Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2012 Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.

Klein was one of 65 players nationally and 11 from the Big 12 Conference named to the watch list for the award that recognizes America’s most outstanding collegiate football player. The Wildcat signal caller is just the third player in school history up for the award and the first since 2004. Running back Darren Sproles was a preseason candidate that season, while quarterback Michael Bishop was a finalist in 1998.

A native of Loveland, Colo., Klein burst onto the college football scene last year as a junior when he led K-State to a 10-2 regular season record and a berth in the 2012 AT&T Cotton Bowl. Considered by many the toughest player in college football, Klein rushed for a Big 12 and FBS quarterback record 27 touchdowns last season en route to All-America accolades. He amassed 1,141 rushing yards to rank seventh in school history and first among quarterbacks, while he led the Big 12 with 317 rushing attempts, 67 more than the player in second place.

Klein was also efficient in the passing game during the 2011 season as he threw for 1,918 yards and 13 touchdowns on 161-of-281 aim with just six interceptions.

Aside from his All-America honors from Sports Illustrated, Klein was also named a First Team All-Big 12 performer by the Associated Press, ESPN.com, Kansas City Star, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and San Antonio Express-News, while he earned honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades from the league’s coaches and also received votes for the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Award.

A list of semifinalists for the 76th annual Maxwell Award will be announced on October 29, while the Maxwell Football Club will unveil its three semifinalists for the award on November 19. The winner of the 2012 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on December 6.

The Wildcats open the 2012 campaign September 1 with the fourth annual K-State Family Reunion against Missouri State.

— KSU Sports Information —

Erik Kynard already won an NCAA championship this year. Now he will compete for Olympic gold in London this summer. The junior high jumper finished second at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials from Hayward Field on Monday evening to secure his spot on Team USA and compete at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Kynard cleared 7-05.75 (2.28 meters) on his first attempt and claimed second place based on number of misses at previous heights. Four athletes cleared the height. Kynard also cleared the opening height of 7-00.50 (2.15m) on his first attempt and took two tries at 7-02.50 (2.20m) and 7-04.50 (2.25m) each.

It was a big day for K-State Head Coach Cliff Rovelto as the entire trio of Team USA high jumpers are coached by him.

In addition to Kynard in the field, Rovelto had three professional jumpers competing on Monday. Jamie Nieto was victorious clearing all four bars on his first attempt, and 2011 world champion Jesse Williams took fourth. Nieto and Williams will join Kynard on the Olympic team. Jim Dilling missed the opening height on Monday. Nieto will be the oldest men’s high jumper to wear the Red, White and Blue at 35 years old.

One future Wildcat was also in the final. Zack Riley is an NJCAA national champion and signed a National Letter of Intent to join the K-State team this fall. He was one of the 13 finalists but also failed to clear the bar at 7-00.50.

Kynard is the first Wildcat to make an Olympic team with remaining eligibility since Nathan Leeper made Team USA in 2000. The Toledo, Ohio, product will now begin preparing for the Olympics, set to start on July 27 with opening ceremonies. He will return to Manhattan, Kan., following the Trials.

Cool temperatures and rain just prior to the start of competition made the conditions not ideal for jumping, but Kynard managed to come up with a big jump when he needed it to almost guarantee his spot on the Olympic team. With his clearance of 7-05.75 on his first attempt, he moved into second place. With a wet runway, jumping 7-07.00 was unable to be accomplished by the five remaining jumpers in the field.

Rovelto predicted there could be poor weather conditions at the Trials during an interview session before leaving for Oregon last week. He said he was confident in Kynard if there were rains after seeing Kynard win his first NCAA crown last year during a downpour in Des Moines, Iowa, when he jumped 7-06.00 (2.29m).

The Wildcats have one more current student-athlete, Ryann Krais, set to compete in the women’s heptathlon. Two former assistant coaches and current volunteer coaches, Kasey Hill and Bettie Wade, will also be in the heptathlon beginning Thursday.

