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1 0 Archive | March, 2010

Willard, Donovan Usher in New Seton Hall Hoops Era; Rutgers’ Jackson to Transfer

By Adam Zagoria on March 28, 2010, 11:40PM

Seton Hall will usher in a new era in men’s and women’s basketball Wednesday when the school introduces Kevin Willard as its new men’s coach and Anne Donovan as its latest women’s coach.

Both will be introduced during a joint noon news conference in South Orange, N.J.

Shortly after landing Willard from Iona Sunday morning, Pat Hobbs, the Dean of the Seton Hall Law School, managed to pry the 6-foot-8 Donovan away from the WNBA’s New York Liberty and bring her to Seton Hall as well, ZAGSBLOG.com has learned. Donovan will still coach the Liberty this summer before taking over Seton Hall for the college season.

Both coaches will receive five-year deals. Willard will receive a total compensation package worth “roughly” $1 million per year, with a base salary in excess of $500,000. Donovan’s contract details were not disclosed.

“We are announcing to the world that Seton Hall is going to be competitive in college athletics,” a source within the Seton Hall administration said. (more…)

Lavin, St. John’s to Meet Monday

By Adam Zagoria on March 28, 2010, 7:32PM

Steve Lavin and St. John’s AD Chris Monasch will meet Monday in what could be a prelude to the former UCLA coach becoming the next head coach at St. John’s.

“He will interview at some point Monday,” a source with knowledge said.

“Both sides are really excited.”

If the meeting goes well, Lavin could be named the successor to Norm Roberts, who was fired last week after six seasons.

“If there was a candidate that really came in and was incredibly impressive, I
think you can declare that you’ve found your new coach,” the source said. (more…)

Kevin Willard to Seton Hall (UPDATED)

By Adam Zagoria on March 28, 2010, 3:37PM

Seton Hall has a new coach and the school says Kevin Willard was their “first choice.”

The former Iona coach agreed Sunday to take over the Big East program and will be introduced at a press conference at noon on Wednesday.

“Yes,” said a source with direct knowledge, adding that Willard was “looking forward to the challenge.”

Willard’s deal is for five years at $1 million per year. That is a significant bump from former coach Bobby Gonzalez, who was hired four years ago at a base salary reported at $423,426 and fired last week after four tumultuous seasons.

Read the full story at SNY.tv.

**Seton Hall moving fast to replace Gonzo

**Bob Hurley advising Seton Hall on search

**Enough was Enough: Gonzo Fired

**Former Seton Hall Player Whitney Arrested

**Seton Hall recruits up in the air.

**Stix Mitchell charged with robbery, kidnapping

**Pat Knight says father could coach again.

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McCaffery to Iowa (UPDATED)

By Adam Zagoria on March 28, 2010, 10:59AM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Siena’s Fran McCaffery will be the next coach at Iowa.

“It’s done. It’s going to be Iowa,” a source with knowledge said Sunday morning in breaking the news exclusively to ZAGSBLOG.com.

Iowa has set a noon press conference for Monday.

“On behalf of the Siena community I would like to congratulate Fran on being named the head coach at Iowa,” Siena AD John D’Argenio said in a statement. (more…)

Mountaineers March Over Mighty Wildcats; Truck Bryant Cleared to Play in Final Four

By Adam Zagoria on March 28, 2010, 12:09AM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — It turns out you can win an NCAA tournament game without making a single 2-point basket for an entire half.

West Virginia proved it was possible and pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in recent NCAA tournament memory.

When it was over, and No. 2 West Virginia had shocked No. 1 Kentucky, 73-66, in the East Region final at the Carrier Dome, Devin Ebanks flung the basketball into the crowd and stood on the scorer’s table, his arms raised in triumph.

Read the full story here.

