Fordham athletic director Frank McLaughlin decided against firing men’s basketball coach Dereck Whittenburg after going 3-25 last season. But after a 1-4 start to the 2009-10 campaign, including a 68-44 thrashing at the hands of local rival Manhattan Saturday night, he decided that enough was enough.
“He was 3-25 last year, and we tried to give him some support, but when you start 1-4 with a favorable schedule, things happen,” McLaughlin said. “With the schedule we have, we should not be 1-4.”
A source close to the program told The Post that when the administration saw Fordham fall behind against Manhattan, its long-time local rival, and not make any move to get back in the game, they knew Whittenburg had lost the team.
“We want to be successful in basketball, and be successful in the Atlantic 10,” McLaughlin said. “I think we have decent talent, and the kids are gonna work together, and we’re gonna work this out. As far as we’re concerned, the season begins (tomorrow).”
McLaughlin appointed Jared Grasso from Whittenburg’s staff to serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Grasso, who is in his fourth season with the program, previously worked as an assistant at Quinnipiac and Hartford.
McLaughlin said Grasso would be the coach for the remainder of the season, and that the search would pick up in earnest then.
“Our goal is to support this team and support Jared and see what happens this year,” McLaughlin said. “The search isn’t a top priority. The top priority is to support this team and the coaching staff.”
One thing McLaughlin claimed had nothing to do with his decision was a published report that the team’s star guard, Jio Fontan, had told Whittenburg Wednesday night that he was leaving the team and planning to transfer at the end of the season.
“That had nothing to do with it at all,” he said. “The decision was made over the weekend and Monday morning. We had to keep quiet in order to talk to the Board of Trustees and the president.
“I couldn’t say anything about it, but the decision was made.”
If Fontan does decide that it is time for him to leave Fordham, McLaughlin said he would not stand in his way. This was a departure from the stance Fordham took in the spring, when Fontan, fresh off a season in which he was an All-Atlantic 10 Rookie team selection, made it clear he wanted to transfer, only for the school to refuse to grant him his release.
“It is a different stance,” McLaughlin said. “Ji deserves credit. He came back and made an effort . . . that’s all we asked for. If he’s unhappy, he can leave, but we’ll see what happens.
“Jio is a great kid, but we have a lot of great kids. If Jio wants to leave, we have great kids, so that’s OK, too. We’ll be all right.”
A source told The Post that former St. John’s coach Fran Fraschilla is on a short wish list, along with former Providence coach Tim Welsh and former Virginia coach Pete Gillen. The source said that two persons close to Fraschilla said the Brooklyn native would listen.
Robert Morris head coach Mike Rice, Canisius head coach Tom Parrotta and St. John’s assistant Freddy Quartlebaum — all Fordham alumni — are other names that could be considered. Quartlebaum was a finalist when Whittenburg was hired.
“Freddy has coached in a lot of places – North Carolina, Iowa State, St. John’s – and he’s loved all those places,” St. John’s coach Norm Roberts said of Quartlebaum. But he doesn’t love any place like Fordham. That’s his dream job. He and Fordham would be a great fit.”
As McLaughlin goes about the process of looking for a new head coach, one of the things that could become a problem for Fordham is its out-of-date facilities. Although Rose Hill Gym is a landmark for being the second-oldest arena in Division I, it lacks the modern amenities that many of the school’s rivals have.
“As for Rose Hill, we know it’s a problem. Every place has plusses and minuses. Our big minus is our facility,” he said.
“To be honest, it’s a great practice facility. That’s why we’re trying to get more games in the Izod (Center) and the Garden. We looked to expand .. . it’s not feasible, and the economy’s tough.”
tbontemps@nypost.com