Former Wildcat Amy Mortimer will run in the first round of the women’s 1,500 meters on Thursday as well.

Wednesday marks the start of the Canadian Olympic Trials, and freshman women’s high jumper Alyx Treasure will compete in the qualifying round on Thursday with the final set for Friday evening in Calgary.

— KSU Sports Information —

Kansas State University President Kirk Schulz announced Wednesday that Athletics Director John Currie has signed a contract extension through the 2018 academic year, a move that recognizes the success of the department under Currie’s leadership while providing continuity as K-State surges forward toward its vision of a model intercollegiate athletics program.

The agreement adds two years to his current contract, securing Currie’s services through June 30, 2018. Schulz said that Currie’s annual salary will be $450,000 for 2012-13 and will increase by $25,000 for each remaining year on the contract. The extension also includes an enhanced retention incentive structure.

“John has provided tremendous leadership for our athletics department and entire university family since his arrival in 2009,” Schulz said. “Over the last three years, our student-athletes have enjoyed unprecedented success in the classroom and on the playing field, the department has seen record fundraising and a dramatic increase in members of the Ahearn Fund and over $100 million in facility improvements benefiting all of our 16 sports are underway. Great days are ahead for K-State as a member of the Big 12 Conference, and John’s continued leadership and vision will enhance our position as a national leader in intercollegiate athletics.”

“Mary Lawrence, our children and I are thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the K-State family and live in the great college community of Manhattan,” Currie said. “Thanks to the efforts of President Schulz and his K-State 2025 vision, our terrific coaches, support staff, loyal fans and donors, and, most importantly, over 400 dedicated student-athletes, we have made tremendous progress toward our vision of a model intercollegiate athletics program and enjoyed across-the-board success over the past three years. And now, with the support of the K-State Nation, we have to continue to take strides forward to maintain and build upon our competitive future as a national leader in college athletics.”

Since Currie’s introduction as Director of Athletics on May 18, 2009, K-State’s intercollegiate program has experienced an unprecedented combination of athletic, academic and administrative accomplishments and national attention.

With the vision and support of Schulz, the re-earned trust of Wildcat fans nationwide and the efforts of K-State’s outstanding coaching staff, Currie’s rebuilt senior leadership team has earned national acclaim by turning an inherited annual deficit into one of the NCAA’s most financially solvent programs, initiated $100 million in comprehensive athletic facility improvements and launched K-StateHD.TV, the nation’s No. 1 premium digital network, all while navigating the tumultuous waters of conference realignment and helping the Big 12 emerge ready for a new era of excellence.

“John has been a tremendous leader and ambassador for the athletics department and the entire university community,” said Carl Ice, President of BNSF Railway Company and Ahearn National Leadership Circle member. “His enthusiasm and tireless commitment to the vision and goals of the department have positively impacted the Wildcat Nation, and I am confident in the future of K-State Athletics.”

K-State’s fundraising efforts have been overhauled during Currie’s tenure with an emphasis on grass roots support, personal interaction and communication for Ahearn Fund donors of all levels. K-State supporters immediately responded in Currie’s first year by increasing total annual fund cash gifts more than 50 percent versus the previous year to an all-time high of $14.47 million. Fiscal year 2011 was even better as total athletics giving set another all-time record exceeding $17.5 million, while a new record total is pending as with three weeks remaining in fiscal year 2012 the department has already exceeded the $20 million mark. Additionally, the Ahearn Fund has grown by more than 2,500 members since Currie’s arrival and pushed past the 8,000 mark this past month.

K-State donors have stepped up with 11 private gifts in excess of $1 million since fall 2009, enabling the department to begin construction in 2011 on the $18 million Basketball Training Facility and building momentum towards the department’s new comprehensive facility improvement benefitting all 444 Wildcat student-athletes. On April 28, 2012, ground was broken for Phase II of the Bill Snyder Family Stadium master plan thanks to a national effort that has included a $5 million anonymous gift, the largest in the history of the department.

