NCAAM teams
Andy KatzJeff Goodman 10y

Charleston close to naming coach

Men's College Basketball, Charleston Cougars

The College of Charleston is expected to have a coach to replace the fired Doug Wojcik by the end of the week after concluding six interviews by Tuesday, multiple sources told ESPN.

Sources have said throughout the past few weeks that former Charleston player Anthony Johnson remains a leader for the position. Other candidates include former Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz, now an assistant to Mark Gottfried at NC State; UConn assistant and former George Washington head coach Karl Hobbs; Virginia assistant Ritchie McKay, a former head coach at Liberty, New Mexico, Portland State and Colorado State; Clemson assistant Earl Grant; and Wofford head coach Mike Young.

The administration wanted to go through a formal interview process with a search committee and then put forth a recommendation to president Glenn McConnell. There was interest from a few other head coaches in the region, but they did not want to go through a formal process and were hoping to get the job without the process dragging on for a few weeks.

Charleston starts school Tuesday. Wojcik was fired for cause, according to the school, with three years remaining on his contract after allegations of verbal abuse were made against him. He was fired Aug. 5.

Lutz, Hobbs and McKay have had second careers as top assistants in helping NC State, UConn and Virginia, respectively, get back to the NCAA tournament. Hobbs is coming off a national title with the Huskies.

Johnson would bring the Cougars back to their heralded past since he played under longtime coach John Kresse. Grant and Young are familiar with the area and have recruited in the state.

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