A Coach Finds Himself Where His Dreams Came True

Providence was tempting, but the prospect of leaving the school he had taken on a magical Final Four run was too much for Jim Larranaga. (By John Mcdonnell -- The Washington Post)
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"I was sitting in the family room with Jon," he said. "Liz was in the kitchen. I just stood up and said to the two of them, 'I'm staying.' It was just what my gut told me was the right decision. I just didn't want to leave George Mason. I loved the place when I first got here, and I love it more now. I couldn't pull the trigger on leaving."

Jon, who lives nearby, told his father he was glad he was staying. When Jim called Jay in Italy, he said the same thing. When he called Merten, both men became emotional. Larranaga knew he had made the right decision.

The only problem was he couldn't get another flight to San Antonio. He hadn't missed a Final Four since 1986, when he had just been hired at Bowling Green and was buried with work trying to get organized.

"Not getting another flight might have been a break," he said Thursday. "I think we're all drained by the last few days."

On Thursday afternoon, Larranaga got an e-mail from Lou Bufaro. He was out of the hospital. His wife had told him about Larranaga's visit.

"I can't tell you," Bufaro wrote, "how good it makes me feel to know that you're still going to be at George Mason doing what you do."

If Larranaga had any lingering doubts, they were erased when he read that e-mail. He knew he was where he wanted to be and where he belonged.

It wasn't easy for Larranaga to turn down his dream job, except for one thing: After all the talking and all the listening and all the wondering, he realized he already had it.