Despite widespread media reports Wednesday night that said Binghamton University had made its final decision on a head coach for the men’s basketball team, no official choice has been made.
Multiple industry sources told CBS SportsLine and Fox Sports Online that Binghamton had finalized a deal with Georgetown assistant Kevin Broadus, with an announcement to come Monday. However, BU athletic director Dr. Joel Thirer was emphatic about the fact that no deal is in place.
‘It’s still not done,’ Thirer said. ‘I hope I get it done today or tomorrow, but it’s still not done, and there’s no mystery to it. It’s just not done.’
There are several factors that Thirer indicated would hold up any deal, refusing to talk specifically on any candidate. He did say there were several worthy candidates still being considered, but that there are hurdles that still need to be cleared before Al Walker’s replacement is named.
‘Everybody we’re talking to is in a tournament, either the NIT or NCAA,’ Thirer said. ‘Everybody we’re involved with is in something. That’s not the obstacle. The obstacle right now is coming to contractual agreement with somebody where agents and lawyers are involved. And going back and forth with [Human Resources] and whether something is signed or not signed, or walked away from ‘ it’s not done. It’s as simple as that.’
Broadus, whom reports contended had a secure spot with the Bearcats for next season, is currently helping the Hoyas prepare for their Sweet 16 matchup against Vanderbilt in the NCAA tournament. He is in his third season under head coach John Thompson III, and has been an assistant at George Washington and American University. He is highly regarded, having done an impressive job recruiting several of the players that have helped Georgetown return to glory in the Big East.
A deal still needs to get done, and despite the reports Wednesday night, no one on Binghamton’s side seems willing to admit that Broadus is the man. Thirer concedes that he has honed in on one candidate, but noted that he needs to act quickly to avoid losing people on his list to other opportunities.
‘It needs to get done soon or other people I’m involved with will be disappearing on me. So that’s where the pressure is on me, not responding to speculation that’s on CBS SportsLine. I have no idea where they get their information. They didn’t get it from this campus.
‘At the end of the day next week, somebody’s going to be right. There’s so many wild things ‘ there is Bernie Fine, is it Mike Hopkins, is it Tom Herrion ‘ there’s some validity to some of the names being thrown around, and others there’s absolutely zero validity to.’
The job opening has received a good deal of interest, and Binghamton has taken calls from many notable members of the basketball world vouching for candidates. Thirer has received calls from Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, retired Virginia coach Pete Gillen, 76ers vice president Larry Brown, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, Binghamton University alum Tony Kornheiser and ESPN’s Andy Katz suggesting people for the job.
Thirer said that four of the five people on the short list for the job are still alive in one of the two tournaments in progress. Four candidates were mentioned by name by Thirer: Herrion, Hopkins, Fine and King Rice, assistant coach at Vanderbilt, former UNC point guard and Binghamton native. Broadus was never mentioned by name.
Thirer says a decision is close, but that until a signature is on the dotted line, nothing should be assumed, and that in the wide world of coaching, situations can change in the blink of an eye.
‘By tomorrow I may schedule a press conference. Right now the press conference is in limbo because I don’t have a guy yet. I’m close, but I don’t have a guy yet. Having been in this business I can tell you, this thing can turn on a dime. Close is not done. That’s what people don’t seem to get. I’m not done with it.’