It’s Official: Payne Takes Over At Oregon State

Eddie Payne, who coached East Carolina to its winningest season in 20 years, was officially hired Friday to help resurrect the slumping Oregon State basketball program.

Payne was introduced as the coach by athletic director Dutch Baughman at a news conference.

“It’s really in some sense overwhelming to have an opportunity like this,” Payne said.

He is only the fifth basketball coach at Oregon State in 66 years.

The school has been looking to replace Jim Anderson, who coached the Beavers for six seasons and was not offered a new contract.

Baughman said Payne was the only person offered the job after 15 candidates were interviewed.

Payne, 43, said he understood how difficult it will be to rebuild the Oregon State program.

Anderson was 78-90 overall as head coach after serving 28 years as an Oregon State assistant.

Princeton assistant coach Armond Hill was named to replace 63-year-old Jack Rohan at Columbia.

Hill, 41, was a player of the year at Princeton and played on four NBA teams Atlanta, Milwaukee, Seattle and San Diego.

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun was named the New England Basketball Coaches Association Division I coach of the year.