College Basketball

Dave Leitao back in charge as DePaul's basketball coach

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:37 p.m. ET

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***UPDATE: Dave Leitao, who coached DePaul from 2002 to 2005, has been named the program's new head basketball coach. Click here for the full story.***

DePaul figures to land a name coach in its process of replacing Oliver Purnell, as Valparaiso's Bryce Drew and Buffalo's Bobby Hurley are considered the front-runners for the opening, according to reports.

Drew was to interview Sunday for the job, while Hurley interviewed Saturday, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Drew and Hurley have much in common. They're in charge of mid-major teams that made the 2015 NCAA tournament field, they enjoyed success as players in the college and professional ranks, and they each have fathers who are or were renowned coaches in basketball circles. Bryce's father, Homer, was Valparaiso's head coach for all but one year between 1988-2011, while Bobby's father, Bob, has coached St. Anthony's High School in Jersey City, N.J., since 1972.

The city of Chicago is fertile ground for recruiting, given that players including current NBA stars Derrick Rose and Jabari Parker hail from the area, as do current Duke standout Jahlil Okafor and Kansas' Cliff Alexander, to name a handful. DePaul would offer easy access to that recruiting base and would give either candidate a chance to compete in a Big East Conference that placed six teams in this year's NCAA tournament.

According to the Tribune, both Drew and Hurley want the job "badly," so it would seem likely that one of them ends up with the role. DePaul is expected to offer a deal similar to the one it gave Purnell, who made approximately $2 million per year, according to the Chicago Tribune.

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