“John’s commitment to excellence, his ability to have a clear vision, and the transparency that he has brought to K-State Athletics has brought a renew sense of confidence and excitement,” said Dennis Mullin, NLC member and President/CEO of Steel and Pipe Supply Co. “He has worked hard to support all of our great athletic programs with better facilities, more secure finances and increased attendance. Thanks to John and his staff along with all of our terrific coaches, it is a great time to be a Wildcat!”

Under Currie’s leadership, the department’s commitment to the best fan experience in the Big 12 has provided affordable and accessible ticket options to ensure that every Wildcat fan has the opportunity to support the Cats. And K-State Nation has responded with eight sellout crowds at Bill Snyder Family Stadium since 2009 while also setting new program attendance records in all ticketed sports, including Top 25 national acclaim in volleyball and women’s basketball.

Athletically, K-State’s national brand has taken a substantial leap forward thanks to the across-the-board success over the last three seasons. This past year, K-State advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in volleyball, finished No. 8 in the final BCS football rankings, earned an AT&T Cotton Bowl berth and went on to become the lone Big 12 school and one of only five in the nation to advance to a bowl and win games in the NCAA volleyball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball tournaments. The 2010-11 athletics year saw a record-number of teams advance to the NCAA postseason. That year, K-State was just one of two programs in the nation to have its football team in a bowl game, both basketball and its baseball teams in the NCAA Tournament and both track and field teams finish in the Top 20, while piling up a 13-1 head-to-head record against in-state rival KU. Individually, the Wildcats sported two NCAA championships in track & field, and women’s tennis sensation Petra Niedermayerova was both Big 12 Player and Freshman of the Year.

Currie received a celebrated national honor in 2011 as one of only two intercollegiate athletics directors named to SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Forty Under 40 list of national sports leaders. He was a featured AD panelist at the 2011 SportsBusiness Journal Intercollegiate Athletics Conference in New York and has served as a faculty member of the Division I-A Athletic Director’s Institute. Currently a member of the NCAA Division I Administrative Cabinet and the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors, Currie also serves the Big 12 as a member of the Game Management/Officiating Subcommittee as well as the Championship and Awards committee.

— KSU Sports Information —

K-State men’s basketball coach Bruce Weber named the first member of his coaching staff on Thursday, as former Southern Illinois head coach Chris Lowery was selected as an assistant coach.

Lowery’s specific title and duties will be assigned at a later date, as Weber completes his initial staff.  Lowery’s contract details are still being finalized, but he will earn a base salary of $210,000 for 2012-13.

“I’m really excited about Chris joining the coaching staff,” said Weber.  “He has been with me at both Southern Illinois and Illinois as an assistant coach and we have a great relationship, which is critical in building a staff.  He is an outstanding recruiter with great ties to the Midwest and will be a huge asset in helping us to establish a great recruiting base.  He also has the added experience of being a head coach for eight years at SIU, which is only going to help me on the bench.  I look forward to K-State Nation getting to know Chris and his family.”

Lowery will be reunited with Weber for the third time after serving as his assistant coach for two seasons at Southern Illinois (2001-03) and one season at Illinois (2003-04).  During that three-year period, the duo helped the Salukis and Fighting Illini to a combined 78-22 (.780) overall record, including a 43-9 (.827) mark in conference play, with three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including Sweet 16 appearances in 2002 and 2004.

Lowery arrives at K-State after an eight-year stint (2004-12) as the head coach at his alma mater, Southern Illinois, where he posted a 145-116 (.556) overall record with four postseason appearances, two Missouri Valley Conference Championships and one State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title.  His teams won 20 or more games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament on three occasions (2005, 2006, 2007), including a 2007 trip to the Sweet 16.  He was twice named the Missouri Valley Coach of the Year (2005, 2007).  He collected a 77-67 (.535) record in MVC play, including four seasons of double-digit victories.

