By Paul Newberry
The Associated Press

ATHENS, Ga. - As widening allegations threatened his coaching career, Georgia's Jim Harrick denied any wrongdoing and vowed "the truth will come out."

"We'll answer every question," Harrick said in an interview broadcast Tuesday by ESPN. "Don't worry about it."

Two Georgia players were pulled out of practice Monday and questioned by NCAA and school investigators about allegations made by former player Tony Cole, who was kicked off the team last year.

Cole has accused Harrick's son and assistant coach, Jim Harrick Jr., of paying part of his expenses and committing academic fraud. The younger Harrick was suspended with pay last week.

"Consider the source," the elder Harrick said, referring to Cole. "This is a vindictive young man. Everyone who has tried to help Tony Cole was victimized at the end."

Meanwhile, Harrick's previous employer, Rhode Island, is investigating separate claims of NCAA rules violations made in a sexual harassment suit against the coach.

Rhode Island spokeswoman Linda Acciardo said the school already has dismissed two of the claims for lack of evidence. One involved a player being provided answers to a test, the other was potential recruiting violations related to telephone calls.

Acciardo said the school has asked former athletic department employee Christine King to provide more information about her other charges.

"They are extremely vague in nature," Acciardo told The Associated Press. "Some don't even identify the players. Some have no time frame. ... If you don't have a player's name and you don't have a time frame, it's difficult to look into it."

Georgia starters Rashad Wright and Chris Daniels were questioned about a class they took with Cole in 2001.

The class, "Coaching Principles and Strategies of Basketball," was taught by Harrick Jr. Cole said he received a passing grade without ever attending the class.

"The investigative team is seeking the truth, which is what we want," athletic director Vince Dooley said. "As always happens, one thing leads to another, which leads to another. The history is that it will go on for a while."

The elder Harrick vehemently denied that either he or his son committed academic fraud. He said attendance records show Cole was in the class, and that other athletes will back it up.

"They've talked to everybody about the class," Harrick said. "They talked to my players about the class. They talked to football players. They talked to track guys. I think everything is fine."

Wright and Daniels were expected to play Tuesday night when the 25th-ranked Bulldogs hosted No. 3 Florida.

Cole played 16 games with the Bulldogs in 2001-02, but he was kicked off the team after being charged with aggravated assault with intent to rape. The charge was later dismissed.

Rhode Island, where the elder Harrick coached before coming to Georgia in 1999, is investigating allegations made in a sexual harassment lawsuit against the elder Harrick.

Last month, Rhode Island paid $45,000 to King in exchange for her dropping her lawsuit. The school admitted no guilt under terms of the settlement.

In the suit, King charged that players received money from the coaching staff, including Harrick Jr., and had their grades changed. She also alleged that Harrick Jr. falsified hotel and meal reports for recruits.

Rhode Island began its own investigation but has not been contacted by the NCAA, Acciardo said.

"It's still an internal thing," she said. "If we get additional details of any kind, the finding will be turned over to the NCAA."

While most of Cole's allegations are directed at Harrick Jr., the former player also claims he used the head coach's personal credit card to buy a 28-inch color television from Circuit City.

Calling the allegation "ludicrous," Harrick said he obtained a statement from the store that proves he didn't buy Cole a television.

"It shows everything my wife and I have bought at Circuit City in the four years since we've been here," Harrick said, adding that the only television he purchased was in 1999. "It's a real nice one. It's in my living room."

As for the Rhode Island case, Harrick said he was never told about the allegations until the settlement came to light.

"I never had a phone call. I never had a letter. Not one word was said about anything that wasn't positive," Harrick said. "This is the first I heard of it."

Acciardo disputed Harrick, saying athletic director Ron Petro called the coach around Feb. 1.

"Our athletic director spoke personally with Harrick to alert him that this was going public," Acciardo said. "I do know he reached him, discussed it with him and spoke with him personally about it."

Harrick said he will be fully vindicated.

"I've been in this business 30 years," he said. "You don't survive by giving people money and doing people's work for them."

He said Georgia star Jarvis Hayes "lives in the dorm, has no car, no money. I rest my case."