Frank Haith to go from UM to MU

Frank Haith/Courtesy: msn.foxsports.com

Interesting. Not the pick that we would've expected. Reports started trickling out late Sunday that Missouri is set to hire the University of Miami's Frank Haith to be their next basketball coach.

Haith has had some success in Coral Gables with an NCAA and NIT Tourney bids under his belt. He's a somewhat middling 126-94 at Miami, a lower tier ACC School.

You can read the report from the Kansas City Star RIGHT HERE

The Miami Herald reports a shorter version of the same story RIGHT HERE

Haith, for his part is a fairly well respected guy who has stabilized things in Miami, a program with barely a pulse before his arrival. They aren't a dominant team, and Haith never really came across as a rising coaching star.

It also speaks a bit to baskeball in the ACC if an ACC coach is willing to bolt for the greener(?) pastures of the Big 12/10.

After being spurned by now former coach Mike Anderson and used by Matt Painter to enhance his situation at Purdue, the options for Missouri were minimal. All-in-all, they probably did the best they were able to, knowing that a Shaka Smart or Brad Stevens would not be in their futures.

According to the KC Star newspaper, the only stumbling block is logistical. Any new contract with Haith must be signed off on by the Missouri Board of Curators. The Board called an emergency meeting for Monday night. It’s expected they will approve Haith becoming the next head coach.

Now, it's Miami's turn. Early returns have them chasing after K-State's Frank Martin.

1600 UPDATE: The University of Miami has released the following statements from important personnel

Tony Hernandez, Acting Director of Athletics
“Frank Haith has been a steady leader and made a positive impact on the University of Miami men’s basketball program. We want to wish him well at Missouri and will begin a national search for a new head coach immediately.”

Donna E. Shalala, University of Miami President
“Coach Haith has been an outstanding member of our community. His integrity, leadership ability and commitment to young adults are exceptional. I will personally miss him and wish the entire Haith family the best in the years to come.”

TUESDAY UPDATE: Here's two more pieces of video work on the Haith hire...
((HT: NBCActionNews.com))


And, then, NBC41's Jack Harry is none too positive on the new guy...


The Curators guaranteed five years and $7.5-million plus $100,000 in deferred annual compensation, with a one-year automatic extension that would kick in on May 1, 2012.

Not popular at all...