Rick Majerus Returns to NCAA Basketball

Rick Majerus will make his return to NCAA basketball this fall as the head coach of the University of St. Louis Billikens. (AP Images)

Former Utah coach and current ESPN analyst Rick Majerus has accepted the head coaching position at Saint Louis and will be introduced at a Monday news conference.

Majerus said he will sign the contract Saturday. He has been at ESPN as a game and studio analyst the past three years.

Consdidered one of the top basketball minds in the collegiate ranks, Majerus coached the Utes to the 1998 national title game. He has a career record of 422-147 with 15 postseason appearances.

Majerus was the only candidate the Billikens interviewed to replace Brad Soderberg, who was fired two weeks ago after his inability to get the Billikens to the NCAA Tournament in five seasons.

Saint Louis, which plays in the Atlantic 10, is going to open a new $80.5 million arena on campus in two seasons. SLU is simliar to Majerus' alma mater Marquette where he played and coached.

Majerus' hiring is a home run for the school, which was criticized for the timing of Soderberg's firing.

The contract will be close to five years for close to $1 million a year.

Get all your NCAA basketball futures in the Bodog Sportsbook!