Cornell's Donahue added to BU's list

Cornell's Donahue added to BU's list

By Mark Blaudschun
Boston Globe Staff
March 31, 2009

While the rumor machine in the upper tier of college basketball was tossing out minute-by-minute updates on John Calipari's impending move to Kentucky and Rick Pitino's continuing flirtation with Arizona, Boston University officials were working quietly to find a new coach.

BU athletic director Mike Lynch used the NCAA East Regional at TD Banknorth Garden over the weekend as a job fair, with current coaches, former coaches, and assistant coaches coming to town.

Lynch's list of candidates is growing. The latest addition is Cornell coach Steve Donahue, who has guided his team to back-to-back Ivy League titles. Cornell also beat BU by 30 points this season. According to sources close to the situation, Donahue was in town but did not interview for the job. Whether that changes over the next few days is uncertain.

Other candidates include Boston College assistant Pat Duquette, Tennessee assistant head coach Tony Jones, and Bentley head coach Jay Lawson.

Louisville assistant coach Richard Pitino and former Providence coach Tim Welsh both have expressed interest in the job, but neither has been contacted.

"I haven't heard a thing," said Pitino.

Welsh also said he had not heard from BU.

"No one has called me," said Welsh.

BU officials have hired an Atlanta-based search firm, which contacted Siena coach Fran McCaffery early last week.

Part of the problem is that BU is having a difficult time defining the job, with the perception being that Lynch is looking for a salesman who can not only win games but sell tickets and attract attention in an area that is a tough sell for any college program.

The search firm, Parker Executive Search, has the dubious distinction of having helped Indiana find Kelvin Sampson and Kentucky find Billy Gillespie. Both were fired after short and unsuccessful stints.