Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

5/16/2010 at 1:25am

TULSA - Decked out in a coral jacket with a yellow t-shirt underneath and pants to match, Nolan Richardson brought back the same unique fashion flair that drew attention during a Hall of Fame college-coaching career. Richardson barked at officials when frustrated, rolling his eyes and folding his arms in disgust just like the old days.

Plenty about his WNBA debut with the Tulsa Shock seemed reminiscent of Richardson's tenures with the University of Arkansas and Tulsa. As for his signature style of play? That didn't replicate as easily as his duds and demeanor.

Richardson's patented "40 Minutes Hell" style seemed like an imitation brand during stretches of an 80-74 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday at the BOK Center. Instead of Tulsa imposing its will defensively and scoring easy buckets in transition, the Shock turned the ball over 22 times and they had only 11 fast break points.

"It takes time," Richardson said. "We're really all so new."

Beyond the first glance, this new gig isn't as familiar for Richardson as his wardrobe makes it appear. Richardson might have dusted off his suits, but he is coaching women and professional basketball for the first time. Richardson hasn't been in the coaching spotlight since being fired at Arkansas in 2002. Success with the Panamanian and Mexican national teams was achieved without much attention or fanfare.

There were certainly no pre-game fireworks, unending blasts of hip hop and rock over the stadium speakers or mascots dunking through flames during games in Juarez. By the time Richardson was introduced to a yellow-clad, sold out crowd of 7,806 - including WNBA President Donna Orender, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry and Oklahoma women's coach Sherri Coale - Shock fans were frenzied.

Nerves were evident in the Tulsa players. If the 68-year-old Richardson was anxious it didn't show and he wasn't copping to it.

"Nah. Not really," Richardson said. "I've been coaching so long, nerves don't get to me. I was less nervous than I was happy."

Richardson is glad to be back in coaching. He passed on the few opportunities that came his way since retaliating to his firing with a lawsuit against the UA.

Folks in Tulsa are pleased to have Richardson back on the sidelines. He might draw mixed emotions in Arkansas, but he is fully embraced by the people of Tulsa. Prior to coaching the Razorbacks, Richardson spent 1981-85 with the University of Tulsa, guiding the school to a NIT title.

Assistant Wayne Stehlik, with Richardson at Arkansas and in Mexico, has repeatedly witnessed the kind of connection his boss has with the city of Tulsa. Few breakfast or lunch outings go uninterrupted.

"He left here on good terms and everybody loved him," Stehlik said. "He helped put Tulsa basketball on the map and they've not forgotten that."

Now the city is hoping for new memories with Richardson and the WNBA franchise. Richardson has won big at every stop he's made, including being the only coach to win a junior college national title, a NIT and an NCAA championship.

Experts have written off the Shock as one of the worst teams in the league, so immediate success seems unlikely. Prior to moving from Detroit the team won WNBA titles in 2003, 2006 and 2008, but only five players made the move with the team.

Richardson is well-respected in WNBA circles, but his roster isn't viewed as championship-ready.

Tulsa has three rookies and a pair of players with only one year of experience on its 11-person roster, including 34-year-old, first-timer Marion Jones. If Jones' name sounds familiar, but hard to place, it's because she earned notoriety as a world-class sprinter who had her five gold medals stripped for steroid use.

Jones, who was more of a focal point Saturday for the national and international press than Richardson, does have a basketball background. She won a college national title as a point guard the same year Richardson won his championship at Arkansas.

Few expect much from her, but Jones' athleticism and hunger to prove she belongs make her perfect for a Richardson-coached team. "Us Against the World" has been a familiar Richardson mantra and he's carried it with him to Tulsa.

"I know his style, his approach to motivating his teams in the past, I can say he's certainly implemented a little of that ‘us against the world' motivation,'" Jones said. "We all know what the tone of people thinking about the Shock is. ... I can say he's used that as motivation for us."

With outside expectations low, the Shock have a chance to create success where few expect it. Looks like a situation tailor-made for Richardson.