Sources: UNCW deal with C.B. McGrath could happen soon

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) –UNCW is apparently very close to hiring a new basketball coach from right up the road.

This morning ESPN’s Jeff Goodman tweeted that UNCW had reached an agreement with UNC assistant coach C.B. McGrath that trustees still need to approve.

UNCW has reached an agreement with North Carolina assistant CB McGrath, pending board approval, source told… https://t.co/zEjTd72Rr6

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) March 31, 2017

A UNCW spokeswoman told WWAY the university has no comment. A source, though, told WWAY the ESPN report was not true. Two other sources close to the situation told WWAY a deal could happen soon.

The UNCW Board of Trustees has called a special meeting Monday. According to a release from the university, trustees will meet Monday at 11 a.m.

According to the release, the purpose of the meeting is “to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, condition of appointment of a public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee; to establish or instruct the staff or agent concerning the negotiations of the amount of compensation or other terms of an employment contract; and to consult with the attorney to protect the attorney-client privilege.”

These types of meetings are usually called before filling a major position on campus, including head basketball coach.

Last night, word broke McGrath is the most likely candidate to get the UNCW job. McGrath has spent 18 years as an assistant under Roy Williams, including the last 14 in Chapel Hill. He spent the previous four years with Williams at Kansas, where McGrath also played as a point guard for four years. McGrath and the Tar Heels are in Arizona for this weekend’s Final Four.

This all comes after former head coach Kevin Keatts left to fill the NC State Men’s head coach position. UNCW named Keatts’s assistant Takayo Siddle interim head coach after Keatts left for Raleigh March 17. Siddle was considered by many to be a candidate to succeed Keatts, but Siddle resigned Monday. A day later he rejoined Keatts as an assistant coach for the Wolfpack.

Other names tied to the UNCW search are former East Carolina and current Florida Gulf Coast coach Joe Dooley and Arizona assistant Joe Pasternack. Reports are, though, that UC-Santa Barbara will announce today that Pasternack is the Gauchos’ new coach.