Mexico - Nolan still has competitive fire

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Nolan Richardson's legendary competitive nature was rekindled when he coached the Mexican Olympic team and admitted "it kind of whet my appetite" to coach again.

Richardson, who rejuvenated Tulsa basketball and then won the national championship at Arkansas, was in Tulsa on Thursday night for a charity event to benefit Basket of Dreams Inc. He was part of an all-star lineup at the event that included two other former TU coaches who have gone on to win the national championship — Tubby Smith and Bill Self.

"I had a great time coaching the Mexican team (in 2007)," said Richardson. "I ended up spending about three months with the team. I absolutely loved it. I have been a basketball person all of my life. I grew up down there on the border (El Paso).

"I really did want to coach the Mexican team. It was something I had thought about for a long time. It was so much fun for me to be back coaching. I coached in English and Spanish."

The Mexican team did not qualify for the Olympics and was beaten by the U.S. in the FIBA Americas qualifying tournament in Las Vegas. However, the Mexicans were the most competitive they've been in international competition. The U.S. beat Mexico, 127-100. However, it was the closest game the Americans played in that tournament and Mexico was very competitive until
midway through the second half.

"We made them work for it," said Richardson.

He coached the Panama national team in 2007 during a World Games qualifying tournament in South America. Not long after that, Richardson was hired to coach the Mexicans. He spent much of the spring and summer coaching the team during a series of

exhibition games that took it throughout central and north America.

"It was so rewarding watching those kids grow as a team," said Richardson. "I really enjoyed it.

"But, I have to admit, I was ready to get home. Our exhibition schedule was really tough. We had to do it to raise funds for the team. But, the travel was really tough. That part of it wasn't much fun."

The spark that put TU basketball in the national spotlight was Richardson, who led the Golden Hurricane to the 1981 NIT Championship in his first season at Tulsa.

Now, retired and living on his ranch in northwest Arkansas, Richardson is no different than most former coaches.

"I think about it at times," said Richardson. "I don't look at myself as an old man. I am in the best shape of my life and I don't feel old. Sometimes I look at some of these coaches on television and I wish I could go up against some of those guys.

"I wouldn't get back in coaching just so that I could coach. I would want something where I would have a legitimate chance to win championships."

Richardson has won championships at every level of his career. He led Texas Western to the national junior college title in 1980 then came to Tulsa and won the NIT. He won the 1994 NCAA title at Arkansas and was back in the national finals in 1995 (Richardson's third Final Four).

But, he's never coached at the pro level and he sometimes wonders what it would be like to coach in the NBA.

"Some would say I've been to the mountaintop, but I am not a settled person," said Richardson. "I want to get to the mountaintop again.

"I've won a championship at every level of coaching except the pros. That's why I might entertain the possibility of coaching at the pro level. It is the one thing I haven't done."

Whether Richardson would ever get that chance is debatable.

"Age is in the eyes of people," said the 68-year-old Richardson. "I don't know how some people feel about that. But, there's no question that age plays a big role in the selection of some coaches.

"I don't know, but I would certainly entertain some ideas."

It would be hard to argue with his success. Not only has Richardson won at every level but his most famous pupil, former TU guard Mike Anderson, has become one of the hottest coaches in college basketball.

Anderson, coach at Missouri, led the Tigers to the Big 12 Tournament title and the NCAA Elite Eight. Anderson, who played for Richardson at TU and was his longtime assistant at Arkansas, led UAB to four postseason tournaments and the NCAA's Sweet Sixteen in four seasons in his first head coaching job.

"Mike has done fantastic," said Richardson. "I knew he'd be a terrific coach. He's done a great job at Missouri and he also did a great job at UAB.

"If you look at what he did in his first seven years as a head coach, and what I did in my first seven years as a head coach, it is very similar. I talk to him every day. I spend a lot of time going up to Columbia to watch practice. I'm really enjoying all of the success he's having."