Moving to Miami?

Jarvis interested in 'Canes opening, has not been contacted yet

Mike Jarvis already is on good terms with Miami AD Donna Shalala from his days at George Washington. Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Mike Jarvis had been careful not to campaign for the University of Miami basketball job, but his tune changed Friday with the firing of Hurricanes head coach Perry Clark.

"They don't have a coach at the present time, so it definitely would be a place I would have an interest in,'' Jarvis told SI.com. "I'd look at it as a great challenge.''

Jarvis, who was fired by St. John's on Dec. 19, said as of Friday afternoon he had not been contacted by Miami officials. His name has been linked to the job for several weeks, though, and the decision to dismiss Clark clears the way for Miami athletic director Paul Dee to begin the formal search for his replacement.

Before reaching out to Jarvis, it's also likely that Miami has or will seek assurance from the NCAA and university officials that he is not tied to any possible violations at St. John's. "There is perception or whatever, but they know who I am and what I have done in my lifetime,'' Jarvis said.

Miami is in the market for a coach who can bring credibility to a program moving into the ACC next season. Leonard Hamilton had the 'Canes on the right track before being lured away by Michael Jordan to the NBA, but the program floundered under Clark. Miami finished sub-.500 for a second consecutive season and worse, home attendance averaged a bit more than 2,500 a game in a $51 million arena that opened last year.

Manhattan coach Bobby Gonzalez's name has also been broached in discussions about the Hurricanes job, but Jarvis is assumed to enjoy the inside track because of his familiarity with Miami president Donna Shalala, dating back to when she was Health and Human Services secretary in the Clinton Administration and he coached at George Washington. Shalala, in fact, offered a positive review that is currently being used to promote Jarvis' self-help book, Skills for Life.

Jarvis, as might be expected, mentions Shalala first when asked what makes the Miami job appealing.

"The older you get the more you look at any place from the top down, and the president of the university is just an incredible leader with incredible vision,'' Jarvis said. "My profile always has been to go to a place where you can help build something. I believe there is lot of work to be done, and, more important, that it can be done at Miami.

"They certainly have an institution with a fantastic reputation, academically as well as athletically They have the facilities now, and they're going into the ACC. It seems they have the things I would relish and would like to be a part of.''

Now it's up to Miami to make the call.

Mike Fish is a senior writer for SI.com.