Carlesimo Says He Will Remain at Seton Hall

P.J. Carlesimo ended a week of speculation over the University of Kentucky basketball coaching position Monday, saying he would stay at Seton Hall.

Although he called the $600,000-a-year Kentucky job “a tremendous situation,” Carlesimo, 39, also said: “I’ve got a great situation here.”

Carlesimo announced his decision in a locker-room meeting with six players.

“I am extremely comfortable living in the metropolitan area, competing in the Big East, and I am certain no other environment would be as attractive to me,” Carlesimo said.

He said the Kentucky job was never officially offered to him. And he said that salary was never a factor, nor were the possible National Collegiate Athletic Assn. sanctions Kentucky faces because of alleged recruiting violations that led to the resignation of Eddie Sutton.

Carlesimo guided Seton Hall to within one point of a national championship last month, losing to Michigan, 80-79, in overtime. He had been considering a move to Kentucky since visiting the Lexington campus April 24 for more than a day of interviews.

Kentucky Athletic Director C.M. Newton, in London, Ky., for an alumni gathering said: “P.J.’s withdrawal as a candidate was a disappointment to me because I think he possesses so many of the things we’re looking for.”

Newton said that Virginia Coach Terry Holland had been granted permission to talk with Kentucky officials, but Newton refused to name any other coaches being considered.