Majerus agrees to coach at Saint Louis University

ST. LOUIS -- Rick Majerus is back in coaching after a three-year absence, ready to help fulfill Saint Louis' intentions of becoming a Top 50 national program.

Majerus agreed Friday to a six-year contract with the school, which announced the hiring in a statement. An analyst with ESPN the last three years, Majerus has a career record of 422-147 with 15 postseason appearances.

"I missed it," Majerus told the AP on Friday night. "I missed practice. I missed coaching."

The school will introduce the 59-year-old Majerus at a news conference Monday morning. Majerus' first appearance is being delayed through the weekend because the school wanted to avoid competing for attention with the NFL Draft and a weekend Cardinals-Cubs series.

"I am extremely excited about having a person of Rick Majerus' stature and reputation at the helm of our men's basketball team," Father Lawrence Biondi, the school president, said in a statement. "I know that we are now headed to take our men's basketball team to the next level."

Rick Majerus has a career record of 422-147, including a national championship appearance in 1998. (Getty Images)

The school and Majerus had been negotiating for several days, beginning not long after Brad Soderberg was fired after failing to lead the school to the NCAA Tournament in any of his five seasons. Saint Louis hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2000 and the Atlantic 10 member had an RPI of 73 at the end of last season.

"They're in a good league and about to move into a beautiful building," Majerus said. "I like the guys coming back. I just like the situation."

Majerus coached Utah to the national championship game in 1998, losing to Kentucky, and led the school to 10 NCAA appearances in 15 seasons. He also has coached at Ball State and Marquette and was an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks.

"Rick and I have gotten a chance to know each other over the past week," Biondi said. "I am very impressed with all that he will bring to our men's basketball program, including his commitment to run a program that we can all be proud of."

Majerus accepted the Southern California job in December 2004 only to change his mind three days later. He had cited health reasons when he retired as Utah's coach in January 2004.

Last year, he turned down an offer to become an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets. That decision, in part, was made because he wanted to be closer to his mother in Milwaukee.

Majerus, who has lived in Milwaukee since joining ESPN, also said health is no longer an issue. He's approaching this position as his last stop in coaching.

"I don't think I'm going to go anywhere else. Maybe I'll coach until I'm 80, but I don't think I'm a (Joe) Paterno," he said, referring to the Penn State football coach.