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“After my last few experiences, I did not want to be a head coach in the NBA,” Jordan said in a recent interview. He wouldn’t elaborate on what led him to make his decision, stating simply that it was, “all of it combined.” Washington Post

Coaching, NCAA, Eddie Jordan 

The Lakers grossly underachieved despite assembling a star-studded roster with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. Jordan accepted the job with Rutgers before the Lakers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. “Mike Brown hired me. He was awesome. He allowed me to do a lot in a large role and when he was gone, Mike D’Antoni was gracious enough to keep me there and I really appreciate both those guys hiring me and retaining me. [Former Bullets/Wizards coach] Bernie Bickerstaff and I were reassigned to the back of the bench and we were okay. We were happy to be a part of it,” Jordan said. “It was a season of injuries, non-chemistry, getting to know each other as the season went along. Clashes of personalities and approaches and then it was more injuries. The injury factor and chemistry kept it dysfunctional to where you couldn’t have great success.” Washington Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, NCAA, Eddie Jordan 

“I thought, maybe I could be a really solid assistant. It’s almost a perfect place,” Jordan said of the Lakers. “We could win championships and I could sit there, and be like Tex Winters and let Phil Jackson take us championships and I could retire in the sunset, but it didn’t go that way. “I had three years of not doing this for sure, and this is what I’m built for, to be a head coach,” Jordan said. “It’s great to be a coach again. I jumped right in, didn’t have to talk to anybody. I knew what I was getting into. I wanted to prove that I could do it. But I did not want to be a head coach anymore in the NBA.” Washington Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, NCAA, Eddie Jordan 

About that due diligence: Despite all the accolades he's received from the university and despite the school's many claims to the contrary, Jordan hasn't actually finished his degree, according to the Rutgers registrar's office. The office sent me a verification document, found below, that indicates that Jordan attended classes at Rutgers from 1973 to 1977. He went on to take more classes in 1978, 1981, and 1985. There was no degree listed in the document. I called up the registrar's office on Thursday and asked for clarification. Deadspin.com

Coaching, NCAA, Eddie Jordan 

Michael Lee: Rutgers released a statement that backs Eddie Jordan, admits error in claim he has degree & says it isn't required to be NCAA head coach Twitter @MrMichaelLee

Coaching, NCAA, Eddie Jordan 

Eddie Jordan opened the blinds to the windows in his office on the second floor at Louis Brown Athletic Center, letting in some sunshine and giving him a view of the Rutgers campus he fell in love with 40 years ago. He leaned back in his seat and told a joke he shared recently with some of his college friends: “I said, ‘I’m back at work. I was on vacation the last 20 years.’ ” Washington Post

Coaching, Eddie Jordan 

Preferring a small staff to the one he inherited from previous coach Mike Brown, current Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni will not retain assistants Chuck Person and Bernie Bickerstaff for the 2013-14 season. Fellow 2012-13 assistant Eddie Jordan recently accepted the head coaching job at Rutgers University, leaving three assistants on D’Antoni’s staff: Steve Clifford, Darvin Ham and Mike’s brother Dan D’Antoni. Lakers.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff, Darvin Ham, Eddie Jordan, Dan D'Antoni, Steve Clifford 

The Los Angeles Lakers released the following statement from General Manager Mitch Kupchak regarding Eddie Jordan becoming the new Head Coach at Rutgers University: “On behalf of the entire Lakers organization, I’d like to congratulate Eddie on his new position as Head Coach at his alma mater, Rutgers University. A member of our 1982 NBA Championship team, Eddie has been a part of the Lakers family going back more than 30 years. We thank him for his contributions both as a player and coach to our club, and wish him the best of luck with the Scarlet Knights.” NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Eddie Jordan 

Rutgers will introduce its new men’s basketball coach at his old stomping grounds Tuesday. A 4:30 p.m. ET news conference to announce Eddie Jordan’s hiring will be at the College Avenue Gym in New Brunswick, N.J., where Jordan and fellow members of Rutgers’ 1976 Final Four team played home games. USA Today Sports

