Rutgers has wrapped up its interviews and could have a new coach by the beginning of next week.
ESPN.com reported that former Boston College Al Skinner interviewed Friday with athletic director Tim Pernetti.
“He definitely interviewed [Friday],” a source close to the situation confirmed.
Fran Fraschilla and Mike Rice previously interviewed to replace Fred Hill.
Skinner, 57, was fired after 13 seasons at Boston College in which he went 247-165. He won three Big East crowns and took the Eagles to seven NCAA tournaments.
However, Skinner has no natural connection to the New Jersey area and is not known as workaholic on the recruiting trail.
“Al works Al hours, arriving around noon, playing some pickup ball, and going to a practice that, more than likely, had been planned by an assistant,” wrote Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan.
Ryan added “how infrequently Al is seen on the recruiting trail during the offseason” and “if you hire Al, you must supply him with a first-class recruiting assistant.”
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski reportedly called Pernetti to endorse Skinner, but that may not make the difference at Rutgers.
“For a high-level job like Rutgers, Coach K calling isn’t going to legitimize a candidate. Obama could call on the guy and it wouldn’t matter to the AD,” a second source said.
JIMMY V PAIRINGS ANNOUNCED
Michigan State, Kansas, Memphis and Syracuse will play in the Jimmy V Classic Dec. 7 at Madison Square Garden.
In the opener, Kansas takes on Memphis in a rematch of the 2008 national championship game. Michigan State meets Syracuse in the nightcap.
The women’s Jimmy V Classic will be held at Duke University for the first time, with the Blue Devils playing Texas A&M on Dec. 7.
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