Dana Altman’s stint at Arkansas was over in one day.

Altman quit yesterday, apologizing to Arkansas fans and saying it was in his family’s best interest to return to Creighton.

A day earlier, he had been introduced as the Razorbacks’ new coach - at a news conference that included cheerleaders, a cheering crowd and a traditional "Pig Sooie" call.

"This is one of the shortest chapters and most disappointing chapters in the history of the institution," Arkansas Chancellor John A. White said at a hastily scheduled news conference yesterday. "But you know this program is strong and is going to be strong in the future. We want to wish the very, very best to Dana Altman and his family."

Altman has coached at Creighton for 13 years and said he decided to return to the Omaha, Neb., school after talking to his wife and Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen, who agreed to take him back.

"This is something I’m doing for my family," Altman said. "I wish I would have come to that decision earlier."

Altman was hired to replace Stan Heath, whom Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles fired last week. South Florida hired Heath on Monday.

● UP IN THE AIR: The Air Force Falcons and Colorado Buffaloes are eager to know whether Jeff Bzdelik is going to be roaming their sidelines next season.

Bzdelik, who is 50-16 in two seasons at the academy, is being courted by Colorado Athletic Director Mike Bohn to revitalize the Buffaloes’ program. Air Force Athletic Director Hans Mueh has said he’ll do everything in his power to keep Bzdelik from bolting to Boulder.

Neither AD returned phone calls from The Associated Press.

The Rocky Mountain News and Colorado Springs Gazette, citing sources it didn’t name, reported that Bzdelik had agreed to the Buffaloes’ offer.

The Denver Post reported on its Web site that Bzdelik told Air Force players at a 5 p.m. meeting he was still undecided about his future, according to several players who attended the meeting.

CU officials announced a news conference for this morning to introduce their new coach, but did not elaborate.

● GLORY DAYS: For two decades, Texas has been trying to recapture the standard of perfection Hall of Fame Coach Jody Conradt and the Longhorns set.

The university thinks Gail Goestenkors might be just the woman to do it.

Goestenkors is leaving Duke to coach Texas, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.

The 44-year-old coach won seven Atlantic Coast Conference coach-of-the-year awards and compiled a career record of 396-99.

● HIGH STAKES: Michigan hired John Beilein to coach its men’s basketball team a week after he led West Virginia to the NIT championship.

Beilein told his players of the decision at a team meeting in Morgantown, W.Va.

"Sometimes good things come to an end," Beilein said at a news conference. "It’s time for me to do new things at a new university."

Michigan planned to introduce Beilein at a news conference today in Ann Arbor.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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