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Duquesne U. Hires Keith Dambrot As New Basketball Coach

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- Duquesne University's search for a new basketball coach is over.

According to a statement from the university, Keith Dambrot has been hired as the new men's basketball coach.

Dambrot was the men's head basketball coach at the University of Akron, but reportedly met in recent days with officials at Duquesne.

"Keith's combination of experience, leadership, and success is almost unmatched. We are blessed to have Keith leading our program. Beginning today, we will roll up our sleeves and purposefully work each day to ensure Duquesne is a highly valued member of the Atlantic 10 and target competing at the top of the conference in men's basketball," athletic director Dave Harper said in a statement.

In a statement released Monday night, the University of Akron thanked Dambrot "for the enormous contributions" and said "we wish him well as he moves along."

Dambrot spent 13 seasons at Akron, compiling a 305-139 record. The Zips won at least 20 games in 12 straight seasons and earned three NCAA Tournament bids under Dambrot, considered the best coach in the Mid-American Conference. Akron set a school record for wins this season, but the top-seeded Zips were beaten in the MAC championship by rival Kent State and played in the NIT.

He has turned down other coaching jobs in the past to stay at Akron.

Dambrot and Duquesne have reportedly agreed to a seven-year deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman.

He has one other selling point to recruits, Dambrot coached Lebron James in high school.

Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.

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(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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