2008 Woodie Awards
Ronnie Arrow to lead the Jaguars once again
John Kenny
Assistant Sports Editor
Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: News
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The University of South Alabama introduced Ronnie Arrow as the new men's head basketball coach at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at the Mitchell Center. Arrow succeeds John Pelphrey, who took the head coaching job at Arkansas two weeks ago.
Arrow is making his second stop at South Alabama, after having been coach of the Jaguars from 1987-1994. He was fired four games into the 1994-95 season after the Jags gave up more than 100 points in each game, including a 140-72 loss to Southern Utah and a 110-64 thumping at Evansville.
"This was a special place; no one has more to prove in this position than me," Arrow said. "Nobody puts as much pressure on me as Ronnie Arrow. I expect a lot from myself, my assistants, my players, and that's just the way I am."
USA Athletic Director Joe Gottfried didn't shy away from the controversial 1994 season, clearing stating his stance on Arrow's firing at the hands of former USA president Fred Whiddon.
"When Ronnie Arrow was terminated in '94, it was very unfair. Did I have a part in this? Absolutely not. Was I against it? Absolutely," he said. "This [hiring] was not done to right a wrong; he is not here for that reason. Ronnie Arrow was hired for what he has accomplished since he left South Alabama.
"I think there is a lesson to be learned by this. Sometimes we all go through this, when you leave somewhere you don't burn any bridges, and Ronnie Arrow and Nelda Arrow [his wife] did not burn any bridges. They took the high road; they were very positive"
Since his departure, Arrow was able to make a second home at the University of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Arrow took over the TAMU-CC job in 1998 as the Islanders started a Division I program from the ground up. The eight-year program at Corpus Christi has compiledd many key wins over teams in major conferences such as TCU, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, South Florida, Old Dominion and Florida State. The Islanders have enjoyed three consecutive 20-win seasons under Arrow and have compiled a 134-91 record in the school's eight-year history. Arrow's departure from TAMU-CC comes after its best season yet, as the Islanders put together a 26-7 record, won the Southland Conference tournament, and went to the NCAA tournament, where they fell to Wisconsin in the first round.
Arrow is making his second stop at South Alabama, after having been coach of the Jaguars from 1987-1994. He was fired four games into the 1994-95 season after the Jags gave up more than 100 points in each game, including a 140-72 loss to Southern Utah and a 110-64 thumping at Evansville.
"This was a special place; no one has more to prove in this position than me," Arrow said. "Nobody puts as much pressure on me as Ronnie Arrow. I expect a lot from myself, my assistants, my players, and that's just the way I am."
USA Athletic Director Joe Gottfried didn't shy away from the controversial 1994 season, clearing stating his stance on Arrow's firing at the hands of former USA president Fred Whiddon.
"When Ronnie Arrow was terminated in '94, it was very unfair. Did I have a part in this? Absolutely not. Was I against it? Absolutely," he said. "This [hiring] was not done to right a wrong; he is not here for that reason. Ronnie Arrow was hired for what he has accomplished since he left South Alabama.
"I think there is a lesson to be learned by this. Sometimes we all go through this, when you leave somewhere you don't burn any bridges, and Ronnie Arrow and Nelda Arrow [his wife] did not burn any bridges. They took the high road; they were very positive"
Since his departure, Arrow was able to make a second home at the University of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Arrow took over the TAMU-CC job in 1998 as the Islanders started a Division I program from the ground up. The eight-year program at Corpus Christi has compiledd many key wins over teams in major conferences such as TCU, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, South Florida, Old Dominion and Florida State. The Islanders have enjoyed three consecutive 20-win seasons under Arrow and have compiled a 134-91 record in the school's eight-year history. Arrow's departure from TAMU-CC comes after its best season yet, as the Islanders put together a 26-7 record, won the Southland Conference tournament, and went to the NCAA tournament, where they fell to Wisconsin in the first round.
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