Jim Larranaga, Miami Basketball Reportedly In ‘Serious Discussions’ About Head Coaching Vacancy

Jim Larranaga, the longtime George Mason coach who took the Patriots to the Final Four in 2006, may finally be about to leave for greener pastures. CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish reports that sources tell him Larranaga has had “serious discussions” with Miami about its head coaching vacancy.

Whether Larranaga is leveraging for a better deal from George Mason or on the verge of actually moving to Miami is unclear, both sources said. But the talks are advanced and ongoing, and the 61-year-old New York native has developed into Miami’s top target.Larranaga has been at George Mason since 1997, and has the best winning percentage (.652) of coaches to stay at the Colonial League school for more than one season. (Current Texas coach Rick Barnes has the best record as the Patriots’ coach, having gone 20-10 in the 1987-88 season.)

Larranaga has coached George Mason to four of its five NCAA Tournament appearances, and has the only four NCAA Tournament wins in program history.

Miami is looking for a replacement for coach Frank Haith, who left the Hurricanes to take the head coaching position at Missouri earlier this offseason.