Buffalo, N.Y. ― Did Bryan Hodgson turn down a job offer from Syracuse or merely remove himself from the school’s search for its next basketball coach?
On Tuesday night, several outlets, including Syracuse.com, reported that Hodgson, who is in his first year as the head coach at South Florida, was no longer part of SU’s coaching search.
Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 also has reported that South Florida officials are putting together a financial package to keep Hodgson.
A source told Syracuse.com that Hodgson “was out” of the running for the job but didn’t specify exactly what that meant or who made the decision.
On Wednesday, Syracuse.com asked Hodgson for clarification following his interview session ahead of South Florida’s NCAA Tournament game against Louisville on Thursday here at the Key Bank Center.
After Hodgson’s 15-minute long question-and-answer period on the dais, Syracuse.com approached him off the podium seeking clarification regarding Tuesday’s reports.
Did Hodgson turn down an offer from Syracuse or did he remove his name from consideration?
“I’m gonna be honest with you, I am not gonna talk about any of that stuff right now,” Hodgson said. ”Anything that’s not focused around my basketball team, of course, would not be fair to these young men.
“It’s a great program, great leadership,” Hodgson said of Syracuse. ”I’ve had a several schools reach out. It’s a blessing to be in that position, but I’m 100% focused solely on these young men and what we have in front of us."
Hodgson had a similar, and shorter, answer to a follow-up question on whether he received an offer from Syracuse.
Hodgson reportedly remains a candidate for Providence’s head-coaching vacancy.
In his first year at South Florida, Hodgson has led the Bulls to the school’s first NCAA Tournament berth in 14 years. He previously spent two years as the head coach at Arkansas State and prior to that was an assistant to Nate Oats at both Alabama and Buffalo.
Regardless of whether Hodgson turned down Syracuse or took his name out of the candidates’ pool, Syracuse is still looking for a head coach.
The rumor mill includes names like Siena coach and former SU star Gerry McNamara, New Orleans Pelicans assistant and former SU player/assistant Mike Hopkins, Connecticut assistant Luke Murray, VCU’s Phil Martelli Jr. and many more.
Adding more mystery to the search is the recent hiring of Bryan Blair as Syracuse’s new athletic director. Blair previously was the AD at the University of Toledo and might have his own list of candidates for the Syracuse job.
Blair is scheduled to meet with reporters Thursday in Syracuse.
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