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(DAILY_WILDCAT)

By Arlie Rahn
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 17, 1997

Tention had to seek Olson out for UA job

When Lute Olson and the Arizona staff began interviewing candidates for the opening at assistant coach, the eventual winner was not even in the picture.

"I had to approach Arizona about the position," new assistant Rodney Tention said. "I had been following the situation at Arizona and when (former) assistant coach (Jessie) Evans left, I saw an opening for myself.

"I had a mutual friend who knew coach Olson and I sent my resume through him. I wasn't sure what would happen."

Sparked by Tention's enthusiasm, Olson said he viewed the head coach at Division III College of Notre Dame with interest.

"He had come with high recommendations from some very reliable people," Olson said. "He had played four years of college basketball (Air Force and San Francisco), and was the team captain three of those years, so you know he is a leader. So we felt he was the type of person we were looking for."

Tention, 33, is known for his ability to relate with players and his intensity.

"I've done the film and scouting and recruiting as part of the head coach duties, but I will be around very good instructors of the game at Arizona," Tention said. "I am just looking to keep up the pace that the other coaches have set."

After coaching at College of Notre Dame in Belmont, Calif., Tention also brings extensive knowledge of the talent-rich recruiting areas in the Bay Area.

"With (Notre Dame) being a small school, most of my recruiting has been in-state. I have looked north, south, east and west in California," Tention said.

But, as the restrictive-earnings coach, Tention is not allowed to go on the road to recruit. Newly promoted assistant coach Phil Johnson will now handle the main recruiting duties.

"(Tention) will not be able to recruit from off campus, but he will coordinate his recruiting from the inside. He's very strong in the Bay Area, and that's an area we felt we needed to have," Olson said. "With me having coached in Southern California, we pretty much already have a base there."

Tention does not see much of a problem in trying to convince kids to come play for the national champions.

"Arizona is basically going to sell itself," he said. "With the type of reputation it has acquired in the last couple of years, I don't think we will have to twist kids' arms to come here."

But first things first.

"Right now, I just want to get to know some of the guys," Tention said. "I can't wait to get down there."


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