ESPN.com - NCB - Majerus says mother remains top priority

Majerus, who took a sabbatical from coaching at Utah this season to care for his ill mother in Milwaukee, said he'll probably talk to Badgers athletics director Pat Richter about the Badgers' coaching vacancy.

"I think it's a good job. Obviously, Wisconsin's a great place to live and I probably will have a conversation with Pat," Majerus told WTMJ Radio in Milwaukee. "But right now, the most immediate and pressing concern I have ... is to get together with my mother and to consult with her physicians."

Richter hopes Majerus will be more interested in a job in his home state than he has been when he's been offered other high-profile jobs.

"Rick is in the first category of people we want to talk to," Richter said. He said he would like Majerus to visit Madison by early next week.

ESPN.com's Andy Katz said Majerus would not accept the Wisconsin job because of a committment to his current players at Utah.

Soderberg, who went 16-10 after taking over for Dick Bennett three games into the season, was told Monday he wouldn't be retained.

Soderberg said he felt Richter was making a mistake by veering from the system that produced four NCAA Tournament berths in five years, one more than the school had before Bennett and Soderberg arrived in 1995.

But Soderberg added: "If he's able to get Majerus here, then he's making the right decision."

Richter said he wanted a coach of national fame, a top-notch recruiter who could lure the best athletes. Preferably, the new man will have Wisconsin ties.

Majerus, a native of Sheboygan, Wis., coached at Marquette and was an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Bucks coach George Karl said he would love to have his good friend back in Wisconsin full time: "I would probably gain some weight, but maybe we could work on our health together."'

Majerus, 52, had two procedures to repair a heart valve in early January and announced later that month he was taking the rest of the season off to get healthy and take care of his mother.

Another coach who fits Richter's criteria is University of Wisconsin alumnus Ben Braun, the head coach at Cal.

"Ben Braun does have those Wisconsin ties," Richter said. "I don't know if he'd be interested, but he would fit the profile."

Cal's acting athletics director, Bob Driscoll, turned down the request from Richter to speak with Braun, although such requests are considered a formal courtesy and the denial is not enforceable.

Soderberg said his biggest drawback was that he wasn't Bennett, who took the Badgers to their first Final Four since 1941 last year, but who resigned on Nov. 30 because of mental and physical exhaustion.

"Either that or I wasn't a bigger name," Soderberg said. "(Richter) straight out said he wanted to get a bigger name. I can't give him that."

Soderberg, 38, said he already had inquired about several other coaching jobs. He said he never got to state his case to Richter, who walked into his office Monday and immediately informed Soderberg of the decision.

Soderberg called it a gutsy decision to make a change because the Badgers finished in the top half of the Big Ten and were ranked all season.

"I'm disappointed. This is where I wanted to stay," Soderberg said. "I grew up in this state and this was the dream job for me. So, at least I have a year to hold onto. Nobody can take that away from me."

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