Lowery coached two Associated Press honorable mention All-Americans at SIU, including Darren Brooks in 2005 and Jamaal Tatum in 2007.  In addition, his players earned numerous Missouri Valley Conference honors, including two Players of the Year (Brooks and Tatum), four Defensive Players of the Year (Brooks, Randal Falker, Bryan Mullins twice), two Freshmen of the Year (Mullins and Kevin Dillard) and one Sixth Man Award (Tony Young).  Lowery saw 12 players earn all-conference honors, including five first-team selections.  He also coached 10 players to the MVC All-Defense Team, six to the All-Tournament Team, five to the All-Freshman and All-Bench Teams and four to All-Newcomer and Most Improved Teams.

In addition, Lowery’s teams were stellar in the classroom at SIU, as two players earned Capital One Academic All-America honors during his tenure, including first team accolades by Bryan Mullins in 2009.  He also saw two players (Tatum and Mullins) collect MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, while eight players were selected for the conference’s scholar-athlete recognition, including five to the first team.

Lowery has 17 years of college coaching experience, which includes assistant coaching stints at Rend Lake College (1995-97), Missouri Southern (1997-2000), Southeast Missouri State (2000-01), Southern Illinois and Illinois.  He has been a part of teams that have won more than 300 games and advanced to the postseason on eight occasions.

Lowery began his coaching career at Rend Lake College in Ina, Ill., in 1995, where he helped the Warriors to a 20-win season.  He moved to Missouri Southern in 1997, where he worked three seasons for legendary coach Robert Corn, who has won nearly 400 games in 23 seasons.  After winning 13 and 11 games in his first two seasons, the Lions posted a school-record 30 wins in 1999-2000, including 16 in conference play, and advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the first time in school history.  He moved to Southeast Missouri State as an assistant to Gary Garner in 2000-01, helping the RedHawks to an 18-12 record before moving to SIU.

Lowery returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach to Weber in 2002, helping the Salukis to a 52-15 (.776) record from 2001-03 with back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference championships and consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, including the Sweet 16 in 2003.  He followed Weber to Illinois in 2003-04, where he helped the Fighting Illini to a 26-7 overall record, including a 13-3 mark in Big Ten play, and a trip to the Sweet 16.  Illinois also captured its first outright Big Ten regular season title in more than 52 years.

After a one-year stint at Illinois, Lowery returned to his alma mater as the 12th men’s basketball coach at Southern Illinois on April 9, 2004.  In his first year, SIU posted a 27-8 overall record, including a 15-3 mark in MVC play, and Lowery became the youngest coach, at the age 32, to ever win Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors.  The Salukis won the MVC regular season crown and beat Saint Mary’s in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.  Guard Darren Brooks was named an honorable mention All-American by the AP and was both the Missouri Valley Player and Defensive Player of the Year in 2005.

Lowery kept the momentum going in year two, taking a SIU team with no seniors to a 22-11 overall record, including a 12-6 mark in league play, en route to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title and another trip to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost West Virginia in the first round.  The following season, he helped the Salukis to their greatest season in school history, as they won a school-record 29 games and advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2006-07.  The squad finished the year with a No. 11 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll – the highest ever in school history – and earned their highest NCAA Tournament seed (No. 4).  SIU knocked off Holy Cross, 61-51, and Virginia Tech, 63-48, before losing to No. 2 Kansas, 61-58, in the Sweet 16.  Known for its defensive prowess, the squad held 21 foes to under 60 points and finished third nationally in points allowed per game (56.2 ppg.).

Lowery again saw a player earn All-American distinction in 2007, as guard Jamaal Tatum was an honorable mention pick by the AP, in addition to being the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.  Forward Randal Falker was also the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.  Tatum and Falker were both first team all-league selections, while Tatum was the Prairie Farms Scholar-Athlete of the Year, which is the MVC’s top academic honor.

