jimotis4heisman
Banned
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=1946376
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Deal would require Majerus to leave ESPN
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Rick Majerus is in serious talks with Southern California to become its new men's basketball coach, and the sides appear poised to reach a deal that could be announced later Tuesday, sources close to the process told ESPN.com.
[font=verdana, arial, geneva]Majerus[/font]
Majerus, the former Utah coach and a current ESPN analyst, has been the top candidate to replace Henry Bibby, who was fired last week. Majerus would have to resign from ESPN and pay the network a negotiated buyout if he accepts USC's offer, which is expected to be a five-year deal, close to $1 million a year.
Majerus has said he would not start coaching the Trojans (3-3) until after this season, allowing Jim Saia to finish as interim coach. Saia is 1-1 since taking over for Bibby last week.
A source close to the NCAA said Majerus could not represent USC and recruit for the program if he's not currently employed by the university. If Majerus were to agree to coach the Trojans starting after the end of the season, at that point he would be able to freely recruit.
USC would have to review job parameters for Majerus with the NCAA if he isn't on staff for this season. A source said he would have to be certified to recruit for the program. The NCAA would not allow Majerus to talk about or essentially recruit prospective student athletes on the air while working for ESPN.
If Majerus accepts a USC offer, ESPN would not allow him on the air due to conflict of interest.
If talks were to break off, then USC is expected to wait until the season is over and possibly pursue Pepperdine's Paul Westphal, a 1972 USC grad.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Deal would require Majerus to leave ESPN
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Rick Majerus is in serious talks with Southern California to become its new men's basketball coach, and the sides appear poised to reach a deal that could be announced later Tuesday, sources close to the process told ESPN.com.
![majerus_m.jpg](http://espn.starwave.com/media/ncb/2004/1208/photo/majerus_m.jpg)
Majerus, the former Utah coach and a current ESPN analyst, has been the top candidate to replace Henry Bibby, who was fired last week. Majerus would have to resign from ESPN and pay the network a negotiated buyout if he accepts USC's offer, which is expected to be a five-year deal, close to $1 million a year.
Majerus has said he would not start coaching the Trojans (3-3) until after this season, allowing Jim Saia to finish as interim coach. Saia is 1-1 since taking over for Bibby last week.
A source close to the NCAA said Majerus could not represent USC and recruit for the program if he's not currently employed by the university. If Majerus were to agree to coach the Trojans starting after the end of the season, at that point he would be able to freely recruit.
USC would have to review job parameters for Majerus with the NCAA if he isn't on staff for this season. A source said he would have to be certified to recruit for the program. The NCAA would not allow Majerus to talk about or essentially recruit prospective student athletes on the air while working for ESPN.
If Majerus accepts a USC offer, ESPN would not allow him on the air due to conflict of interest.
If talks were to break off, then USC is expected to wait until the season is over and possibly pursue Pepperdine's Paul Westphal, a 1972 USC grad.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.