Newark, NJ

Rutgers officials are currently negotiating with Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach and former Scarlet Knights star Eddie Jordan, eyeing to hire him as the school's new basketball coach.

Jordan, who helped the Scarlet Knights reach the Final Four in 1976, flew to New Jersey Saturday for a first meeting with school officials at an undisclosed location in the state. The two sides will also meet Sunday in an effort to seal a deal.

According to sources who requested anonymity, Jordan will be introduced the team's new basketball coach next week if the deal could be hammered out.

However, another person privy to the first meeting said "there are a lot of layers to address, not all necessarily basketball" and that the hiring process and negotiations could last through Tuesday.

Rutgers turned its focus on the 58-year-old Jordan to replace Mike Rice after Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley withdrew from consideration for the job Thursday.

Rice was fired on April 3, a day after ESPN aired portions of a 30-minute video showing him verbally and physically abusing players in practice, and also screaming gay slurs.

Since then, athletic director Tim Pernetti, university counsel John Wolf and assistant coach Jimmy Martelli have resigned.

Jordan, who scored 1,632 points as a four-year starter at guard from 1973-77 at Rutgers, played for five NBA teams during a career that spanned from 1977 through 1984.

He has served as the head coach for the Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards, compiling a record of 257-343. His college coaching resume also includes assistant coaching stints at Rutgers, Old Dominion and Boston College.

 

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Rutgers Negotiating Eddie Jordan for Head Coaching Vacancy