Report: Oregon Coach Not Going to Notre Dame

S O U T H   B E N D, Ind., July 14 -- Oregon coach Ernie Kent is staying athis alma mater, turning down a lucrative offer from Notre Dame, anewspaper reported.

Kent met with Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White inWashington, D.C., on Thursday about the position vacated by MattDoherty, who left the Fighting Irish earlier this week for NorthCarolina.

Kent was offered a seven-year contract worth about $700,000 ayear—well above the $420,000 salary Kent earns on his currentdeal, which runs through 2002-03, The Register-Guard of Eugenereported in today’s editions.

Wouldn’t Make Snap Decision

Kent said he could not comply with Notre Dame’s request to makea decision quickly.

“I needed to come and look and find out more about thissituation,” he told the newspaper. “What I found out is that theyneed someone in place now. I can’t do that. I have familyconsiderations, I have university considerations and there are toomany things involved for me to do something like this so quickly.”

White had been expected in Washington to attend the presentationof the Congressional Gold Medal to the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, whoserved as president of the University of Notre Dame for 35 years.

Kent led Oregon to a 22-8 record last season, the Ducks’ bestrecord since 1944-45. They also made the NCAA tournament for onlythe second time since 1961.

Delaware Coach in Contention?

Delaware coach Mike Brey, another person mentioned in mediareports as a potential candidate, also was in Washington onThursday, his wife told The News Journal of Wilmington, Del. Shedeclined to comment on whether Brey had been contacted by NotreDame about the job.

Delaware spokesman Mike Hirschman said the school would notcomment on whether Notre Dame had sought permission to talk toBrey, a former Duke assistant.

Brey 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.