| | ESPN.com news services
P.J. Carlesimo is out of the running for the Notre Dame head coaching job and the school has turned its attention to Oregon's Eddie Kent, ESPN.com's Andy Katz reported Thursday.
A coaching colleague close to Carlesimo told Katz that Carlesimo isn't interested in the position. Notre Dame athletics director Kevin White interviewed Carlesimo in Rome on Wednesday, where the former Seton Hall coach was on his honeymoon.
|  | | Ernie Kent led Oregon to the NCAA Tournament last season. |
White is expected to meet with Kent on Thursday night, and a source close to Kent said that the Oregon coach would not interview for the job unless he was assurred he was the leading candidiate. Notre Dame also is expected to interview Delaware coach Mike Brey. Notre Dame could announce a decision this weekend.
Sources close to Kent told Katz that he's "50-50" on whether he would accept the job if it is offered. Notre Dame hasn't had an African-American men's basketball coach, and Kent is intrigued by the national opportunity the Irish position offers him. But Kent played at Oregon and has kept the Ducks in the top half of the Pac-10 since his arrival three years ago. Oregon finished third in the Pac-10 last season and lost to Seton Hall in overtime of the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
A WGN Radio report Wednesday in Chicago said Kent already had been made an offer by Notre Dame, but Kent denied the report.
"I have agreed to talk to Notre Dame, but that is as far as any
discussions have progressed," he said in a statement issued by
Oregon. "I want to emphasize that I am perfectly happy to be the
head coach at Oregon, and this is not something I have initiated."
Oregon athletics director Bill Moos was out
of town on vacation Wednesday, but said in a statement that he considered the
interest in Kent "a tremendous compliment" to the program.
Kent was mentioned in Illinois' search, which began after the Atlanta Hawks hired Lon Kruger, but was never approached by the Illini. However, Kent is expected to be a hot property over the next few years as other high-profile openings occur. | |
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Wanting to keep the ND job "in the family," Digger Phelps says he may be a candidate.
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