By Staff Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 11, 1997

Frieder resigns at ASU

Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson and Arizona State's head coach Bill Frieder exchange greetings during last season's ASU/UA match up. Freider resigned as head coach yesterday after eight problem-filled seasons at ASU.

From staff reports

Bill Frieder, best known for his unmanaged white hair and sideline antics, took a $350,000 buyout and stepped down yesterday as Arizona State's basketball coach.

The 55-year-old Frieder coached eight seasons with the Sun Devils and built a strong relationship with Arizona head coach Lute Olson.

Frieder, one of the best-liked and most problem-plagued coaches in school history, made the announcement at his suburban Phoenix home during a news conference attended by about 50 people.

Frieder, who has been dealing with a federal investigation of his program into possible point-shaving, said the accusation last week of minor theft in a dormitory against two of his players was the final straw.

''We had stressed with one another from day one, and had several meetings speaking about the fact of needing to be letter-perfect this season,'' Frieder said, explaining why the accusations last week against players Eddie House and Reggie Hester hit him so hard.

"Like everyone else, I am shocked at the news," said Olson, who is on a recruiting trip out of town. "Bill and I had spent some time together a couple weeks ago and nothing was mentioned about anything like this. We just talked about the upcoming season and how recruiting was going."

Frieder said he and ASU Athletic Director Kevin White came to a mutual understanding.

White said the money would be paid to Frieder over a three-year period, regardless of whether the coach took another job. Frieder was in line for about $1 million in salary and benefits through the life of the document.

But it was clear both were ready for a change.

White said he had been speaking with Frieder off and on for months and realized Tuesday night after Frieder returned from a recruiting trip that it was time to negotiate a buyout.

''He'd be the first to tell you that the challenge as we were moving forward was becoming greater,'' White said. ''And he's a guy who's never backed down from a good challenge, I don't think, but I think it got stale.''

Arizona State was 10-20 last season and has been under the cloud of a federal point-fixing investigation.

''If something happens on that FBI thing then I would be the victim in that case,'' Frieder said last night. ''And if something happens in that case I hope all of them go to prison.''

Almost from the start, some of Frieder's best players turned up on police blotters, left the program or were injured.

Frieder still won acclaim for coaching fast-breaking teams that relied on relentless, pressure defense to beat more talented squads.

"In the time Bill has been at Arizona State I think that we have built a strong rivalry, produced some exciting games and made the series between our schools a lot better than what it was before he came to ASU," Olson said. "Not only has the brand of basketball improved but the relationship between the two schools as well."

The high-water mark of his eight years came in 1994-95, when the Sun Devils were 24-9, reached the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament and earned Frieder a two-year contract extension through April 2000.

Bill Frieder resigned yesterday as men's basketball coach of Arizona State.

Bill Frieder's Career Coaching Record

                       W	L	Pct.


1980-81 Michigan	19	11	.633


1981-82 Michigan	 8	19	.296


1982-83 Michigan	16	12	.571


1983-84 Michigan	24	 9	.727


1984-85 Michigan	26	 4	.867


1985-86 Michigan	28 	 5	.848


1986-87 Michigan	20	12	.625


1987-88 Michigan	26	 8	.765


1988-89 Michigan	24	 7	.774


1989-90 Arizona St.	15	16	.484


1990-91 Arizona St.	20	10	.667


1991-92 Arizona St.	19	14	.576


1992-93 Arizona St.	18	10	.643


1993-94 Arizona St.	15	13	.536


1994-95 Arizona St.	24	 9	.727


1995-96 Arizona St.	11	16	.407


1996-97 Arizona St.	10	20	.333


Totals		        323	195	.624