Manhattan College Coach Turns Down Offer From Tulsa

There probably will comes a time when Fran Fraschilla will leave Manhattan College to coach a more prominent basketball program that will pay him more money and offer more perks and recognition. But now is not the time.

Fraschilla, saying “why spoil what I have here,” turned down the chance to become the head coach at the University of Tulsa and will remain the Jaspers’ head coach for at least another season.

“The Tulsa people were very charming people and they had some things that were interesting,” Fraschilla said Tuesday. “But when it all came down, I’m happy here and I know what I have here. It really wasn’t that difficult a decision.”

Fraschilla, 36, emerged as Tulsa’s top choice to succeed Tubby Smith after leading the Jaspers to a first-round upset over Oklahoma in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament. It was the Jaspers’ third straight post-season appearance under Fraschilla and he returns eight of his top nine players.