Keady May Head West for USF Job

The future of Gene Keady as Purdue coach came into doubt Thursday, with reports pointing to a possible new job at the University of San Francisco.

Hours after ESPN.com posted a report that Keady might leave Purdue for the coaching position at San Francisco, Purdue Sports Information Director Elliot Bloom released a brief statement confirming that Keady had interviewed with the Dons.

Bloom’s statement gave no indication of whether Keady may leave Purdue to replace Philip Mathews, fired by USF earlier this month.

San Francisco assistant sports information director Ryan McCrary told the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, Ind., that Keady interviewed for the coaching job.

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Oklahoma assistant Jimmy Tubbs will return to Southern Methodist today to become the school’s head coach, the Dallas Morning News reported, citing several anonymous sources.

SMU has called a morning news conference to announce the new hire, but would not confirm who would be named coach.

Tubbs spent 12 seasons as an assistant at SMU. Mike Dement, the Mustangs’ coach the last nine years, was fired Feb. 27.

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Kerry Rupp is not a candidate to become Utah’s coach despite leading the team to a spot in the NCAA tournament. He took over as coach when Rick Majerus stepped down on Jan. 28 because of health concerns.

“I’m not in the running,” he said after meeting with Athletic Director Chris Hill. “He just wants to bring in someone with more experience.”

Rupp guided the Utes to a 9-4 finish, including the Mountain West Conference tournament title. They lost to Boston College in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

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Following one of Utah State’s most successful seasons in school history, Coach Stew Morrill will receive a raise in pay.

Spokesman Mike Strauss said the school would add more money to Morrill’s $200,000 per year base contract. Utah State was 25-4 and ranked in the top-25 poll for the first time since 1970.

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Larry Eustachy was introduced as Southern Mississippi coach, 10 months after he resigned at Iowa State.

He replaces James Green, who resigned the day before the Golden Eagles’ final regular-season game. They finished 13-15.