Earlywine looked at Ball State

Michael Westfall, Eastern Washington University’s interim athletic director, confirmed Thursday morning that Kirk Earlywine, the men’s basketball coach he hired less than six weeks ago, has looked into the vacant head coaching job at Ball State.

But he insisted the brief “flirtation” is over and that Earlywine, an Indiana native and former assistant under Rick Majerus at the Muncie, Ind.-based university, is staying at Eastern.

“I know numerous people with Ball State ties have reached out to Kirk because of their respect for him and the past success he’s had in his home state,” Westfall said in response to Internet reports that Earlywine had inquired about the Ball State job. “But I can tell you, a move to Muncie isn’t going to happen.”

Earlywine, when reached by phone, refused to discuss anything related to Ball State’s search for a successor to Ronny Thompson, who resigned as the Cardinals’ head coach in mid-July.

“I spent six years with Rick Majerus, and his policy has always been to not comment on any job,” Earlywine said. “I believe that’s the best policy, so just as I did during the (hiring) process at Eastern, I’m not going to comment on a job.”

Earlywine, who announced the addition of Jamie Matthews to his Eastern staff on Wednesday, did say, however, that he remains “extraordinarily grateful to Eastern Washington for the opportunity they’ve given me.

“And I’m not looking for another job.”

According to Westfall, Earlywine, who still maintains contact with several former Ball State players he coached – including one who sits of the school’s board of trustees – did not initiate discussions with the university.

“It wasn’t like Kirk just said, ‘Oh, the Ball State job is open. I’m going to apply for it.’ That wasn’t how it happened.” Westfall said. “People connected with Ball State contacted him first. They reached out to him.”

According to Westfall, Earlywine had planned to “exchange information” with Ball State officials. Westphal would not say, however, whether Earlywine went through with that plan and actually applied. But he reiterated his own certainty that his new coach is no longer interested in the job.

“If (leaving) was even a possibility, he wouldn’t have brought on a new assistant here,” Westfall said. “Kirk’s too much of a character guy to do that. He’s told me he’s staying, there’s no question about it. He’s here for the long run.”

Westfall added he was not particularly upset by Earlywine’s decision to check into the Ball State opening so soon after being hired at Eastern, noting that his parents still live in Indianapolis, which is less than an hour’s drive from Muncie.

“I don’t blame him,” he said. “It’s a high-profile league (Mid-American Conference) and the job, I know, pays twice as much as our position pays. Plus, it’s in his home state, so it’s going to give you pause. You are naturally going to think about it, but in the end, you do the right thing, and I think Kirk did the right thing.

“He listened and then said, ‘No thank you,’ after giving it some thought. These flirtations happen all the time, but they’re usually not blown to this magnitude.”

Earlywine, who will earn $90,000 a year at Eastern, was hired to replace Mike Burns, who was dismissed in late May with two years remaining on his five-year contract.

“I think this is actually a positive thing,” Westfall said of the mutual interest shown by Earlywine and Ball State. “It’s nice to know that other schools realize we have a good coach. And to be honest, I’m looking forward to more schools being interested in Kirk, due to his pending success here at Eastern.”