Eastman Puts End To Richmond Rumor

Washington State University men’s basketball coach Kevin Eastman withdrew his name Friday from consideration for the vacant head coaching job at his alma mater, Richmond (Va.) University.

Eastman, contacted at a hotel in Las Vegas, where he is recruiting, said he withdrew his name without having met face-to-face with Richmond athletic director Chuck Boone, who is heading the search to find a replacement for Bill Dooley. Dooley was fired earlier this month.

Eastman’s announcement came amid swirling rumors that he had already agreed to a deal that would make him the Spiders’ head coach - with the understanding that he would also become the school’s athletic director when Boone decides to step down.

Eastman called that rumor, and several others, “very erroneous.”

“I never was offered a future athletic director’s job,” said the 1977 Richmond graduate and four-year letterwinner on the school’s basketball team. “Nor would I have wanted it discussed, as Richmond has a quality athletic director and very competent people in house.”

Eastman, who is 48-41 in three seasons at WSU, said he was “proud” to explore the possibility of returning to his alma mater, but decided it was in the best interest of his family to remain in Pullman.

“Our family is very happy here in Pullman,” he said. “I think other people have tried to say otherwise, and those people who do say that are dead wrong and do not know our family.

“It seems to our family that other people bash Pullman when, in fact, we feel - from a quality of life standpoint - this is easily the nicest place we have ever lived.”

Boone, in a statement released through Richmond’s sports information office, said he was pleased to have discussed the opportunity with Eastman and fully understands and appreciates his decision to remain at WSU.

, DataTimes