Apparently Mark Fox has been a Georgia guy for a while.

Fox revealed coaching Georgia basketball has intrigued him in the past, even if his only visit to Athens resulted in a Nevada 58-47 win over Georgia in 2004.

Never mind Fox hadn’t visited campus since then. In his mind, coaching Georgia was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

“My interest in Georgia goes way back,” Fox said. “I can remember a conversation with a search firm a few years ago and I declined a chance to pursue a job, and the gentleman asked me, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘It’s not like it’s Georgia.’ And it’s because I feel strongly about what this program is capable of accomplishing.”

Today was a chance for Fox to give a first impression to people curious, those wanting to delve into who Mark Fox is. It was a surprise hire to say the least.

But Fox didn’t disappoint, in person. He was excited and energized. His wife accompanied him, as well as his two kids – who were looking sharp in two brand new black Nike Georgia jackets.

Fox answered each question in detail. And there still are some questions regarding expectations with Fox – especially since not many people on this side of the country are familiar with him.

And that’s OK with Fox, because he expects more out of himself anyway.

“I’ll probably have higher expectations of myself than anyone else will,” Fox said. “I’ve always felt you have to shoot for the stars and that’s what we’ll do.”

For today’s Red & Black, I wrote that this was a smart hire from Evans, based on Fox’s obscurity in the Southeast. But with a surplus of money Georgia has to spend on a basketball coach, athletic director Damon Evans gave Fox a hefty six year, $1.3 million deal.

To sum it up, Evans is laying his belief on the line that Fox is the guy that will turn Georgia basketball around. I asked Evans if Fox were to have success, would they renegotiate his contract to lock him for the long term (a criticism former athletic director Vince Dooley dealt with when Tubby Smith left Georgia for Kentucky).

“You’re doggone right,” Evans said. “We’re in it for the long haul, man. I’ve made a commitment to the Georgia people to build basketball. I want us all to have something to be proud of. I can’t be more plain than that. I want that coliseum full. I want these students jumping around. I want people around the country to be talking about Georgia basketball.”

It is public knowledge Evans met with Missouri’s Mike Anderson, and you have to assume Anderson was Georgia’s top option. But Evans expressed optimism and belief that he landed a coach he’s comfortable with.

“This isn’t something we’ll concede and hand over,” Evans said. “This guy is who I felt was the right guy.”

Fox was introduced in front of a crowded audience, and to a round of applause with the Evans’ support.

And it’s hard to argue with three NCAA Tournament showings (two second round appearances) as a head coach and a Sweet 16 appearance as an assistant under now-LSU coach Trent Johnson. Fox wasn’t ready to make any assurances Georgia would make any NCAA runs soon, but he expressed belief the Bulldogs should be able to.

“I’m not going to predict we’ll go to the Final Four in two years or anything like that,” he said. “But I think this is a job where you should be able to compete for championships. And the goal, first and foremost has to be to compete in the SEC and if you do that then you’ll be in position to do other things.”

It’s an interesting and unexpected hire from an outsider’s perspective, indeed. But that just might be a perception Fox will thrive on.

-Jason Butt is the sports editor for the Red & Black

Corrections and updates: In my column printed in Friday’s paper entitled “Little known Fox’s hire smart for Damon Evans,” I implied Virginia hired Parker Executive Search to help fill their coaching vacancy. Virginia did consult with Parker, but never officially hired them, and Tony Bennett was ultimately Virginia’s top guy. Everything I read up to Thursday’s Richmond Times-Dispatch articleread here stated Virginia was using Parker for its search.

And, as one Red & Black commenter noted (the one who brought the Times-Dispatch article to my attention), where would Virginia have headed if Parker was more involved than they were?

Also, after attending Fox’s press conference, I talked with a few people who informed me an offer was never officially made to Mike Anderson. Media outlets, ESPN namely, reported sources said Georgia offered Anderson in the range of $2.1 million-$2.3 million a year. Yes, there was a meeting between Evans and Anderson, but an official offer was never presented.