INDIANAPOLIS (AP) 鈥� Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said Friday he’s remaining with after being mentioned as a potential candidate to fill the coaching vacancy at blueblood program .
鈥淚’m happy to announce I’m staying at Arizona,鈥� Lloyd said during his pre-practice news conference at the Final Four. 鈥淲e’ve been able to get some things done the past couple days.鈥�
The school it had reached an extension with Lloyd through the 2030-31 season, though it didn’t release financial terms. Lloyd had previously been under contract through the 2029-30 season worth an average of nearly $5.5 million in base and supplemental pay for the coming seasons, along with a buyout that dropped from $11 million to $9 million on Wednesday.
Lloyd, 51, had been considered a top potential target for the Tar Heels, who after five seasons. He had deflected questions about the UNC opening as the Wildcats (36-2) kept advancing in the NCAA Tournament , including as recently as Thursday in Indianapolis.
Lloyd praised UNC as 鈥渁 first-class organization鈥� and said he appreciated 鈥渢he way they’ve handled this.鈥�
鈥淎rizona basketball, you guys know what it means to me, and when I say it鈥檚 a special place, that always comes from the bottom of my heart,鈥� Lloyd said.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to make this entire Final Four about that because I鈥檓 just a small part of something much bigger. But on that same note, I鈥檇 also like to let you know that North Carolina is an amazing place. I mean, it鈥檚 a 1 of 1. It鈥檚 an honor to even be considered for that job.鈥�
Lloyd’s comments came a day before the Wildcats (36-2) were set to face Michigan in Saturday night’s national semifinals in a matchup of the two 1-seeds in Indianapolis.
Wolverines coach Dusty May has also been mentioned as a possible UNC candidate, but said Friday he’ll 鈥渘ever respond to any job speculation.鈥�
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 well documented how happy I am at Michigan,鈥� May said. 鈥淥bviously my private life, my personal life, my family, their happiness is very important. Yeah, I love it at Michigan, but you鈥檒l never hear me comment on any other job unless Michigan lets me go and then I鈥檒l comment on every job.鈥�
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