Offseason news roundup

Catching up on some of the stories surrounding the Terriers this summer:

- UMass guard Gary Correia had decided to transfer to Boston University. However, following the dismissal of Minuteman Doug Wiggins, Correia changed his mind and will remain at Massachusetts.

- Matt Killen has left the Terriers program. Killen was a redshirt last year after playing four games in 2007-08. He will continue his career playing for the University of Central Missouri Mules, participants in last spring's NCAA Division-II Final Four.

- Terrier head coach Pat Chambers selected three new additions to his coaching staff. The new BU coaches are Ross Condon, Brian Daly, and Adam Fisher. Not surprisingly, all three additions have roots in Philadephia. Condon graduated from Villanova in 2007 and arrives in Boston via Radford. Daly played under Phil Martelli at Saint Joseph's and spent the past four years as the head coach at Monsignor Bonner High School in Philadephia. Adam Fisher was most recently a graduate manager at Villanova, where Chambers was the associate head coach. Condon, Daly, and Fisher will join Chambers and associate head coach Orlando Vandross, who will enter his 13th season as a member of the Terriers' staff. (Note: the linked article was released prior to Jake O'Brien's announcement that he will be returning to BU for his sophomore season).

- The Terriers will be participating in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off to open the 2009-10 season. BU's first opponent will be Kansas State; the second opponent will be either Indiana or Ole Miss. The other side of the bracket is comprised of Dayton, George Mason, Georgia Tech, and Pat Chambers' previous employer, Villanova. In addition to the opportunity to compete against quality opposition at what should be a relatively neutral site, the Terriers are guaranteed three games regardless of the results experienced in the first two, and have the opportunity to potentially appear on one of the ESPN networks, depending on results.

Link: Chambers' goal: Make BU a mini-Nova

Some serious linkage for the Terriers and their new coach Pat Chambers on ESPN.com.

Dana O'Neil's story can be found here.

Also, in case you missed it:

The Terriers will be traveling to Puerto Rico to participate in the ESPN's 2009 O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The tournament will be held from Nov. 19-22 and field eight teams. Here's the link to the official website. Here's the link on BU's website.

Aside from BU, the teams participating are:
Dayton
George Mason
Georgia Tech
Indiana
Kansas State
Ole Miss
Villanova

Pat Chambers introduced

Check back soon for audio from Pat Chambers' press conference Wednesday morning. Chambers was officially announced as the 24th head coach in Terriers history.



Links:
Chambers introduced as new coach
Chambers vows to resurrect BU
Chambers plan BU-tiful
Official University Release

Coaching search update: Press Conference Wednesday

Boston University will hold a press conference at Agganis Arena in the Francis D. Burke Club Room at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday afternoon to officially announce Pat Chambers as the 24th coach in Terriers basketball history.

BREAKING NEWS: Pat Chambers will be Boston University's next head coach

According to a source very close to the team, Patrick Chambers, an associate head coach at Villanova University, will be the next head coach at Boston University. Chambers was the longest-tenured member of Jay Wright's coaching staff on the Final Four Wildcats and has a 96-37 record in four years with the team. The job will be his first head coaching position. Chambers is 37 years old and lives in Bryn Mawr, Penn. and graduated from Philadelphia Textile with a degree in marketing. Chambers will be the second Episcopal High School graduate to coach in the America East -- Dan Leibovitz at Hartford is the other.

Chambers will replace Dennis Wolff, BU's previous coach of 15 years. No official announcement has been made by the Athletics Department but one could come as early as Wednesday.

Links:
Chambers to be named next men's basketball coach
Top 'Nova assistant headed for Boston University
Report: Villanova's Pat Chambers to get Boston University's top job
BU finds its coach
'Nova's Chambers to coach at Boston U.

Coaching search update: Chambers now the favorite

According to Seth Davis at SportsIllustrated.com, Villanova associate head coach Pat Chambers will become the next coach at Boston University. It would be the first head coaching job for Jay Wright's longest-tenured coaching staffer.

Here's the link: Villanova assistant Pat Chambers to become next Boston U coach

Coaching search update: And just like that...

Two days after the Boston Globe reported that Tony Jones (an associate head coach at the University of Tennessee) was going to be BU's next head coach. He withdraws... This is turning into quite the media circus.

