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Wizards Name Hamilton Coach

April 24, 2000 / 4:23 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Leonard Hamilton of the University of Miami has agreed to a four-year deal to coach the Washington Wizards, the Washington Post reported today.

The Post, citing an unidentified league source, said Hamilton could receive an average of $2 million a season.

Hamilton had been negotiating with Michael Jordan, the Wizards' president of basketball operations. Jordan was playing golf today outside Chicago as part of a seniors tournament.

Miami athletic director Paul Dee confirmed today that Hamilton is considering the Wizards' offer. But he said Hamilton has not made a decision and he is trying to persuade the coach to stay.

"I hope what's holding him up is that he wants to stay here," Dee said.

Dee said the university is looking into whether Hamilton could be released from his contract. Last season, he signed a seven-year extension that would pay him an average of $750,000 annually.

The Post reported that a buyout could cost Hamilton $1 million or more.

Dee spoke today at a news conference that Hamilton did not attend.

Last season, Hamilton coached the Hurricanes to their first appearance among the final 16 teams in the NCAA tournament.

"He's just been wonderful for this program. Certainly that's what makes him attractive for the NBA," Dee said. "I can't say enough about Leonard Hamilton. It would be difficult to lose somebody at that level, especially given the respect he has among fans, the university and his players."

"I think Leonard really is torn. I think Leonard is just what the NBA needs," Dee said, but added: "I'm not telling him to leave."

Hamilton, 51, has never coached in the NBA. He left Oklahoma State to take over at Miami in 1990 and turned around a struggling program.

The Hurricanes went 23-11 last season, losing to Tulsa in the round of 16 of the NCAA tournament, their sixth straight winning season and third straight trip to the NCAA tournament.

Hamilton was coach of the year in the Big East after the 1998-99 season, when Miami went 23-6 overall and 15-3 in the conference. It was Miami's first 20-win season since 1964-65. In 14 years of college coaching, Hamilton has a 200-210 record. In 10 seasons at Miami, he is 144-147.