Los Angeles Lakers assistant Eddie Jordan will be heading back to Rutgers and to take the head coaching position, according to sources close to the program.Jordan was previously a head coach of the Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers.
Jordan is expected to be announced as the new coach this week. Reports had Jordan meeting with Rutgers officials this weekend and was signing a deal next week. This gives Rutgers some hope as they move into the Big Ten next season after the Mike Rice scandal.
Jordan was the East Regional MVP for Rutgers in the 1976 Final Four and holds school records for assists and steals. He served as an assistant at Rutgers for five years after his retirement from the NBA in 1984. Prior to his retirement, Jordan also won an NBA championship as a member of the Lakers.
Ben Howland and Bob Hurley Sr. had also been interested in the job. The school had its sights set on Rhode Island's Danny Hurley, but he signed an extension to stay there.
Jordan is well-versed in the Princeton offense and will bring some defensive principles with him that will be needed in the ultra-competitive Big Ten conference. He'll need to recruit well and use his NBA connections to get players into the New Jersey school.
