U. of Georgia names Felton basketball coach

Jet, May 5, 2003

When the University of Georgia was having problems within the basketball program last month, Dennis Felton knew he was the perfect person to rehabilitate the men's team.

Felton soon will get his chance as he leaves Western Kentucky to become Georgia's coach with a five-year contract worth $700,000 annually.

"As soon as I thought there might be a chance of a coaching opportunity at Georgia, I was very interested," said Felton, who replaces Jim Harrick. "I want to have the opportunity to build one of the next great basketball programs in the country."

Felton, who is the second Black coach at Georgia, this year became the first coach in Western Kentucky history to take three-straight teams to the NCAA Tournament, and was 100-54 in five seasons. Before that, Felton worked as an assistant at Providence and Clemson.

Georgia athletic director Vince Dooley said of Felton, "We put a good deal of emphasis on finding the right person, the right fit. He is the right person for Georgia."

Felton and his wife, Melanie, have two sons.