Blast From The Past: Nolan Richardson

In the ’80s and ’90s, the former Arkansas coach was one of the best in college basketball. He led the Razorbacks to a national championship in ’94 and to the title game in ’95, when they were beaten by UCLA. Only once during the decade did Richardson’s teams fail to reach the Tournament. Three times the Razorbacks advanced to the Final 4.
It wasn’t like Richardson had great players either. Joe Johnson and journeyman Carlton Williamson are the only 2 to have any impact in the NBA.
But the nasty fallout in 2002 between Richardson, a member of the college basketball Hall of Fame, and then Arkansas AD Frank Broyles cost Richardson more than his job. Only 2 schools approached him after that, Richardson says, and neither were major powers.
He was blackballed. Blackballed for speaking out on issues regarding race and the NCAA double standards. But that’s just one of the double standards African American coaches put up with in college sports. Even Richardson, who compiled a 508-206 mark during his college career.
Richardson though surfaced this season as head coach of the Tulsa Shock of the WNBA. And it’s more than a coincidence that it was Richardson who gave Marion Jones a second chance.
Yahoo Sports