SIU earned its fifth consecutive trip to the postseason, including fourth in a row under Lowery, in 2007-08, as the squad won 18 games and advanced to the second round of the NIT.  He finished his tenure with 145 wins, which are the fourth-most in school history behind William McAndrew (312, 1913-43), Rich Herren (225, 1985-98) and Lynn Holder (175, 1946-58).  He is the third K-State coach to have served as a head coach at SIU, following all-time wins leader Jack Hartman, who posted a 142-64 (.689) record as the Salukis’ head coach from 1962-70, and Weber, who led SIU to a 103-54 mark from 1998-2003.

Lowery was a standout player for legendary Saluki coach Rich Herrin from 1990-94.  Known as a scrappy, hustling player, he helped lead a basketball renaissance at SIU, guiding the Salukis to consecutive NCAA Tournaments in 1993 and 1994, including a breaking the school’s 16-year drought in 1993.  He helped the school to an 86-37 (.699) mark during his tenure, including four postseason appearances and two Missouri Valley Conference titles.  He scored 1,225 points and dished out 391 assists in his career.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the university in 1995.

Lowery has also some international coaching experience with USA Basketball, where as an assistant with the Under-19 team won the Gold medal at the 2009 World Championships in New Zealand.

— KSU Sports Information —

Prepare for “The Stare” at South Carolina games next season.

The Gamecocks hired fiery Frank Martin from Kansas State to re-energize a program that had dropped to the bottom of the Southeastern Conference.

Martin spoke for nearly an hour in front of several hundred fans, media and South Carolina administrators. Afterwards, he was asked to demonstrate his harsh, laser-like stare, which was a featured attraction at Wildcat games the past five years.

“It’s something that happens when it’s time to compete,” Martin said, laughing.

Martin says the time for the Gamecocks to compete is now.

He told the players Tuesday morning they weren’t far off from SEC success, despite going 10-21 and 2-14 in the league this season.

“I’ve got to figure out a way, and that’s my job, to get them the confidence that they need to win that next game,” Martin said.

Not that it will be easy.

The Gamecocks lose their leading scorer in senior Malik Cooke. Their No. 2 scorer, point guard Bruce Ellington, is reconsidering his decision to give up football and continue to play both sports like he did this past year.

Martin will have two scholarships to use for next year’s team and possibly three if Ellington rejoins the football team. The new coach says he’s already begun tapping recruiting contacts.

“We’re on it already,” he said.

Martin doesn’t have to rush. He got a six-year deal worth $12.3 million. He’ll make $1.9 million this fall, a step up from his salary of about $1.4 million with the Wildcats.

South Carolina also agreed to pay Martin’s $1 million buyout at Kansas State.

South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman spoke with former coaches, players, the NCAA and administrators in the search for a new coach to replace Darrin Horn.

“Quite frankly, we feel like we’ve got the right person,” he said.

Martin, 46, called it a whirlwind courtship with South Carolina that really took off this weekend while the coach was in New York helping CBS Sports with its coverage of the NCAA tournament. Martin joked that he had basketball studio analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Greg Anthony urging him to take the job before he left.

“That’s how much respect people have for South Carolina basketball,” Martin said.

Martin was 117-54 in five years with the Wildcats. They reached the NCAA regional finals in 2010 and lost to Syracuse in the third round this season.

Martin thanked everyone at Kansas State and discounted any rift with Wildcat athletic director John Currie for the decision to leave. Martin was upset the school suspended forward Jamar Samuels for the Wildcats’ NCAA tournament loss to Syracuse.

However, “that administration has been phenomenal. I can’t be more thankful for how that administration treated us. They gave us what we needed,” Martin said.

Kansas coach Bill Self, Martin’s Big 12 conference rival, said the coach would be missed.

“Our league will miss him. I’m sure people in Manhattan (Kan.) will, too,” Self said. “He was nothing but good things for our basketball league.”

Now, the SEC has another outsized personality to match up with league heavyweights such as Kentucky’s John Calipari and Florida’s Billy Donovan. Martin said he got a text from his friend, Alabama coach Anthony Grant, that read, “Frank, our league just got better.”

