ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Tommy Amaker took charge of Michigan's
hobbling basketball program on Thursday, with hopes that his
youthful enthusiasm and recruiting savvy can revive the Wolverines'
championship ways.
|  | | Tommy Amaker steps up to point the way for a Big Ten power. |
"This is a program that stands for excellence," the
35-year-old Amaker said. "This is everything you can ask for in
the collegiate environment. ..."
"I'm honored to be able to call myself the University of
Michigan head basketball coach."
Amaker agreed to a multiyear contract with Michigan, according
to a news release handed out before a scheduled news conference.
Details on Amaker's contract were not immediately released.
Reports earlier Thursday said Amaker would receive a guaranteed
contract of $500,000-$600,000 per year and, with incentives, could
earn as much as $900,000 per season.
Michigan had contacted Rick Pitino about its opening, but he
chose to coach at Louisville.
Amaker replaces Brian Ellerbe, who was fired two weeks ago after
posting a 62-60 record in four seasons, including a 25-9 mark his
first year. The Wolverines were 12-19, 15-14 and 10-18 the past
three seasons and didn't finish better than eighth in the Big Ten.
Amaker, who will turn 36 in June, was 68-55 in four seasons at
Seton Hall. The former Duke star led the Pirates to four postseason
appearances, the highlight being a surprising trip to the round of
16 in last year's NCAA Tournament.
In talking about the Michigan team, Amaker said: "We're going
to talk about being passionate in our program. ... We're always
going to be prepared. In everything we do, we're going to be honest
with one another. ...
"We're going to be Michigan."
Michigan's assistant coaches were not fired along with Ellerbe,
but it will be up to the next coach whether they will be retained.
Terence Greene, one of the three assistants, had positive things
to say about Amaker on Wednesday.
"He's one of the brightest young minds in the business,"
Greene said. "He's a great recruiter and he relates well with
people. I played against him when I was at DePaul and he was at
Duke and he's been a first-class guy ever since I met him."
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has known Amaker since they were
both assistant coaches recruiting NBA star Chris Webber, who went
to Michigan in 1991.
"I think it's a great hire. He's a good recruiter and a good
coach, who relates well with people," Izzo said.
Izzo believes Amaker will help make the Wolverines competitive
enough for the Michigan State-Michigan rivalry to be one of the
best in college basketball, making it comparable to Duke and North
Carolina's rivalry.
"That's what it's all about," Izzo said.
Seton Hall was ranked as high as No. 7 early in the season, but
the team fell apart down the stretch and didn't qualify for the Big
East postseason tournament until it beat Connecticut in its regular
season finale.
The Pirates finished 16-15 after losing to Alabama in the
opening round of the NIT, the team's third trip to that tournament
under Amaker.
Leading candidates to succeed Amaker at Seton Hall included Skip
Prosser, who led Xavier to the NCAA Tournament this season. Seton
Hall athletic director Jeff Fogelson was Prosser's boss when he
worked as AD at Xavier.
"We have already begun to identify candidates that we feel will
lead Seton Hall's program into the future," Fogelson said, noting
that the Pirates have already begun a search for a new coach. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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Ty Shine is uncertain about the future of the Seton Hall program.
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