Doherty declines, Keener accepts

JMU will announce its new coach today at 9 p.m., a source said shortly after 4 p.m. However, it will not be former University of North Carolina coach Matt Doherty.

Georgia Tech assistant Dean Keener will be the new head coach, a source said.

A meeting between Athletic Director Jeff Bourne and the players will take place tonight in Godwin Hall this evening, another source told The Breeze. An official announcement will be made shortly after.

Keener is in San Antonio as the Yellow Jackets prepare for their game against Oklahoma State University Saturday in the Final Four. As Georgia Tech has made a run through the tournament, his stock has risen despite not having any head coaching experience.

Keener is in his fourth season with Georgia Tech. He was an assistant coach under Sherman Dillard at JMUÊduring the 1999-â00 season. Before his brief stint with the Dukes, he was an assistant coach at Virginia Tech (1991-â95, 1997-â99), Southern Methodist University (1995-â97) and University of Southern California (1990-â91).

Bourne was unavailable for an immediate comment this afternoon, and no official announcement has been made.

Doherty declined to accept an offer to coach the menâs basketball team, several source told The Breeze earlier today.

Doherty was offered the job Tuesday before he left Harrisonburg, the source said. Other sources also confirmed that JMUÊmade an offer to Doherty, despite Athletic Director Jeff Bourneâs statement Wednesday that no offer had been made.

The former University of North Carolina and University of Norte Dame coach visited Harrisonburg Monday and Tuesday to meet with Bourne. Doherty left town Tuesday to attend a prior obligation.

It was rumored that players went to JMU President Linwood Rose and said they would not play for Doherty, based on his reported rocky relationship with players at UNC. However, a source close to the team said the players did not tell Rose they would never play for Doherty. Instead, they expressed dissatisfaction with being left in the dark on how the coaching search was proceeding, the source said.

Doherty likely turned down JMUâs offer to pursue the opening at St. Johnâs University.

JMUâs list of candidates was narrowed down to four coaches last week ÷ Doherty, Hunter, 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 has declined to name which candidate did not make the final cut.

However, Bourne said Wednesday that he had ãtouched base with each of the candidatesä this week.

Bourne said he wanted to hire a new coach before the Final Four, which tips off Saturday in San Antonio, Texas. Former coach Sherman Dillard resigned under pressure March 7.

Bourne said Wednesday that a press conference would not take place until next week after the Final Four, which concludes Monday night.

For more breaking news on JMUâs coaching search, visit www.thebreeze.org.