Indiana names new coach; Fife to stay a Hoosier

From staff and wire reports

Indiana announced yesterday that it hired assistant Mike Davis as interim basketball coach to replace the fired Bob Knight. The move prevented potential problems with the team, including the possibility that a number of players would transfer.

"There was no way I could turn this job down," said Davis, surrounded by the team at a news conference. "I'm sad by the way it happened. ... Everyone knows Coach Knight is the reason I'm here and why the players are here."

But, he added, "Indiana basketball is bigger than anyone."

John Treloar, another Knight assistant backed by the players, was also retained and promoted to interim associate coach.

"We're so pleased they're willing to go forward with us," athletic director Clarence Doninger said. "We are presenting a unified front today. We're looking forward to the future. We know this team has great potential."

Knight was fired Sunday for repeated misconduct. Monday the players told Doninger that Davis or Treloar had to be hired as interim coach or every one of them would leave the program.

"There's no question they came to Indiana University to play for coach Bob Knight," Doninger said in an earlier interview. "We'd like to think they came to Indiana University because of Indiana University, too. But I know the facts of life here, and they came to play for coach Knight."

Dane Fife - who said Monday he had decided to transfer - met with Davis and Doninger prior to yesterday's press conference and decided to re-evaluate his early position.

"I've spoken with my teammates, and I was at a club last night and somebody came on stage and said, 'Dane, you've got to stay.' And the place just erupted in loud cheers," Fife said. "It really made me appreciate what Indiana basketball is all about."

Yesterday before the press conference, Dane's brother Dugan - who played guard for Michigan from 1992-96 - said that if Dane chose to transfer, he wanted to stay in the midwest.

"Michigan is one of the possibilities," Dugan said. "He is also thinking of Michigan State or maybe Notre Dame."

But Dugan hinted that Dane would probably stay at Indiana if Davis were hired.

"(Dane) hasn't asked for his release yet," Dugan said.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report.