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UW’s Mike Hopkins reflects on time with ‘mentor and friend’ Chris Petersen

In the aftermath of Chris Petersen’s bombshell announcement that he’s stepping down as Washington football coach following the Huskies’ bowl game, Mike Hopkins had one overriding thought.

“Good for him,” the UW men’s basketball coach said. “If he’s happy, then I’m happy. Period.”

But then if you know Hopkins, there’s always more. When asked about his relationship with Petersen, Hopkins called the UW football coach a friend and a mentor.

And yet, Hopkins expressed remorse and regrets that he wasn’t able to make a closer connection with the man he called “a legend.”

“I’m kind of sad in the sense of I want to pick his brain on (things),” Hopkins said.