Martin is the son of Cuban immigrants who coached high school basketball in Miami for 15 years and was an assistant at Northeastern for four seasons before Bob Huggins brought him on his staff at Cincinnati. Martin credits Huggins with jumpstarting his career, saying the West Virginia coach helped him get into college coaching.

Martin knew about South Carolina’s program from following former Gamecocks star Devan Downey, who spent his freshman year at Cincinnati when Martin was assistant to then Bearcats coach Huggins. Martin remembered watching highlights of Downey and his teammates celebrating their stunning 68-62 victory over then-No. 1 Kentucky in 2010.

Things slumped for South Carolina under Horn since that high point. The Gamecocks lost 24 of their last 27 SEC games. Horn finished his career at South Carolina 23-45 in league games and 60-63 overall with three consecutive losing seasons. Attendance fell drastically this season with opponents such as Ohio State and Kentucky outdrawing the Gamecocks in games played here this winter.

Martin praised Horn for running a clean program and improving the team’s once poor academic showing. Horn did a lot of good for this basketball team, except for winning.

“It’s my duty to try and complete that part,” he said.
Martin promised his team’s tough-nosed style and relentless work ethic would fill the arena.

“We will put 18,000 in this place every game,” he said.

Football coach Steve Spurrier won a record 11 games last fall, baseball coach Ray Tanner has won the past two College World Series and women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley earned the team’s first trip to the NCAA tournament in nine years.

Spurrier said he met with Martin for a few moments before the press conference.

“I think we’ve hired a winner,” Spurrier said. “I think he’s got a pretty good track record.”

Martin said he’s worked on softening the hard-bitten image he’s been tagged with during his time at Kansas State. He said the only time you might hear him raise his voice is during games.

“What you see on six seconds on ESPN is nothing like I am,” Martin said.

Except for maybe that stare, which Martin admits he can’t help but break out during games.

“Probably after the first turnover,” he joked.

— Associated Press —

Kansas State athletic director John Currie admitted to having some differences with coach Frank Martin over the years. The two men didn’t always see eye to eye.

One thing they agreed on Tuesday: There was no rift in their relationship.

“John has been great,” Martin said during a conference call shortly after being introduced as the new coach at South Carolina. “It’s unfortunate that I make a difficult decision and everyone’s got to figure out a way to blame someone for the decision. That’s not fair to anybody.”

Currie said he wished Martin well as he tries to turn around the Gamecocks.

“We’ve always had interest in Frank Martin being part of the long-term fabric at K-State. That started from the time we got here,” Currie said during a morning news conference at Bramlage Coliseum attended by university president Kirk Schulz.

Currie said he tried to restructure Martin’s contract several times over the course of the season, but Martin said he wanted to focus on his team. Currie even made a last-minute pitch on Monday, when Martin called to inform him he would accept the offer from South Carolina.

“They wanted me at K-State,” Martin said. “That was never in question.”

Currie said he would begin the search immediately for a new coach. He would not say whether he has a list of potential candidates and declined to offer a timetable for the hiring, though the relatively late start in the process puts him at a disadvantage.

This will be the first time Currie has hired a coach of a major sport since taking over in 2009.

“Transition is part of life,” he said. “I completely understand how much many of our fans appreciate coach Martin. I, too, share that appreciation.”

Currie has been widely criticized for Martin’s decision to leave an up-and-coming basketball school for one with scant success in a league known primarily for its football.

Much of that stems from the public perception that a rift had developed between the athletic director and the high-profile coach, and the relationship became fractured to the point that it could no longer be repaired during the third round of the NCAA tournament.

That’s when senior forward Jamar Samuels was suspended for the Wildcats’ game against top-seeded Syracuse for receiving impermissible benefits. Martin stood in his player’s corner before and after the game, while Currie said he did everything possible to get Samuels cleared to play.

