Agent Claims Ucla Sabotaging Harrick

The agent for former UCLA coach Jim Harrick said Thursday that his client’s quest to become the next coach at Rhode Island is being sabotaged by his former bosses.

Bob Tanenbaum, a Beverly Hills lawyer, said “some people” from UCLA have been faxing materials to Rhode Island officials that do not paint Harrick in a good light. He did not know what the materials contained but he wasn’t happy.

“How vindictive can you be?” he asked. “Wouldn’t it be common knowledge out here and around the country if Jim Harrick had been such a problem at UCLA? This is ridiculous.”

No officials from the UCLA athletic department could be reached for comment.

Harrick, 59, was fired by UCLA last November after he lied on an expense report to cover a minor recruiting violation. At a dinner at Monty’s Restaurant, Harrick hosted three recruits and five current Bruins, two over the NCAA limit. Tanenbaum said Thursday that Harrick admitted lying to athletic director Peter Dalis and did so to protect the two Bruins players who received an “extra benefit” under NCAA rules.

If Tanenbaum’s claims are correct, the information from the West Coast could be preventing Rhode Island from hiring Harrick. Rhode Island president Robert Carothers said the school has not completed its “due diligence” on Harrick and no contract has been offered. Harrick left the state Thursday after interviews and meetings with school officials and players.