The Pittsburgh Panthers' faithful woke up Easter morning to pleasant news, as former Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings has agreed to a deal to become their new head basketball coach. He will replace Jamie Dixon at that position, leaving a position with the Commodores that was in question after a struggling season.
Vanderbilt was expected to contend for an SEC title, but finished 19-13 overall, and tied for third place in the conference. They would go on to lose to Wichita State in the First Four of the tournament.
The 55-year-old agreed to a six-year deal and did confirm that he told his players that he was taking the job. He has coached Vanderbilt for 17 seasons, making seven NCAA tournaments.
Many rumors pointed to the school parting ways with Stallings anyway, so the coach may have beaten them to the punch.
The Panthers were reportedly spurned while looking for other candidates. Dixon left the Panthers last week to return to his alma mater, TCU, which opened up the job for Stallings to take. Dixon went 328-123 with the school, including winning the Big East coach of theyear award in 2004. It has been downhill since then, which led to his decision to leave for the Horned Frogs.
The veteran coach, Stallings, has a career .616 win percentage, and will look to right the ship in the coming years at Pitt.
Vanderbilt was expected to contend for an SEC title, but finished 19-13 overall, and tied for third place in the conference. They would go on to lose to Wichita State in the First Four of the tournament.
The 55-year-old agreed to a six-year deal and did confirm that he told his players that he was taking the job. He has coached Vanderbilt for 17 seasons, making seven NCAA tournaments.
Many rumors pointed to the school parting ways with Stallings anyway, so the coach may have beaten them to the punch.
The Panthers were reportedly spurned while looking for other candidates. Dixon left the Panthers last week to return to his alma mater, TCU, which opened up the job for Stallings to take. Dixon went 328-123 with the school, including winning the Big East coach of theyear award in 2004. It has been downhill since then, which led to his decision to leave for the Horned Frogs.
The veteran coach, Stallings, has a career .616 win percentage, and will look to right the ship in the coming years at Pitt.
