HAMILTON, Ont. -- Frank Kush, whose brilliant career as head coach at Arizona State University ended in controversy, signed a three-year contract Wednesday to coach the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.
Kush, currently involved in a $2.2 million lawsuit stemming from his dismissal from Arizona State for allegedly punching a player, replaces John Payne, who left the Tiger-Cats last week after owner Harold Ballard indicated he would prefer a new coach.
The 51-year-old Kush, who ranks second only to Alabama's Bear Bryant in victories among active coaches, said he has been seeking a job at the pro level since he was fired from ASU midway through last season. Kush had been a strong candidate for the head coach's job with the Baltimore Colts last year.
'I had a chance a year ago, but it didn't pan out. This year this is the first opportunity that became availble,' he said at a news conference at Hamilton's CFL Hall of Fame. 'I have been interested in getting back into football preferably at the pro level, but I have had several offers from colleges.'
The CFL has served as a proving ground for several coaches who aspired to jobs in the NFL. Kush said he had no such intentions, however, and would honor his three-year agreement with the Tiger-Cats.
'I think Arizona is a good example of my intentions,' he said. 'I spent 25 years there. I refused to leave because I felt I had an obligation to the university, the players and the people of Arizona. I will be the same way here.'
Hamilton general manager Ralph Sazio said he had gone through a list of several applicants and had narrowed the field to five candidates last week. But Kush had always been the stongest prospect.
'I always had Kush as my No. 1 pick. Why, thereis no one in football north or south of the border who doesn't know and respect Frank Kush,' Sazio said.
In 22-years as head coach at ASU, the 5-foot-9 Kush compiled a 176-54-1 record. He was fired from ASU midway thrmugh the 1979 season because he allegedly covered up information about charges that he had slugged his punter, Kevin Rutledge. Kush has been sued by Rutledge and the suit has not been settled.
The 11th coach in the Tiger-Cats' 31-year history, Kush takes over a team that compiled a 7-6-1 record this past season, won the Eastern Conference championship for the first time since 1972, and was defeated 48-10 by the Edmonton Eskimos in the Grey Cup championship game.
The 51-year-old coach, who has worked as a television commentator in Phoenix, Ariz., said he was excited about the wide open playing style of the CFL, which uses three downs, 12 man squads, and a field 65 yards wide by 110 yards long with end zones 25 yards deep.
'I think the brand of football played in Canada is probably a lot more exciting than in the U.S. The field is wider, and longer, and the three downs and extra player make it much more interesting.'
Kush said he had also been contacted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL's Western Conference, but had given top consideration to the Hamilton job.
Payne left the Tiger-Cats angry that owner Ballard had never officially told him of his plans to hire a new coach. Payne, who considered his success with the Tiger-Cats 'the most gratifying' of his career, was said to be also in line for the Saskatchewan coaching job.
Kush said he had made no decision on who would comprise his new coaching staff.
