Arizona named Russ Pennell as the interim successor to Lute Olson, who retired Wednesday to spend more time with his family.
“Russ is a veteran assistant coach with a wealth of coaching experience,” Arizona AD Jim Livengood said. “His experience of working in three of the best basketball conferences in the nation will serve us well.”

An era at Arizona ended Thursday when Lute Olson announced he will step down as head coach of the basketball team
“This was not a decision that was made lightly,” Olson said. “I’ve had a wonderful run at The University of Arizona. I leave with a great sense of pride in what we have accomplished here.”
“At [...]

Bobby Knight returning to coaching? Here’s an AP story suggesting he’s leaving the door open….
INDIANAPOLIS — Bob Knight, the winningest coach in Division I history, left the door ajar to a return to coaching college basketball during a wide-ranging television interview broadcast Wednesday night.
“I got nothing else to do. It would just depend on the [...]

St. John’s has two openings on its staff and rumors are rampant that Kimani Young of New Heights and/or Oswald Cross of the New York Panthers could get hired by the end of the month by Norm Roberts.
Cross coached current SJU player Justin Burrell at Our Saviour Lutheran in the Bronx.
“It’s Oz’s job to turn [...]

As reported here last month, Orlando Antigua is leaving Pitt to join John Calipari’s staff at Memphis, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The University can’t yet make a formal announcement on the hiring, but Antigua will join Josh Pastner and John Robic on Calipari’s staff. Rod Strickland was previously promoted to director of basketball operations.
Pitt [...]

 
Former St. John’s coach Mike Jarvis will be introduced today as the new head coach at Florida Atlantic.
 
 
Jarvis’ four-year contract must be approved Wednesday by university trustees, according to the AP.
 
 
Jarvis replaces Rex Walters, who announced on April 14 that he was leaving after two seasons for San Francisco, causing R.J. Hall of Bloomfield Tech [...]

It looks as if Pittsburgh assistant Orlando Antigua, a native of the Bronx, will take the opening on John Calipari’s staff created when Chuckie Martin left to take the Marist job. Both Antigua and Martin attended St. Raymond’s in the Bronx, and Orlando is the brother of current St. Ray’s coach Oliver Antigua, who made [...]

Down goes Huggy Bear, Down goes Huggy Bear.
Yes, it seems that West Virginia coach Bob Huggins took a nasty fall today after tripping over a cone while checking his cell phone messages on the tarmac at an airport in Charlotte, N.C.
“He’s down there with the alumni to meet with the Charlotte alumni group and as [...]

Pastner to Memphis; Tigers Working on Ebanks, Harris
Josh Pastner will join the Memphis staff as an assistant coach and lead recruiter, according to various sources.
Pastner recruited Tamir Jackson of St. Benedict’s to Arizona before Jackson ultimately chose UAB.
Here’s what the Memphis Commercial Appeal had to say:

Pastner, 30, has been on the Arizona coaching staff since [...]

Gregg Doyel of CBSSports says he has sources who say Louisville coach Rick Pitino inquired about the Miami Heat vacancy and speculates that Pitino might be a candidate to replace the fired Avery Johnson in Dallas.
With the way Pitino and Larry Brown have moved around over the years, it wouldn’t shock us.
Now I don’t want [...]