Eastman To Richmond? Rumor Alive

Washington State men’s basketball coach Kevin Eastman keeps saying he’s staying at WSU.

A newspaper in Virginia keeps hearing otherwise.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported today that discussions between Eastman and the University of Richmond have reopened in recent days and that there’s still a chance Eastman will be reunited with his alma mater.

Eastman, who has three years remaining on his WSU contract, withdrew his candidacy for the Richmond job late last week.

But the Times-Dispatch cites anonymous sources as saying Eastman has been in contact with Richmond athletic director Chuck Boone since then and remains interested in the vacancy created earlier this month when Richmond dismissed Bill Dooley.

Boone will attend the Final Four this weekend in Indianapolis and is expected to meet with Eastman and Canisius coach John Beilein during the trip, the newspaper reported. Richmond hopes to name a coach by the middle of next week.

Whitcomb takes NIC post

Pat Whitcomb was named North Idaho College wrestling coach.

Whitcomb, who won two national championships as a wrestler at NIC, replaces John Owen, who resigned earlier this month to spend more time with his family.

Whitcomb, 30, coached wrestling and taught U.S. history at Lake City High the past three years. He previously coached three years at Kellogg High.

Whitcomb will be paid $23,000 for coaching. It’s expected that he will take on additional duties at NIC, but currently there aren’t any openings.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Mike Sando Staff writer Staff writer Jim Meehan contributed to this report.