As the University of Richmond yesterday worked on a contract extension and pay increase for basketball coach Chris Mooney, his body of work seems to have attracted Boston College.
The Eagles yesterday parted ways with Al Skinner, their coach for 13 seasons. The Boston Globe reported that Mooney and Cornell's Steve Donahue were candidates for the ACC job. Mooney, reported to be a candidate at Seton Hall last week (the Pirates hired Kevin Willard from Iona), could not be reached for comment yesterday. UR Athletic Director Jim Miller yesterday would not confirm or deny reports that BC representatives had contacted him for permission to discuss the opening with Mooney.
Mooney, 37, led the 2009-10 Spiders to a third-place finish in the Atlantic 10 Conference, a 26-9 record, and the program's first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2004. His style -- a variation of the Princeton offense and match-up defense -- could appeal to Boston College as the Eagles search for a way to challenge elite ACC programs that traditionally draw superior talent.
If BC targeted Mooney, it could offer more money than he makes at UR. Additionally, the Eagles' position presents the opportunity to coach at college basketball's highest level in a region of the country with a huge recruiting pool.
Mooney is believed to have made about $450,000 this year, and UR's proposed extension is expected to take him to the $700,000 range. The top third or so of A-10 coaches make that much, or more. Mooney and UR agreed to a multiyear contract extension last March. At that time, Mooney was entering the fifth year of a five-year deal he signed when he succeeded Jerry Wainwright.
Neither school officials nor Mooney last March commented on the length of the extension or his salary.
The Spiders return three starters, including A-10 player of the year Kevin Anderson, a 6-0 guard who also made honorable-mention All-America.
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