Pitt interested in Wake Forest's Prosser

Skip Prosser has a 46-19 record in two seasons at Wake Forest. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser, a Pittsburgh native, looks to be atop Pitt's wish list for its new basketball coach.

Neither Pittsburgh interim athletic director Marc Boehm nor chancellor Mark Nordenberg would comment publicly on candidates. However, both were at the NCAA Final Four in New Orleans over the weekend as Pitt seeks a replacement for Ben Howland, who left last week to coach UCLA.

"We are obviously here on business," Boehm said. "We are moving very quickly."

Prosser, who has taken three schools to the NCAA tournament, also said he doesn't comment on other jobs. But, asked about Pittsburgh, he said, "It's my hometown. I have a lifelong love affair with the city of Pittsburgh. It's home."

Howland offered similar remarks about Los Angeles before taking the UCLA job last week.

The 52-year-old Prosser is a graduate of Carnegie High School and began his coaching career as a high school coach in nearby Wheeling, W.Va. During 10 years as a Division I head coach, he coached Loyola (Md.), Xavier and Wake Forest to the NCAA tournament.

This season, Wake Forest was 25-6, won the ACC regular season championship and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament. He has a 46-19 record in two seasons at Wake Forest and was 148-65 in seven seasons at Xavier. His teams have won 20 or more games each of the last seven seasons and eight times in 10 seasons.

However, just as Howland did by leaving Pitt, Prosser would leave behind a veteran team and an excellent recruiting class if he departs Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons return seven players who saw extensive playing time and have a top incoming high school star in guard Chris Paul, one of the most highly recruited players in school history.

Prosser's ties to Pittsburgh could work in his favor if he decides to pursue the Pitt job. Because of his attraction to Pittsburgh, it would likely be harder to persuade him to leave Pittsburgh for another job should the opportunity arrive.

Loyalty has become an issue at Pitt since Howland and athletic director Steve Pederson left the school in a span of four months to return home. Pederson was hired in December as Nebraska's athletic director.

Memphis coach John Calipari, a former Pitt assistant, reportedly is interested in Pittsburgh. However, Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said Pitt has not sought permission to talk to Calipari.

Pitt players are pushing Jamie Dixon, Howland's top assistant, for the job. He was passed over for the Wright State job last week after being interviewed there, and he also interviewed at Illinois State.

 

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