**Fanhouse’s Brett McMurphy broke the news that Darryl “Truck” Bryant was cleared to play in the Final Four.

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Lavin, St. John’s Have ‘Interest’

By Adam Zagoria on March 27, 2010, 8:16PM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Despite a Tweet that came out in the middle of an Elite Eight game, Steve Lavin has not been hired as the new St. John’s coach.

“Both side purportedly seem to have some interest,” a source with knowledge said.

Greg Anthony of ESPN Tweeted that Lavin-to-St. John’s was “reportedly” done but that he hadn’t “confirmed it.”

Lavin has not yet met with St. John’s AD Chris Monasch, the source said.

Read the full story here.

RELATED CONTENT

**McCaffery next up for St. John’s

**Greenberg out, Skinner next at St. John’s?

**Donahue could be next at St. John’s

**Hewitt spurns St. John’s to remain at Georgia Tech

**Hewitt meets with St. John’s, no offer made

**Florida says “zero truth” to Donovan story

**Next St. John’s coach faces critical recruiting period

**Norm Roberts fired after six seasons

(Photo courtesy UCLA Athletics)

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Hofstra Says No Thanks to Gonzo

By Adam Zagoria on March 27, 2010, 12:56PM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Bobby Gonzalez may be interested in the Hofstra job, but Hofstra is not interested in Gonzo.

“We never would consider that considering the situation he just came off of,” a source close to the Hofstra administration said.

The New York Post reported Saturday that Gonzalez, fired last week after four years at Seton Hall, had reached out through “back channels” to inquire about the Hofstra position. Tom Pecora left the job this week to take over at Fordham. (more…)

McCaffery Next Up for St. John’s

By Adam Zagoria on March 27, 2010, 10:12AM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- As I reported on Twitter late Friday night, St. John’s is now looking at Siena coach Fran McCaffery and will interview him next.

The New York Post, citing multiple sources, said St. John’s would meet Saturday with McCaffery, who is also a leading candidate for the Seton Hall job.

McCaffery has let the Saints to three straight NCAA tournament appearances and is 112-51 at Siena.

St. John’s AD Chris Monasch met Friday in New York with Boston College coach Al Skinner, but a source said Skinner is part of the “next tier” of candidates after Florida’s Billy Donovan and Georgia Tech’s Paul Hewitt both turned the job down.

Another potential candidate, Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg, agreed Friday to a two-year extension at that school.

Skinner told The Boston Globe “the talks were ongoing.’

Former St. John’s coach Norm Roberts was fired last week after six seasons. (more…)

Huggins’ Heart Attack Cemented Cal Friendship; UK’s Patterson Motivated to Play West Virginia

By Adam Zagoria on March 26, 2010, 8:41PM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In late September 2002, Bob Huggins suffered a massive heart attack while at the National rental car outlet at the Pittsburgh International Airport.

After laying on the cement across from a Hertz rental car booth, Huggins ended up in an ambulance headed for Sewickley Valley Hospital in Sewickley, Pa., about 5 miles from the airport.

“What’s the ETA?” Huggins, who was then the head coach at Cincinnati and headed to a coaching clinic before he had trouble breathing, asked the ambulance attendant.

Read the full story here.

**Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson, a West Virginia native, is looking forward to playing the Mountaineers in the Elite Eight. Read that story here.

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Coaching Carousel: Greenberg Out, Skinner Next?; Hofstra Seeks Right Fit

By Adam Zagoria on March 26, 2010, 5:05PM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Coaching Carousel continues to move and St. John’s continues to search for a coach.

Numerous reports indicate that Boston College coach Al Skinner, a Malverne, N.Y. native, met Friday with St. John’s AD Chris Monasch at the Queens school.

Against this backdrop, Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg agreed to a two-year extension, meaning he is not a candidate for the St. John’s job.

“I am excited to be afforded the opportunity to continue to build the basketball program at Virginia Tech,” Greenberg said. “What makes Virginia Tech so special is the people and their passion for the University. My family has embraced all that the University stands for and I feel this is where I belong.” (more…)