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Wednesday, April 4, 2001
Nee leaving Robert Morris for Duquesne
Associated Press
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PITTSBURGH – This is becoming an annual occurrence in
Pittsburgh college basketball: Danny Nee takes a new job.
Nee, fired a year ago by Nebraska, left Robert Morris after one
season on Wednesday to replace Darelle Porter as Duquesne's coach.
Nee, 7-22 at Robert Morris this season, signed a five-year
contract worth about $250,000 a year.
Duquesne is coming off three consecutive 20-loss seasons under
Porter and seven losing seasons in a row overall and hasn't been to
the NCAA Tournament in 24 years.
Still, Nee isn't deterred by what he called "the negativity I
can sense here."
"I look at Duquesne and say, `Why not?' " said Nee, who
coached seven NCAA teams at Nebraska and Ohio University. "They've
underachieved for years, but it can be done."
The 55-year-old Nee was fired at Nebraska amid slumping
attendance and fan discontent following an 11-19 season.
Nee sued Nebraska athletic director Bill Byrne for defamation of
character, saying Byrne made false statements about his job
performance and hampered his ability to coach and recruit. Byrne
responded by filing court papers, contending Nee's charges were too
vague and such suits were barred by Nebraska law.
Nee plans to start anew by getting Duquesne's returning players
into a summer program and recruiting aggressively in the Atlantic
10.
"They're beaten down and they're looking for leadership and
discipline," Nee said after meeting with Duquesne's players.
Wayne Smith, a 6-foot-5 forward and one of the Dukes' few
returning players, said Nee made an impressive debut.
"He said we're going to work hard and be taught the right
way," Smith said. "We weren't always on the same page with coach
Porter."
Nee will have only to walk down the street to change schools.
Robert Morris' primary campus is in Moon Township, near the
Pittsburgh airport, but it also has a downtown campus only a block
away from Duquesne's.
Athletic director Brian Colleary said it was a difficult choice
between Nee and former Massachusetts coach Bruiser Flint. Flint was
hired Wednesday by Drexel.
Duquesne was a national power in the 1950s, making a succession
of Top 10 finishes with players such as Dick Ricketts. The Dukes'
success continued into the 1960s, but they have floundered most of
the last 20 years.
Nee had seven 20-win seasons with the Cornhuskers and his
254-190 record is the best by a Nebraska coach. Nebraska made five
NCAA Tournament appearances under Nee, but never won a game in the
tournament.
Nee's overall record in 21 seasons is 368-278, including a 14-5
record in six trips to the NIT.
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