Source: Houston’s Penders to Retire

University of Houston head coach Tom Penders will retire after the season, a source close to the program said.

Houston gained an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament on Saturday with its 81-73 victory over UTEP.

“Tom wanted to be one of 8 college coaches to take 4 different teams to the NCAA Tournament,” the source said.  “Now that he’s achieved that goal, he’s ready to step down and do some color commentary, which he really enjoyed doing before he got the Houston job.”

Penders, 64, led Rhode Island, Texas, George Washington and now the Cougars to the Big Dance.

Former Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie and current Texas assistant Rodney Terry are among the leading candidates to replace Penders, sources said.

Houston features several players with ties to the New York metropolitan area, including junior guard Zamal Nixon of Brooklyn Boys & Girls and sophomore guard Desmond Wade of Linden (N.J.).

Penders is back in the NCAAs for the first time since 1999 with George Washington.

“We’re dancing, we’re dancing,” Penders told reporters. “I may be dancing a little slower than I was the last time I went, but we’re dancing.”

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