Memphis hires Pastner

Published 1:55 am Wednesday, April 8, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — New Memphis coach Josh Pastner hopes to be in Memphis for a long time and sees the program as a place where a coach can ‘‘win it all.’’

The 31-year-old Pastner was introduced by Memphis officials on Tuesday as the successor to John Calipari, who left after nine years to accept the Kentucky coaching job. Pastner will earn $4.4 million over the next five years under his contract.

Pastner is taking his first head coaching position after one year as an assistant under Calipari and six years as an assistant at Arizona.

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Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson says he felt he and Tigers officials did everything they promised with their search, checking out every viable candidate. He praised Pastner for his ‘‘class, dignity and style.’’