“There was a violation of NCAA rules in that circumstance,” Currie said, alluding to a receipt for a wire transaction that showed up in the Kansas State compliance office, ultimately triggering a hasty investigation that could not be completed by the start of the game.

“It would have made my weekend a lot better if a receipt hadn’t shown up in our compliance office,” he said. “Once it came into our possession, for us to do nothing would have risked the integrity of the institution, the integrity of our men’s basketball program.”

Currie refused to elaborate on the suspension citing privacy laws.

Martin said several times he did not leave Kansas State because of the Samuels incident, and that South Carolina simply offered a “new challenge.” It wound up being a big enough challenge to leave a school that gave a nondescript assistant the chance to be a head coach.

“I don’t make decisions based on one experience,” he said. “Jamar might have played and we might have won and I still might have made this decision. The decisions I make and everything I do does not have a single thing to do with the decision that anybody else makes.

“In life, you go through things and sometimes for no reason whatsoever, a new opportunity, a new challenge gets put in front of you, you make a choice,” he said. “That doesn’t mean one choice is better than the other, one place is better than the other.”

Schulz said he had not spoken to Martin in several weeks, even while the Wildcats were making their NCAA tournament run, and refused to speculate on the reasons for Martin’s departure.

The president did say he supports Currie’s leadership.

“He has good working relationships with our coaches. Are there disagreements at times? Absolutely,” Schulz said. “We’re going to be judged by the quality of individual that we bring in, but I feel good that we have the right guy to go out and find somebody.”

— Associated Press —

Frank Martin has agreed to become South Carolina’s next men’s basketball coach, said people familiar with the decision say

The people spoke to The Associated Press Monday on condition of anonymity because the school had not announced the hiring. The university’s board of trustees is scheduled to meet Tuesday morning to discuss a contract matter.

Martin will replace Darrin Horn, who was fired two weeks ago after going 60-63 over four seasons. The Gamecocks finished last in the Southeastern Conference last year.

Martin is leaving Kansas State, which he led to the NCAA tournament four of the last five seasons. The Wildcats reached the regional finals in 2010. His overall record as a head coach is 117-54 and he is 6-4 in the NCAA tourney.

The Gamecocks have been to the NCAA tournament just once since 1998. They finished this season 10-21 and 2-14 in the SEC.

Martin is the son of Cuban immigrants who coached high school basketball in Miami for 15 years and was an assistant at Northeastern for four seasons before Bob Huggins brought him on to his staff at Cincinnati. Martin credits Huggins with jump starting his career, saying the current coach at West Virginia helped him get into college coaching.

South Carolina will be a rebuilding job.

The team’s record got progressively worse during Horn’s four years. Their top player, point guard and two-sport high school star Bruce Ellington, originally promised to only play basketball next season, but after Horn was fired, he started hanging around the football field during spring practice.

Several other players could consider transfers as Martin’s intense coaching style is a stark contrast from Horn’s more laid back approach.

Martin has not publically commented about the South Carolina job or why he might want to leave Kansas State at this time. He was an in-studio analyst for CBS during its weekend NCAA tournament coverage and didn’t answer directly when asked about coaching the Gamecocks.

“The stuff that gets out these days, I look at it as a compliment that we’re doing our job the right way at Kansas State that these sorts of things get out,” Martin said.

A potential salary for Martin has not been disclosed. He made around $1.1 million at Kansas State, and South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman said when he fired Horn that the Gamecocks were willing to pay their next coach a competitive salary. The school also will owe Horn a $2.4 million buyout.

Horn was hired from Western Kentucky after leading the Hilltoppers to the round of 16 in 2008. His first team at South Carolina went 21-10 and 10-6 in the SEC, winning the Eastern Division. But it wasn’t enough to get the team’s first NCAA tournament bid since 2004, and his teams won fewer games each season.

The Gamecocks have lost 24 of their last 27 SEC games. Horn finished his career at South Carolina 23-45 in league games and 60-63 overall with thee losing seasons in a row.

— Associated Press —