After firing Dennis Wolff, Boston University has named a new men’s basketball head coach, former Villanova associate head coach Patrick Chambers.

Chambers comes to the Terriers program fresh off helping lead the Wildcats to a Final Four appearance in this year’s NCAA tournament.

The 38-year-old Pennsylvania native has no ties to the Terriers, nor to the state of Massachusetts, having spent his entire playing and coaching career in the Keystone State.

His five years at Villanova proved the most fruitful of his career, as he was part of a coaching staff that led the team to four Sweet 16 finishes, and finally, a Final Four this season, first as the director of basketball operations, and then moving up to assistant coach. He was named as associate head coach for the 2008-09 season by Wildcats head coach Jay Wright in June 2008.

Chambers’ responsibilities at Villanova included recruiting, playing an on-court role and working with the players on developing their skills.

“We were very deliberate during our search process in deciding the type of person and the caliber of coach who we wanted to lead our program,” said BU Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike Lynch at the press conference held to introduce Chambers as head coach. “We narrowed our national pool of candidates by determining who would provide our student athletes with the best experience, be the best fit for Boston University and offer us the best opportunity to win our conference and advance to the NCAA tournament.”

“Each time and every way we looked at it, we arrived at the same conclusion: Patrick Chambers is the best person and the right coach to lead BU basketball to greatness,” added Lynch. “We could not be happier about welcoming him, his wife and their daughter to the Terrier family.”

Chambers played college hoops at Philadelphia University (1990-94). Playing without a scholarship, Chambers became the starting point guard and proceeded to set the school record for assists (709). During this time, the Rams appeared in two NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearances and another pair of Sweet 16 berths.

Following graduation, Chambers served for one season as an assistant coach at Delaware Valley College.

In 1999, he was named top varsity assistant coach at Episcopal Academy, where he remained until 2004. He also spent some of that time as a special assistant to his former college coach, Herb Magee, at Philadelphia University. This is where he began his roles of player development and scouting.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead a program with the type of rich basketball tradition of Boston University,” Chambers said at the press conference. “I have a great appreciation for institutions that offer outstanding academics and athletics, and that defines BU.”

And while he is ecstatic to be planting new roots in Boston, Chambers was quick to point out that his past employer and home state will remain close to his heart.

“This opportunity would not have presented itself if not for Jay Wright, the Wildcat basketball family and the entire campus community,” Chambers said. “Villanova is an amazing place and I will always treasure my time there.”

However, the news is not all good for the Terrier faithful. FOXSports.com’s Jeff Goodman has posted his list of players who will be transferring to other institutions next season, and star BU forward Jake O’Brien is among the names listed. However, no announcement has been made by O’Brien or BU concerning the matter.

O’Brien, the reigning America East Rookie of the Year, averaged 12.5 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game this past season for Boston University.