Coaching, Eddie Jordan, Rutgers 

Los Angeles Lakers assistant Eddie Jordan has agreed to become Rutgers' head coach, a source confirmed to ESPN's Brett McMurphy. Jordan will receive a five-year contract, the source told McMurphy. The Star-Ledger reported that Jordan's deal is worth over $1 million per year. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Eddie Jordan 

Jordan played for the Scarlet Knights from 1973-77, and is the school's all-time leader in assists and steals. He interviewed for the position in 2010, when Rice eventually landed the job. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Eddie Jordan 

The second Eddie Jordan era is about to begin. Nearly four decades after helping Rutgers reach college basketball’s pinnacle, the Scarlet Knights’ most dynamic point guard has accepted the task of leading it out of the sport’s basement. Sources with knowledge the situation said Jordan has agreed in principle to a deal in the ballpark of five years and $6.25 million. Pending an expected sign-off by the university’s board of governors, the 58-year-old Los Angeles Lakers assistant will become the Scarlet Knights’ 18th men’s basketball head coach. My Central Jersey

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Eddie Jordan 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Lakers assistant Eddie Jordan and Rutgers have reached impasse in contract talks, sources tell Y! Jordan wants longer than five year deal. Jordan isn't so concerned over offer just under $1 million per, as he believes he needs longer deal to undo mess in program, sources tell Y! Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, NCAA, Eddie Jordan 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Jordan badly wants return to his alma mater to coach, Rutgers has no thrilling Plan B to sell supporters. Still chance to close gap on deal. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, NCAA, Eddie Jordan 

Tom Luicci: All signs point to Eddie Jordan as the next Rutgers coach, possibly in a few days, but the two sides have to meet on Sunday. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, NCAA, Eddie Jordan 

Chick Hernandez: Sources confirm to me that Eddie Jordan is leaving the Lakers and will be the next coach at Rutgers University. The deal almost complete Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, NCAA, Eddie Jordan 

Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Eddie Jordan is engaged in serious talks with Rutgers University about becoming the embattled basketball program's next head coach, sources told Yahoo! Sports. In the aftermath of the scandal surrounding former coaches physically abusing players in practices, Rutgers offered Jordan the job after University of Rhode Island coach Danny Hurley turned down an offer from the school earlier this week, sources said. Jordan will meet with Rutgers officials face-to-face, sources said, this weekend to try to finalize an agreement. Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, NCAA, Eddie Jordan 

Rutgers has zeroed in on Los Angeles Lakers assistant Eddie Jordan as a replacement for the fired Mike Rice now that Rhode Island coach Danny Hurley has turned down the school, multiple sources told ESPN.com. ESPN.com

Coaching, NCAA, Eddie Jordan, Mike Rice 

More than three years after Wizards team president Ernie Grunfeld granted his request to join a championship contender and traded him to Cleveland in the aftermath of a horrendous season that included the death of Wizards owner Abe Pollin and the gun fiasco, Jamison admits that he wishes he had handled the situation in Washington differently. “I regret it,” Jamison said. “Ernie came to me and said, ‘You deserve it. I want to do what’s best for you.’ I was frustrated. That was a tough year. But I wish I would’ve stuck it out the duration of my contract, because if it wasn’t for D.C., I don’t think I’d be where I am at professionally. They gave me that opportunity, from Ernie and Eddie Jordan and Mr. Pollin. They gave me that captain [title]. . . . That was my family. Washington Post

Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Trade, Ernie Grunfeld, Antawn Jamison, Eddie Jordan 

Everywhere he turns, Earl Clark suddenly finds people interested in him. Former high school and college teammates have suddenly flooded his cell phone with calls. A pack of reporters frequently surrounds him. The Staples Center crowd continues to cheer for him. Clark's assistant coaches have built-in excuses to tease him. "Earl, when you go out," Lakers assistant coach Eddie Jordan said, "Can I hang out with you one night?" Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Earl Clark, Eddie Jordan