Former NBA star Mark Price to become coach at University of Charlotte

The Charlotte 49ers have hired Mark Price to become their new men’s basketball coach, said a person familiar with the situation.

The person spoke to the Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the hire has not yet been announced. The 49ers have scheduled a news conference for Thursday to introduce their new coach.

Price, 51, has spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. He’ll replace Alan Major, who left the program earlier this month amid ongoing medical problems.

Price played most of his 12 seasons in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers and was a four-time All-Star. He’s been an assistant NBA coach for five teams.

More coaching news

Two-time NBA coach Eric Musselman was named the head coach at Nevada, the school’s athletic director said. Musselman, 50, coached the Golden State Warriors from 2002-04 and the Sacramento Kings in 2006-07. He spent the past season as an assistant at Louisiana State.

Bobby Hurley agreed to a new contract with the University at Buffalo that will make him the Mid-American Conference’s highest paid coach, a person familiar with negotiations said. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the school has not announced the contract restructuring. Hurley will make more than $550,000 a season, the person said.

The agreement was reached after the former Duke star point guard led the Bulls to their first NCAA tournament berth in only his second year on the job. Hurley’s immediate success had made him a potential candidate to be lured away by higher-profile schools this off-season.

Local teams

The Cal Baptist women’s team advanced to the NCAA Division II championship game by defeating Limestone (S.C.), 85-67, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Lancers (29-6), from Riverside, got 20 points from Courtney Nelson and 17 points and 18 rebounds from Darsha Burnside to reach the title game. They will play California (Pa.) on Friday in Sioux Falls. California (Pa.) defeated Emporia State (Kan.), 51-46, in the other semifinal.

The Azusa Pacific men’s team saw its season end in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals with a 69-65 loss to Indiana (Pa.) in Evansville, Ind.

Troy Leaf scored 29 points for the Cougars (27-6), who shot only 38.2%. Will Ward had 10 points for Azusa Pacific.

Etc.

LSU sophomore forward Jarell Martin said he was leaving the Tigers to enter this summer’s NBA draft. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 16.9 points and 9.2 rebounds this season. ... Indiana sophomore guard Stanford Robinson will transfer to another school in hopes of finding more playing time.