Collen declines Vanderbilt job

NASHVILLE -- Tom Collen declined the offer to become the women's basketball coach at Vanderbilt on Thursday, less than 24 hours after accepting the job, because of questions concerning his education.\n"Although I am certainly devastated by what has happened, I walk away from the opportunity at Vanderbilt knowing that the discrepancy on my resume submitted to Colorado State in 1997 was an honest mistake and not one of deception," Collen said in a statement.\nCollen's biography in the Colorado State media guide listed him with two master's degrees from Miami of Ohio.\nVanderbilt had been set to announce Collen as coach on Monday, until they checked his academic credentials and found that he had one master's degree with a dual major.\nCollen sent copies of his transcripts and diplomas by fax to Vanderbilt officials, and his resume correctly showed he had one master's degree. He said Colorado State misunderstood his credentials when he filled out a questionnaire for the sports information department.\nVanderbilt Athletic Director Todd Turner said Vanderbilt felt comfortable with Collen once the information was verified, and on Wednesday announced him as the new coach.\nCollen sent Turner a letter on Thursday turning down the job.\n"Given the events of the last few days, I have decided that it is not in the best interests of Vanderbilt University and my family to accept your offer," Collen wrote.\n"I have great respect for the character and integrity of Vanderbilt University and would not want my presence to detract from that in any way. Please know how deeply I regret the misunderstanding that has occurred and any embarrassment this may have caused to you."\nTurner said Vanderbilt stands behind the offer it made to Collen, but the school's reputation was at risk.\n"I know this decision was difficult for him to make, but it was the right one," Turner said. "We will continue our search immediately to find new leadership."\nChancellor Gordon Gee said the school has high standards and did not want them compromised.\n"Tom Collen is a decent man, and I know he would not want his presence to distract from our commitment to excellence and honesty," he said.\nCollen said he was not trying to fool anyone about his credentials.\n"I have spent over 20 years in the game of women's basketball teaching the game I love and gaining the respect of those involved," he said. "I'm embarrassed by what has happened, but I'm proud of who I am."\nCollen led Colorado State to four NCAA tournaments and had a record of 129-33 in five seasons.\nVanderbilt will continue its search for a replacement for Jim Foster, who left to become the coach at Ohio State. Foster was 256-99 in 11 seasons at Vanderbilt.\nThe 48-year-old Collen is the latest coach to lose a job over a resume discrepancy.\nGeorge O'Leary, former Georgia Tech football coach, lost the head job at Notre Dame earlier this year when he falsely claimed on his resume that he played college football and had a master's degree.