We're not sure what is going on in Coral Gables. The Hurricanes have a potential superstar college basketball coach in Frank Martin who seems like he's just waiting for a call, but they're spending all of their time trying to lure so-so candidates for the men's basketball coaching job who don't even want it. Harvard's Tommy Amaker appeared to emerge as the leading candidate in the past 24 hours but has turned down Miami's offer.
"I am appreciative of and flattered by the interest shown in me by other fine universities, but I am proud and honored to represent Harvard," Amaker said in a statement. "I look forward to continuing my efforts to teach, lead, and serve at this great institution."
UM officials flew to Boston to try to lure Amaker and offered him a hefty salary that would have amounted to about $1.1 million a year.
Amaker had previously coached at Michigan, where he failed to land the Wolverines in a single NCAA tournament, but he took Harvard to an Ivy League championship. However, coaching and recruiting in the ACC are a hell of a lot different then in the Ivies.
Amaker's wife has a teaching job at Harvard and might have been forced to give it up if Amaker made the move to Miami.
Meanwhile, Frank Martin is sitting around waiting for a call. Martin went out of his way yesterday to mention to the media that despite reports, his salary at Kansas State is $1.1 million a year. Exactly the amount Miami reportedly offered Amaker.
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