Penders hired at Houston

The University of Houston hired former GW men’s basketball coach Tom Penders this week, the Associated Press reported. He is replacing Ray McCallum, who resigned March 8 after compiling a 44-72 record in four seasons.

“If (Roger) Clemens and Andy Pettite think (Houston) is a good place to finish up their careers, it’s good enough for me,” Penders told the AP.

Penders resigned from GW in 2001 amid NCAA violations in which players used the long-distance phone card of an assistant coach. Center Attila Cosby was also convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in Guthridge Hall.

Before his three-year stint at GW that began in 1999, Penders coached at the University of Texas for 10 seasons. He also coached at Columbia University, Tufts University and the University of Rhode Island.

-Alan Siegel