Creighton University Coach Dana Altman: Out of Omaha (And Back In)

"I think you'd better turn your ticket in, and get your money back at the door" is a line from a 90's song, Omaha, by Counting Crows. And that's just what basketball coach Dana Altman did about 7:00 pm (CST) April 3, returning to his old job at Creighton University, located in Omaha, NE, just a little over 24 hours after his news conference accepting the head coaching position at the University of Arkansas with much fanfare.

"With your permission, I'd like to finish my career at the University of Arkansas" Altman said to 200 or so fans, media and players in Walton Arena in a ceremony carried live on local TV. His U of A career turned out to be shorter than Britney Spears' new 'do. I don't know if he signed a contract, one suspects he did not, but if so, it must have been in disappearing ink.

A cynic might say the Arkansas officials "had it coming" after Chancellor John White apparently told former Razorback Coach Stan Heath that his job was safe after the Hogs defeated Mississippi State to make it into the SEC Tournament finals last month, White reversed his field a couple of weeks later, allowing outgoing Athletic Director Frank Broyles to send Heath, by all accounts a good man, packing.

Regardless of that sentiment, one would think that after 13 years at Creighton, one of 28 Jesuit Universities in the U.S., that Dana Altman, a Wilber, NE native, would think about "doing what's best for his family" and not being able to bear leaving his many connections and friends at Creighton U., before agreeing to accept another job in another state.

Altman had reportedly spurned numerous schools from "power conferences" to stay at Creighton since 1994, ironically the year Arkansas won their only NCAA championship in basketball. Now, imagine his difficulty in finding another job in the event Creighton ever decides they no longer require his services.