For some, Basketball Hall of Fame coach Nolan Richardson is a polarizing figure. Initially, many fans here in Arkansas resented Nolan for how he handled what he saw as a situation fueled by racial discrimination. Times have changed and with its passing, old wounds in the state have healed.
Now, Nolan Richardson is more loved than probably any coach in the history of Razorback athletics. Things weren’t always this way though and I am not talking about the wake of upset fans. No, I am talking about his early years as a coach here in the Natural State.