Report: Bender finished

JANIE MCCAULEY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEATTLE -- Washington basketball coach Bob Bender has been released after three consecutive losing seasons, a player told The Associated Press Tuesday night.

Senior center David Dixon said Bender told the team Tuesday that he had been released.

A source close to the athletic department also confirmed that Bender was out. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was unaware of specific candidates for the job.

Asked to comment Tuesday night, Jim Daves, UW sports information director, would say only that an announcement concerning the basketball program was planned for today.

Bender "was a good person and always there to help his team in the good and bad times," Dixon said.

"Any time a change like this comes about I don't think anybody is really ready for it," said senior Grant Leep. "It's tough to deal with. Everything he's done these nine years he's done with class. Everybody who's played for him has as much respect for him as you can have for anybody.

"Whatever direction the program goes, they've lost a great coach and a great man."

Bender, 44, had a 116-142 record in nine seasons coaching the Huskies, taking the team to the NCAA tournament in 1998 and '99. The Huskies reached the round of 16 in '98, the school's first NCAA bid since 1986 and first appearance in the round of 16 since 1984.

Under Bender, the school made the postseason in four consecutive seasons -- 1996-99 -- which no other Washington coach had done.

But Bender's recent teams struggled, and he was unable to attract marquee-type players until the addition of Doug Wrenn this season.

For more local news go to the Local Sports section.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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