Tommy Amaker To Remain At Harvard, Turns Down Miami Offer

Thanks, but no thanks. That's essentially what Harvard men's basketball coach Tommy Amaker told the University of Miami on Tuesday, when he turned down the school's offer to take over the Hurricanes' program. 

Miami reportedly offered Amaker a five-year deal worth $5.5 million, and flew to Boston to try and persuade his wife, a professor in the Harvard medical school, to make the move. But in the end, Amaker, who led Harvard to its first Ivy League championship and its winningest season in program history with 23 victories this past season, decided to stay with the Crimson, where he has been the past four seasons:

"I am appreciative of and flattered by the interest shown in me by other fine universities, but I am proud and honored to represent Harvard," Amaker said in a statement released by the school. "I look forward to continuing my efforts to teach, lead and serve at this great institution."

The Miami Herald reports that Miami's search for a replacement to Frank Haith will now focus on are Mike Davis (Alabama-Birmingham), Tony Barbee (Auburn), Donnie Jones (UCF), Billy Kennedy (Murray State) and Rob Jeter (Wisconsin-Milwaukee).

Harvard's Tommy Amaker Reportedly Miami's Top Target

Harvard men's basketball coach Tommy Amaker is reportedly the top target of the University of Miami for its head coaching vacancy, according to a report from the Miami Herald.

The report indicates that school officials visited with Amaker in Boston on Monday in effort to lure him away from Harvard with an offer that would pay Amaker nearly $1.1 million over five years.

Amaker guided the Harvard Crimson to a 23-7 record (12-2 Ivy League) and a share of the league title for the first time in school history. Despite the conference crown, the Crimson missed out on the NCAA Tournament after losing to fellow co-Ivy League champion Princeton on a last-second shot in a play-in game.

In four seasons at Harvard, Amaker has led the Crimson to a 66-50 overall record and a 31-25 mark in the Ivy League. Amaker went 8-22 in his first year with Harvard and went 14-14 in his second season. Amaker flipped the switch in year number three, leading Harvard to a 21-7 record with a 10-4 record in league play. 

Prior to his time at Harvard, Amaker spent six seasons as the head coach for the Michigan Wolverines, where he posted a record of 108-84. Before that, Amaker began his career as the head coach at Seton Hall, going 68-55 from 1997 through 2001. Amaker has a lifetime head coaching record of 242-189.

One major obstacle for Miami is coaxing Amaker's wife, Dr. Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, from Harvard Medical School, where she teaches. 

Miami is attempting to fill the vacancy left by former head coach Frank Haith, who was hired as the head coach of the University of Missouri's men's basketball team earlier this month. Haith owns a career coaching record of 129-101 in seven seasons at Miami. The furthest Haith and company ever advanced in the Big Dance was the second round back in the 2007-08 season.