Buffalo coach Bobby Hurley still plans to interview at DePaul on Saturday despite a report that he has agreed to a new deal at Buffalo, multiple sources told SNY.tv.
“Yes, 100 percent,” one source said.
ESPN’s Jeff Goodman reported similar news after earlier reporting that Hurley was the “front-runner” at DePaul.
According to a report from the Buffalo News, Hurley, 43, will become the highest-paid coach in the Mid-American Conference – surpassing Ohio’s Saul Phillips, who makes $550,000 annually. The deal, which sources said Hurley “partially agreed to,” would also include a contract extension beyond his current deal, which goes through 2018-19.
Hurley reportedly made $300,000, plus a percentage of the gate.
Former DePaul coach Oliver Purnell made over $2 million, sources said.
Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew will also interview at DePaul in the coming days, sources confirmed to SNY.tv.
Sources confirmed that former Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings head coach Ty Corbin is also in the mix.
“I think [Hurley or Drew], those are your two guys,” one source said before the Hurley extension became public.
“There were a lot of people on their list at DePaul that declined an interview,” the source added, saying that Ben Howland, who this week took the Mississippi State job, wasn’t interested in the Big East school.
Hurley, 43, led Duke to back-to-back NCAA championships in the early 1990s, but has only been a head coach for two years following stints as an assistant under his brother, Danny, at both Wagner and Rhode Island. He is 42-20 in two years at Buffalo.
His stock skyrocketed after he led the Bulls to the MAC Tournament title and a bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they pushed West Virginia in the Round of 64 before losing, 68-62.
Hurley’s current Buffalo roster includes four players from Detroit and one each from Milwaukee and Mount Prospect, IL, proving that he can recruit the Midwest effectively, which is likely an attractive feature for DePaul.
Drew, 40, is 94-42 in two seasons at Valparaiso, including a 28-6 record this past season and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
