By Eric Prisbell
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 11, 2006

When Rob Moxley accepted the associate head coaching position at Charlotte last month, the move left Maryland Coach Gary Williams looking to replace an assistant for the fifth time in the past two years.

Three former assistants -- Dave Dickerson (Tulane), Jimmy Patsos (Loyola) and Mike Lonergan (Vermont) -- left for head coaching jobs. Another, Matt Kovarik, returned to law school. And Moxley returned to his former school, Charlotte, where he essentially has been promised to be Coach Bobby Lutz's successor, sources said.

"Today, it is so hard to get a head coaching job," Williams said. "When guys get an opportunity, they go. I'm kind of proud of the track record. Your job is to help assistant coaches become head coaches."

Williams talked to five candidates about the opening, including Bishop Ireton boys' basketball coach Chuck Driesell, the son of former Maryland coach Lefty Driesell. Williams does not have a timetable for the hire because the next evaluation period for coaches does not begin until early July.

He is seeking an assistant with particularly strong local recruiting ties.

Williams is excited about the recruiting class that will arrive this fall, which consists of five players. Three high school juniors also have given oral commitments.

"Rob did a good job, but for some reason I have some people here [fans] who don't think I recruit," said Williams, who last month evaluated prospects at the King James Shooting Stars Classic in Akron, Ohio. "I work hard. You saw me in Ohio. I work as hard as any head coach in the recruiting process. We did a good job this past year. I say 'we' because it was the whole staff."