JMU to name coach today

The waiting game to see who will be hired as the new men’s basketball coach will end today, according to Athletic Director Jeff Bourne.

“We should have a strong indication of that tomorrow,” Bourne said Wednesday evening.

An announcement could come mid-morning or around noon, he said.

Matt Doherty, who is thought to be JMU’s No. 1 candidate, visited Harrisonburg Monday and Tuesday to meet with Bourne. Doherty left Tuesday to attend a prior obligation, a source said.

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that an agreement between JMU and Doherty could come as early as yesterday. Bourne said Wednesday that JMU has yet to make an offer to a candidate.

However, several sources said Wednesday that JMU has put an offer on the table for Doherty, and the two sides are working on a possible deal.

JMU’s list of candidates was narrowed down to four coaches last week — Doherty, Georgia Tech assistant Dean Keener, North Carolina State University assistant Larry Hunter and Clemson University assistant Ron Bradley. Over the weekend, Bourne said one candidate was cut from the final list, which was submitted to JMU President Linwood Rose Monday.

Bourne declined to name which candidate did not make the final cut.

Although Doherty is the only known candidate that visited Harrisonburg this week, Bourne said he has talked with the others on the list.

“I have touched base with each of the candidates,” he said.

Bourne said he wanted to hire a new coach before the Final Four, which tips off Saturday in San Antonio, Texas. If an announcement is made tomorrow as planned, he said a press conference would not take place until next week after the Final Four, which concludes Monday night.

“I’m not sure at this point,” Bourne said in reference to when a press conference might take place. “I’ll know more tomorrow.”

Doherty coached at the University of North Carolina for three seasons before resigning last year. He led UNC to a 53-43 record, but failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in two of his three years in Chapel Hill, N.C. Before taking the UNC job, Doherty coached at the University of Notre Dame, where he led the Fighting Irish to a 22-15 record. Hunter and Keener are thought to be the other two coaches that made Bourne’s final cut.

Hunter is in his second season as an assistant coach at North Carolina State. Keener, meanwhile, is enjoying the success of Georgia Tech’s run to the Final Four.

For any breaking news on JMU’s coaching search, visit www.thebreeze.org.