Patrick Chambers to coach Penn State

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Penn State has hired Boston University's Patrick Chambers as its next coach.

A posting on the website for Boston University confirmed the move late Friday afternoon.

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AP Photo/Charlie RiedelPenn State announced the hiring of Boston University's Patrick Chambers Friday.

"Penn State basketball begins a new era today," Nittany Lions athletic director Tim Curley said in a statement, "and Patrick Chambers ushers in that era with proven success, an appreciation of and commitment to Penn State ideals, and the energy and enthusiasm required to compete at the highest level."

Chambers told the AP he signed a five-year deal, but he and a team spokesman said financial terms were confidential. An open records report released last week by Penn State showed former coach Ed DeChellis earned nearly $807,000 in compensation in 2010.

Chambers, 40, has been at BU for two seasons, and this year led the team to the America East title and an NCAA tournament berth.

"I was really impressed with what, I think, is a newfound commitment to the basketball program, to being successful and to winning championships," Chambers said. "Things are going to change, in my mind, and I'm really excited with the direction this program is going."

Chambers is a logical hire for Penn State, thanks to his deep Philadelphia roots. A Philly native, he spent five seasons with Jay Wright at Villanova, moving up to be Wright's associate head coach before moving on to BU.

"I think it was a situation where he loved his job at BU," Wright said to the AP Friday night. "But coming to Penn State is coming home for him."

Prior to Villanova, he coached at heralded Episcopal Academy and played under Hall of Famer Herb Magee at Philadelphia University.

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By hiring Patrick Chambers as its new coach, Penn State finally breathed life into a program that, for years, has reeked of mothballs, Dana O'Neil writes. Blog

"We need to go get good players," Chambers said. "We need to compete with the Big Ten and the Big East for the best of the best, to get pros every few years but to also be able to find those Dante Cunninghams, those Dwayne Andersons, those guys that are under the radar, a little bit.

"Obviously Philly is huge. There are so many great players there and we need to be a presence there. But I also think we shouldn't limit ourselves. We have the entire East Coast -- Virginia, (Washington) DC, Maryland and now you can throw in Boston as the cherry on top."

Earlier on Friday, Wisconsin-Milwaukee coach Rob Jeter released a statement saying he had withdrawn his name from consideration at Penn State.

Athletic director Tim Curley also interviewed Duquesne coach Ron Everhart.

Penn State was in need of a new coach after DeChellis abruptly left to become the coach at Navy. DeChellis this year led the Nittany Lions to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 10 years.

"I think (the program) is a sleeping giant, in my mind," Chambers said. "They have everything they need. They have more than Villanova had. Everything that they need to be a successful program is there. Ed did a great job and I think there isn't much for me to change. I just hope that maybe I can bring that new energy, that passion to the program."

Dana O'Neil covers men's college basketball for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Dana O'Neil | email

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• College basketball writer for ESPN.com
• 20-plus years in sports journalism
• USBWA board member