It's my job as head coach to find the best person who fits in the coaching staff. I was hopeful it would work (with Bates) but it's not there. It's not a negative - it's two people being mature about the situation.

My hats off to Coach Tarver and the Howard coaching staff. They have done a great job. We had some breaks go our way. I am happy for our kids, they have worked hard and it paid off for them.

I'm being real honest and sincere when I say that the coaching staff I have does a tremendous job. From scouting to recruiting, they do so many things behind the scenes. I wouldn't do it without them, and it's truly an award for the entire staff.

But I think that's the most important job on the coaching staff.

We're going to turn it around. We spoke in detail with the coach and coaching staff and we know what we have to do. We have to get everybody back and energized and back in the winning ways. We're 0-2, but it's a long season ahead of us. Our main goal right now is still to win our division, and I think we can get back in our winning ways.

I think that says a lot for our coaching staff and the players we have here.