Jim O’Brien, who coached Boston College for 11 years, was hired Wednesday to take over a struggling Ohio State team after two others rejected the job.

O’Brien signed a five-year contract and succeeds Randy Ayers, who was fired March 10. He inherits a team that finished 10-17 the last two years and was ninth in the Big Ten this past season.

The deal includes a base salary of $150,000 a year. The Boston Herald reported the total package, including outside endorsements and radio-TV contracts, is worth about $650,000 a year.

O’Brien visited the campus Monday after Clemson’s Rick Barnes and Georgia’s Tubby Smith decided to stay where they are.

Blaine Taylor, the successful basketball coach at the University of Montana, is considered a prime candidate for the just-opened head coaching job at the University of Oregon, a UM spokesman said.

Kevin Bannon, who rebuilt Rider’s basketball program and took the Broncs to two NCAA tournament appearances in eight years, was named Rutgers’ coach.

Bannon, 39, beat out Pat Kennedy of Florida State, Danny Nee of Nebraska and Tim Welsh of Iona.

At Buffalo, N.Y., Mike MacDonald, who has been an assistant at Canisius for nine years, was promoted to head coach.

MacDonald, 30, replaces John Beilein, who led Canisius to three postseason appearances in five years.