Creighton Assistant Getting Indiana State Job

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) _ Indiana State was set to announce a new men's basketball coach during a Thursday afternoon news conference. <br/><br/>Indiana State officials offered the job on Wednesday to

Thursday, March 29th 2007, 11:01 am

By: News On 6

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) _ Indiana State was set to announce a new men's basketball coach during a Thursday afternoon news conference.

Indiana State officials offered the job on Wednesday to Creighton assistant coach Kevin McKenna, the Tribune-Star reported, citing a source close to the basketball program. The Associated Press left a message Thursday seeking comment for athletic department spokesman Ace Hunt.

The new coach will replace Royce Waltman, who was fired this month after a sixth straight losing season.

Athletic Director Ron Prettyman told the Tribune-Star the school completed interviews Wednesday with McKenna and two other finalists _ Indiana State assistant Greg Lansing and Western Kentucky assistant Jeff Strohm of Western Kentucky.

Indiana assistant Ray McCallum, a former Ball State head coach, was a finalist but removed his name from consideration on Tuesday, Prettyman said.

McKenna has been a Creighton assistant for nine seasons in two stints _ 1994-2001 and 2005-07 _ and spent four seasons as the head coach at Nebraska-Omaha, leading the school to a 89-33 record and three Division II playoff appearances.

Waltman was 134-164 in 10 seasons at Indiana State and is the only coach to take the Sycamores to the NCAA tournament since the Larry Bird-led team reached the 1979 championship game.