Few thought that it would happen so quickly. Yesterday Saint Louis University men’s basketball head coach Lorenzo Romar resigned and will be taking the head coaching position at the University of Washington, his alma mater. The announcement came during a press conference held in the Hall of Fame room in the Bauman-Eberhardt Athletic Center. The move ends Romar’s three-year term at SLU.
Romar found success in his first season. The Billikens finished the year 19-14 and won the Conference USA Tournament. SLU then played Utah in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and lost 48-45 to round out the 1999-2000 season.
The Billikens finished the 2000-01 season with a 17-14 record overall and a 8-8 record in C-USA. SLU battled through injuries and the loss of its leading scorer and point guard Marque Perry due to a concusion and its afteraffects and finished 15-16 with a loss in the first round of the C-USA Tournament.
Romar was optimistic about next season. No players were graduating, and he had confidence in the incoming freshmen whom he recruited. But a greater force pulled Romar away from SLU.
“If not for my alma mater calling me, I’d still be the coach at Saint Louis University,” Romar said.
Romar’s new status blossomed in just a few hours. Romar was leaning toward returning to SLU and taking his name from consideration.
“A few days ago, I almost called (Sports Information Director) Doug McIlhagga and told him, `Let’s forget this. I’ll stay here,'” Romar said.
The tide appeared to continue to turn in the Billikens’ favor after meeting with SLU administration Tuesday night. Romar was pleased with the direction the meeting took and the value that was placed on the men’s basketball program.
“The meeting had me very encouraged about the direction of Saint Louis University’s program,” Romar said.
But in the end, the promise of a return to his alma mater and the West Coast was too much for Romar to pass up. Despite the promise that Washington provides, there is much for Romar to miss at SLU.
“I made the decision to leave. Now it’s here and I have to go,” Romar said. “But because of my loyalty to our guys, I can’t relax and get excited about it.”
