http://strib.mn/1T8eEl8
Q I want to circle back to the story on the plane travel. To make it clear: You say that all of the excess spending was approved by the athletic department and you considered it reasonable spending even if it exceeded what was written in your contract based on trying to move the program forward?
A Yeah, so here’s what happened: I would go to Norwood (Teague) and say, “I understand what’s in my contract. Are there other ways to do this within the rules, doing it the right way?”
Q And what were those ways — did boosters kick in money?
A I have to be honest, I don’t really know. I just ran it by them, and they approved it. A lot of times things are approved and a lot of times things are not approved, but we are very mindful of our spending. I have no problem with being called a bad coach or told I don’t know what I’m doing, but in that regard we felt like in that regard we ran everything by our superiors and they had the right to say no or yes. They did that. I will say, allegedly, that we neglected to fill some gas tanks, and we can’t do that.
Q Were most of the additional flights recruiting-based, or how would you characterize them?
A They were all recruiting-based. That’s why all this stuff was approved. We don’t do it too often, but maybe one of the benefits is in July you find a way to be at a game in the morning in Texas and get to a couple of AAU games in Indiana later. Everything that we do, we do with the best interests of the university and the best interests of the basketball program in mind because we think it will help us compete. Every dollar that is spent has to be approved, and that’s how it should be.
Q The report said a couple of the flights were under 200 miles and therefore “unallowable.” Do you remember what those were?
A Truthfully, I don’t. I don’t know what that’s about. I don’t remember ever doing that, so I’m not sure.
Q I want to circle back to the story on the plane travel. To make it clear: You say that all of the excess spending was approved by the athletic department and you considered it reasonable spending even if it exceeded what was written in your contract based on trying to move the program forward?
A Yeah, so here’s what happened: I would go to Norwood (Teague) and say, “I understand what’s in my contract. Are there other ways to do this within the rules, doing it the right way?”
Q And what were those ways — did boosters kick in money?
A I have to be honest, I don’t really know. I just ran it by them, and they approved it. A lot of times things are approved and a lot of times things are not approved, but we are very mindful of our spending. I have no problem with being called a bad coach or told I don’t know what I’m doing, but in that regard we felt like in that regard we ran everything by our superiors and they had the right to say no or yes. They did that. I will say, allegedly, that we neglected to fill some gas tanks, and we can’t do that.
Q Were most of the additional flights recruiting-based, or how would you characterize them?
A They were all recruiting-based. That’s why all this stuff was approved. We don’t do it too often, but maybe one of the benefits is in July you find a way to be at a game in the morning in Texas and get to a couple of AAU games in Indiana later. Everything that we do, we do with the best interests of the university and the best interests of the basketball program in mind because we think it will help us compete. Every dollar that is spent has to be approved, and that’s how it should be.
Q The report said a couple of the flights were under 200 miles and therefore “unallowable.” Do you remember what those were?
A Truthfully, I don’t. I don’t know what that’s about. I don’t remember ever doing that, so I’m not sure.
