04/06/2009

By WOODY BAIRD  / Associated Press

Kicking off their search for John Calipari's successor, Memphis boosters were eager to talk about their deep pockets and the school's rich basketball tradition.

But five days into the hunt, search directors weren't talking publicly about much of anything.

"There's nothing to report," athletic department spokesman Bob Winn said Monday. "The search is ongoing."

Calipari, now Kentucky's coach, left Memphis after nine seasons, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over a program he built into a national contender.

Memphis struggled mightily to hang on to Calipari but sought to put the best twist on his departure with a pledge to hire a successor who would "wow" the Tiger faithful.

University officials refuse to name coaches they've talked with about possibly replacing Calipari, but indications are the search has not gone as smoothly as the Tigers' worried fans might have hoped.

Several coaches mentioned in published reports as potential candidates for the Memphis job have since worked out new contracts with their schools or said they're happy right where they are.

One of the Memphis' latest contacts was with Leonard Hamilton of Florida State. The Seminoles acknowledged Monday that Hamilton talked with the Tigers — but then announced a few hours later that he had a new five-year deal to stay in Tallahassee.

Scott Drew of Baylor issued a statement over the weekend saying he's staying in Texas.

"Whenever your name is rumored for another job, it's a positive reflection on your hard work and respect for the job you are doing," Drew said. "At the same time, our staff wanted to rebuild Baylor into an elite basketball program and we are on the right track."

Calipari's move set off the usual bouts of speculation that follow big-time coaching changes, and media reports quickly focused on Tennessee's Bruce Pearl as a possible Memphis candidate. But the Volunteers soon announced they had negotiated a new six-year contract with Pearl.

Media reports also mentioned Mike Anderson of Missouri and Southern California coach Tim Floyd as potential candidates for Memphis. But Missouri approved a new contract for Anderson and Floyd said he was staying put.

Memphis Athletic Director R.C. Johnson told The Commercial Appeal of Memphis on Sunday that he was tightening down on any information leaks from the search team.

"There will be no comment until this is over," he told the newspaper.

Calls from The Associated Press to Johnson and Alan Graf, a big-time booster and top leader of the search effort, were not returned Monday.

Calipari was paid $2.3 million a year at Memphis and now has an eight-year contract at Kentucky worth close to $32 million.

Memphis has not said what it expects to pay a new coach, but search leaders have said money is not a problem.