Michigan to Hire Amaker as Coach

Tommy Amaker has resigned as basketball coach at Seton Hall to rebuild the program at Michigan.

Amaker on Wednesday agreed to a five-year contract to coach the Wolverines, according to the Detroit News and ESPN.

Amaker will replace Brian Ellerbe, who was fired two weeks ago after posting a 62-60 record in four seasons. In the past three seasons, the Wolverines didn’t finish better than eighth in the Big Ten.

“This is an honor to be asked to be a coach and teacher at such a prestigious school as Michigan,” Amaker told the News. “I’m thrilled because Michigan is first-class and one of the premier colleges in the country with its academics and athletics.”

Amaker will receive a guaranteed contract of between $500,000 to $600,000 per year. With incentives, he could earn as much as $900,000 per season, the newspaper reported. In Ann Arbor, officials at Michigan said final details were being worked out to hire a replacement for Ellerbe.

One the leading candidates to succeed Amaker is Skip Prosser, who led Xavier to the NCAA tournament this season. Seton Hall athletic director Jeff Fogelson previously served in a similar position at Xavier.

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Bo Ryan, who two seasons ago stepped up to Division I with Wisconsin Milwaukee, is expected to be hired as Brad Soderberg’s replacement at Wisconsin as early as today. Ryan, 53, is a former Badger assistant who wanted the Wisconsin job in 1992 but was beaten out by Stu Jackson.

Soderberg was not retained after going 16-10 in place of Dick Bennett, who retired in November because of burnout. Ryan won four NCAA Division III championships at Wisconsin Platteville before going to Wisconsin Milwaukee, where he went 30-27 in two seasons.

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Ohio State rallied to take the women’s National Invitation Tournament championship, 62-61, over New Mexico at Albuquerque, N.M.

Ohio State (22-11), which had trailed, 36-24, in the opening minute of the second half, took the lead for good at 56-54 on consecutive three-point shots by Jamie Lewis, who finished with 19 points. New Mexico ended the season 22-13.

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Iowa Coach Steve Alford has reached a tentative agreement on a five-year, $4.5-million contract extension that would keep him with the school through 2009.

The $900,000 annual salary doesn’t include incentives, Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby said.

Guard Luke Recker announced that he will return to Iowa for his senior season, putting off a move to the NBA.

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Tim Welsh, who coached Providence to a 21-10 record this season and a spot in the NCAA tournament, reached a preliminary seven-year agreement to stay with the Friars. Rutgers, Tennessee and Nevada Las Vegas had asked Providence for permission to talk to Welsh. . . . Tom Pecora, an assistant to Jay Wright for seven years, was named Hofstra’s coach, replacing Wright, who resigned to accept a job at Villanova. . . . Drake gave Coach Kurt Kanaskie a multiyear contract extension through the 2005-06 season. . . . Mike MacDonald signed a four-year contract extension to remain with Canisius. MacDonald is 58-57 in four years with the Golden Griffins.

Pittsburgh Coach Ben Howland said he was staying at the school after Nevada Las Vegas was denied permission to speak with him about its coaching opening. . . . Sophomore guard Marcus Cox, suspended from the team after a February arrest, plans to transfer from Connecticut. . . . Winthrop forward Greg Lewis was released on personal recognizance after being charged with assaulting a woman at a gym during an argument over the use of the facility. . . . Dennie Bridges, the winningest active men’s coach in Division III, retired after 36 years at Illinois Wesleyan. His record of 667-319 includes the 1997 Division III national championship.