Rutgers sophomore shooting guard Mike Rosario met with Tim Pernetti, the school’s athletic director, Wednesday and expects to get his release as soon as later this week, a source with knowledge said.
After first speaking Wednesday with Rosario, the source was under the impression that the player had already gotten the release.
During the meeting, which also included Rosario’s mother, Pernetti asked Rosario whether he wanted to leave because of the coach, the program or other factors, and Rosario said it was a combination of reasons, the source said.
Pernetti and Rosario are expected to meet again Friday, the source said.
St. Anthony coach Bob Hurley said he planned to meet with Rosario after he returns from Ireland on Sunday, but by then it could be a done deal.
A former McDonald’s All-American, Rosario led Rutgers in scoring at 16.7 points per game last season. He could wind up at a number of SEC, Pac 10 and Big 10 schools after sitting out next season.
Rosario would be the third sophomore to transfer, following Greg Echenique (Creighton) and Pat Jackson, who is still deciding.
The fate of Rutgers head coach Fred Hill remains unclear as Pernetti “actively investigates” his profanity-laced tirade at a Pittsburgh-Rutgers baseball game last week.
COACHING CAROUSEL UPDATES
**As if there weren’t enough going on the Coaching Carousel in the New York area, St. Francis (N.Y.) head coach Brian Nash resigned on Wednesday.
“Yes, he did and it was totally on his end for personal family reasons,” a school source said. “It came as a surprise to us. He was not fired.”
Add St. Francis to Iona among schools now looking for a coach.
St. John’s, Seton Hall, Wagner, Hofstra and Fordham have all recently hired new coaches.
“There will be a committee that will form and there will be a national search,” the source said.
**Multiple reports indicate that Wake Forest has fired head coach Dino Gaudio. Gaudio took over in 2007 after the sudden death of former head coach Skip Prosser. In three seasons at the ACC school, Gaudio went 61-31. He led the Deacons to the Big Dance in 2009 and ’10.
**Allen Griffin, an assistant to Nash at St. Francis, is expected to join Tim Welsh’s staff at Hofstra.
**Van Macon, a former Hofstra assistant under Tom Pecora, will join Pecora’s staff at Fordham and is no longer in the mix at St. John’s, a source with knowledge said.
(Photos courtesy NJ.com and St. Francis Athletics)
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