The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

College Sports

April 8, 2010

Peterson at top of Marshall’s list for new basketball coach

Dave Morrison Register-Herald Sports Editor

The Marshall basketball coaching search is down to two finalists, according to a person familiar with the search.

The two are Appalachian State coach Buzz Peterson — a Parade and McDonald’s All-American who beat out future North Carolina teammate Michael Jordan as the North Carolina high school player of the year in 1981 — and Pitt assistant coach Tom Herrion.

However, Marshall reportedly interviewed an unknown coach Thursday. It was reportedly a sitting coach whose name hadn’t surfaced during the Herd’s extensive coaching search.

Peterson is thought to be the leading candidate.

Peterson, 46, returned to Appalachian State in 2009 after head coaching stints at Tulsa (26-11, one season and an NIT berth) and Tennessee (61-59, four seasons, two NIT berths). He was also 35-25 at Coastal Carolina before returning to Appalachian State.

Herrion, 42, an assistant under Jamie Dixon at Pitt, is a former head coach at the College of Charleston, where he was 80-38 in four years.

He also served as an assistant at Virginia, Providence and NCAA Division II Merrimack.

Ironically, he was the Pitt assistant who was hit by a piece of ice in the Panthers’ loss at WVU on Feb. 3.

ESPN analyst Mark Gottfried, a former coach at Alabama who resigned under pressure last year, had two interviews but reportedly pulled his name from the search Thursday.

Marshall Athletic Director Mike Hamrick said he was set to make an announcement as early as today.

The new coach will replace Donnie Jones, who was 55-41 at Marshall, including a 24-10 mark this past season. The Herd advanced to the CIT, Marshall’s first postseason berth in 22 years.

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