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Duquesne hires men's hoops coach

Ferry takes over program

PITTSBURGH — Jim Ferry, who led Long Island University to consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament, is the new head men’s basketball coach at Duquesne.

Ferry, 44, replaces Ron Everhart, who was fired last month after six seasons at the Atlantic-10 school. According to a source close to the negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity because terms were not released, Ferry agreed to a seven-year deal with an annual base of $600,000.

Ferry, a native of Elmont, N.Y., spent 10 seasons with the Blackbirds, and won the Northeast Conference Tournament title the past two seasons. In the last four years at the Brooklyn, N.Y., school, Ferry was 55-17. LIU had a couple of tough draws in the NCAA, losing, 89-67, to Michigan State this year, and dropping a 102-87 decision to North Carolina in 2011.

“Jim Ferry has been a winner at every level,” Duquesne athletic director Greg Amodio said. “Through a combination of hard work, strong character and outstanding leadership, he experienced unprecedented success at LIU. I look forward to him using those same qualities to make his mark on the Duquesne basketball program. He is an aggressive recruiter whose teams are known for tough, physical play.

“Jim is the right fit for Duquesne right now.”

Everhart spent six seasons with the Dukes, went 99-89, and took the embattled program to postseason play three times. But questions began to surface last month, when three members of the team — including sophomore point guard T.J. McConnell, the team’s best overall player — announced intentions to transfer.

Everhart’s best season came in 2008-09, when the Dukes advanced to the Atlantic 10 tournament title game, before falling to Temple. They landed in the NIT that season, losing to Virginia Tech, and would go on to make a postseason tournament the next two years.

Duquesne finished 16-15 this season, and lost to UMass in the first round of the conference tournament.

Everhart was a Division I coach for 18 seasons, and received serious interest from Penn State last June, before withdrawing his name from consideration. The Dukes finished .500 or better in his last five seasons on the bench.

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