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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 1:01 p.m., Monday, April 6, 2009

CBKB: Memphis hires assistant Josh Pastner as coach

By WOODY BAIRD
Associated Press Writer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis has hired assistant coach Josh Pastner as successor to coach John Calipari.

Memphis athletics spokesman Bob Winn says the school will hold a news conference at noon Central Tuesday to introduce Pastner as the next head coach.

The 31-year-old coached for one year under Calipari, who announced last Tuesday he was taking the coaching job at Kentucky. Pastner also spent six years coaching under Lute Olsen at Arizona, where he also played.

Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said last week he planned to make a "wow" hire for the next coach. The search included Tennessee's Bruce Pearl, Baylor's Scott Drew and Florida State's Leonard Hamilton.