Mar 10, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Kevin Stallings shouts during game 3 of the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Tennessee Volunteers won 67 to 65. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
Vanderbilt’s Kevin Stallings has been hired to become the next head coach at Pittsburgh, the school announced Sunday.
Stallings, whose job security was in question with the Commodores, informed his players Sunday morning that he was taking the Pitt job. The deal is for six years, according to ESPN.com.
The 55-year-old Stallings has been the head coach at Vanderbilt for the past 17 seasons and taken the Commodores to the NCAA Tournament seven times.
“I am extremely excited to join the University of Pittsburgh family,” Stallings said in a statement. “Pitt has a tremendous basketball tradition and I am looking forward to building on the excellent foundation that is in place on the court and in the classroom. The city of Pittsburgh is outstanding and I have a great deal of respect for the people that make it such a special place. I look forward to seeing their support along with that of the Oakland Zoo next season at the Petersen Events Center.”
The Panthers were looking for a replacement after Jamie Dixon left last week to become the head coach at TCU, his alma mater.
”Coach Stallings and I share the same vision for Pitt — playing in the Final Four,” Pitt athletic director Scott Barnes said in a statement. ”Kevin has a successful track record recruiting the ACC footprint and beyond, and is one of the best coaches in the country at building an offense around his talent. He plays a fun up-tempo style that players love and fans will enjoy.”
Stallings took his Commodores to the NCAA Tournament this year when they lost in the first four to Wichita State in Dayton, Ohio. His overall record at Vanderbilt was 332-220 as the winningest coach in the program’s history.
Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams praised Stallings for his tenure and the way he represented the university.
“During his productive tenure, his teams have generated tremendous excitement for our students and fans,” Williams said in a statement. “Kevin won more games than any coach in our program’s history and he always did it ‘the right way.’
“I also want to thank Kevin for his tireless efforts in running a first-class program, where he emphasized academic achievement and graduation. We could always be proud of the student-athletes representing our school. He has been a a pleasure to work with over these years. Kevin is a great coach and a true gentleman and he and his family are great members of our community.”
Stallings is 455-283 with nine appearances in the NCAAs while at Illinois State and Vanderbilt. His tenure at Vandy included trips to the Sweet 16 in 2004 and 2007.
Todd Turner, Vanderbilt’s former athletic director who now operates College Sports Associates, was retained by Pitt to assist in the search for a new coach. Turner hired Stallings at Vanderbilt.
The Panthers reached the NCAA Tournament this season before losing to Wisconsin in the first round and finishing with a 21-12 record.
Pitt is just 28-26 in the ACC since moving from the Big East at the start of the 2013-14 season. The Panthers were 9-9 in the conference this season.
According to USA TODAY Sports, Vanderbilt could turn its attention to first-year Virginia Commonwealth coach Will Wade, a Nashville native who went 40-25 at Chattanooga before guiding VCU into the NCAA tournament this season.
