Notre Dame Hires Brey
S O U T H B E N D, Ind., July 14 -- Notre Dame didn’t waste any time inoffering Mike Brey the job as its basketball coach, and Brey didn’thesitate in accepting.
Brey, 99-52 in five years at Delaware, received a standingovation today when he was introduced as the new Irish coach.
“I think I can give you 15 great years, after that, I think I’mgoing to have to re-evaluate,” Brey said.
Replaced Doherty
Brey replaces Matt Doherty, who left Tuesday for North Carolinaafter just one year at Notre Dame.
Brey met with a three-member committee from Notre Dame onThursday night in Washington. He returned home to Newark, Del.,where he got a call after midnight and accepted immediately, according to TheWilmington (Del.) News Journal reported on its Web site.
“This is one you’ve got to do,” Brey told the newspaper, whichreported he received a seven-year contract.
Brey had just signed a five-year contract extension at Delawareafter guiding the Blue Hens to their third consecutive 20-victoryseason and the school’s first NIT bid.
Brey, 41, worked previously as an assistant to Duke coach MikeKrzyzewski, helping guide the Blue Devils to six Final Fours overan eight-year span.
‘A Perfect Fit’
“What a perfect fit! Mike has the background that is totallysuited for the level of success that Notre Dame wants anddeserves,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. “He and his familywill be absolutely terrific in representing Notre Dame.”
Athletic director Kevin White said Brey was the only personoffered the job, denying reports that Notre Dame first offeredOregon coach Ernie Kent the position. “We only offered the job toone person,” White said.
Fighting Irish spokesman John Heisler said Brey and one othercoaching candidate met Thursday night with the Rev. Edward A.Malloy, Notre Dame’s president; Patrick F. McCartan, chairman ofthe board of trustees; and Nathan Hatch, the university’s provost.Heisler would not identify the other candidate, though Kent was inWashington to meeting with Notre Dame officials.
Related Stories
ABC News Live