Here's the link: Jones withdraws name from Boston U. search

Coaching search update: Tony Jones could be the guy

According to Mark Blaudschun at the Boston Globe, Tony Jones, the associate head coach at the University of Tennessee will be the next head coach at Boston University.

Here's the article:
BU's choice appears to be Jones

And here's more on Jones:
Jones interviews at Boston University
A look at Tony Jones

BREAKING NEWS: BU Associate head coach Orlando Vandross retained

Officials within the Athletics Department have confirmed that associate head coach Orlando Vandross -- who's been with Boston University for 12 years -- has been retained by the university. There was no comment made as to the role/title he will assume next season nor to whether or not his name is being considered in the pool of applicants for the open head coaching position.

Links:
BU takes firm approach
Pressures on coaches ease in hard times
Men's hoops coach Dennis Wolff fired
Boston University rumors...
Parker's latest pick at BU a head-scratcher

BREAKING NEWS: Report: B.J. Bailey keeps commitment

According to the website PressofAtlanticCity.com BU's incoming recruit B.J. Bailey has decided to stay with the university after offering a verbal commitment early in the year, but reportedly being "distraught" after the university fired coach Dennis Wolff. Bailey, a 6-foot-4 senior at Holy Spirit High School, averaged 17.6 points this season and led his team to a 26-3 record.

The article also reported that the university has offered the associate head coach position to Orlando Vandross -- the only member of Wolff's staff the university did not let go.

Neither of these reports have been claimed by officials at BU. We hope to receive confirmation regarding one or both very soon.

Links:
Holy Spirit's B.J. Bailey keeps commitment to Boston Univ.

Coaching search update and links

Here are some links to pass along that have been trickling in over the past few days regarding the recent firing of BU coach Dennis Wolff. There will be an article in Monday's edition of the Free Press as well as an extended feature piece that will be released at a later date. Please keep it here for everything regarding this ongoing situation.

Links:
Younger Pitino on BU list
BU axes head coach
Holy Spirit's B.J. Bailey upset over firing of Boston University coach

BREAKING NEWS: BU head coach Dennis Wolff fired

In a statement made by the Boston University Athletics Department today, Director of Athletics Mike Lynch announced that men's basketball coach Dennis Wolff has been fired.

The 15-year coach of the Terriers had signed a 10-year contract extension in 2003, which meant that he would have been under contract through the 2013-2014 season.

"We greatly appreciate the contributions that Dennis has made during his 15 years at BU," Lynch said in a press release. "To a man, his student-athletes competed hard on the court, earned their degrees in the classroom and represented BU well in the community. We wish Dennis nothing but the best in his future endeavors.

"This decision was not made quickly or easily. However, after a thorough analysis, I believe that a change in leadership is in the best interests of our men's basketball program."

According to an article on ESPN.com, Wolff was in New York on a recruiting trip when he was asked to return to Boston to meet with the administration. The department asked Wolff to resign and when he refused, his contract was terminated. The article also stated that Wolff is currently negotiating a buyout for his contract, which had four years remaining.

In addition to Wolff, assistant coaches Sean Ryan and Will Seward were released as well as Director of Basketball Operation Thomas Joyce. Associate head coach Orlando Vandross, who's been with the team for 12 seasons, was not fired and could be among what is a "nationwide pool" of applicants to fill the open position. The press release states the search has already started, but no date has been set for its termination.

Wolff, the longest-tenured and winningest coach in BU history, led the Terriers to their first winning season in three years in 2008-09. The team compiled a 17-12 regular-season record before being ousted in the first round of the America East Tournament in a 79-75 overtime loss to the No. 6 University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Under Wolff, BU won three consecutive regular-season conference titles (2002-04) and made four straight postseason appearances (2002-05). During the course of his coaching career with the Terriers, he led the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances and three NIT appearances.

Wolff was named the America East Coach of the Year in 1997, 2003, 2004, the NABC District I Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2004 and the New England Division I Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2004.

He finished his coaching career at BU with a 247-197 record.

Please continue checking the blog and www.dailyfreepress.com as more information becomes available.

Links:
Men's basketball coach Dennis Wolff fired
A shocking firing at Boston University
Boston University fires coach Wolff
BU Fires Wolff
Boston U. fires all-time winningest coach
Boston University fires coach after 15 seasons