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments under Gottfried.
Gottfried, 40, has refused to speculate on Ohio State's intentions since media reports in Ohio mentioned him as a possible candidate. An ESPN.com report, however, mentioned six possible candidates to replace the fired Jim O'Brien, and Gottfried was not included. The Web site said in the same story that Marquette's Tom Crean is considered the front-runner for the position.
Ohio State Athletics Director Andy Geiger declined earlier this week to respond when asked if he had talked to Gottfried. Athletics department spokesman Steve Snapp said Geiger had not spoken with Gottfried.
"The answer would be no," Snapp said. "He has not been in contact with him."
Gottfried, an Alabama graduate and Crestline, Ohio, native, had a speaking engagement in Kentucky on Thursday and spent the following two days tending to a basketball camp at Coleman Coliseum.
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