Russ Pennell hugs Arizona point guard Nic Wise after the Wildcats defeated Cleveland State to advance to the 2009 Sweet 16. Photo by David Wallace/The Arizona Republic

I was saddened to see the news Friday night that Russ Pennell is out as Grand Canyon’s coach after four years — and a 72-44 record — at the school he helped bring to Division I status starting next season.

Grand Canyon will play in the WAC in 2013-14.

Pennell helped hold the Arizona Wildcats ship together in the 2008-09 season after the preseason retirement of Lute Olson. Assistant coach Mike Dunlap, now the head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, certainly deserves credit as the mad scientist behind some of Arizona’s schemes that season, but when he didn’t want to be head coach under those circumstances, Pennell became the popular and steadying face of the program.

He directed the Cats to the Sweet 16 (where powerful Louisville wiped out the Cats) and Pennell completely earned a soft stop in the hearts of Arizona fans. There is a hearty ovation waiting for him for whenever he wants to come back and take in a game at McKale Center.

Sounds like the identity of his probably successor at Grand Canyon is the main reason why Pennell and the school reached a “mutual decision” to part ways. Here is the story from the Arizona Republic, our Gannett partner:

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Russ Pennell hugs Arizona point guard Nic Wise after the Wildcats defeated Cleveland State to advance to the 2009 Sweet 16. Photo by David Wallace/The Arizona Republic

Russ Pennell, fondly remembered at Arizona for leading the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 after coach Lute Olson retired before the 2008-09 season, is moving back to Division I.

Pennell is in his fourth year as the head coach at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, and the Antelopes will be joining a reconfigured WAC for the 2013-14 season, the league announced Tuesday.

Grand Canyon is a currently a Division II program.

“The big thing is it’s going to be an incredible challenge that we look forward to and we embrace,” Pennell told the Arizona Republic, our Gannett partner.

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Russ Pennell doesn't have to feel anxiety anymore when he returns to McKale Center.
Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE.

For the first time since taking the Arizona Wildcats to the 2009 Sweet 16, Russ Pennell was back at McKale Center for a game last weekend.

“It almost feels like I was here a couple of days ago,” he said after the Arizona-Arizona State game.

Pennell, Arizona’s interim head coach for the 2008-09 season, watched the game from the baseline seats in front of the Zona Zoo, sitting next to ex-Wildcat Matt Brase. Brase is a graduate assistant to Pennell at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

Arizona officials showed Pennell on the videoboard during the first half of the game, and the fans greeted him with a nice round of applause.

“That is very humbling, and it’s very typical of Arizona fans. They just remember,” Pennell said.

Two seasons ago, Pennell stood up to take the interim head coaching job when Lute Olson retired because of health reasons. He was the right guy at the right time. He didn’t have any other agenda other than to navigate the team through a tough season — doing so with an easy-going manner that made him easy to root for.

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