INDIANAPOLIS -- DePaul agreed with Clemson men's basketball coach Oliver Purnell late Monday on a seven-year contract that will pay Purnell well beyond the $1.6 million salary he was making with the Tigers.

"DePaul presents a great opportunity,'' Purnell told ESPN.com Tuesday morning.

The stunning hire -- culminated shortly after the Duke-Butler NCAA national championship game -- salvaged a search for a new coach that lasted nearly three months.

In his introductory press conference, Purnell said, "DePaul belongs in the elite of college basketball. DePaul belongs in the elite of the Big East. DePaul belongs as Chicago's college basketball team."

The Chicago Tribune and FoxSports.com Web sites, both citing sources, first broke the story in the early morning hours Tuesday.

"It's a super job,'' Purnell told ESPN.com Tuesday morning. "They are very, very committed to restoring a tradition.''

Purnell wasn't on any reported DePaul prospective hire lists throughout the winter. He said Tuesday he was contacted four or five days ago. DePaul had made overtures all over the country and few seemed to know where the Blue Demons were headed.

DePaul interviewed Minnesota Timberwolves assistant and former New Mexico State and Sacramento Kings coach Reggie Theus late last week for the job.

Oliver Purnell said the challenge of rebuilding DePaul attracted him to his new job. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Jerry Wainwright, who had two years left on his contract, was fired as coach on Jan. 11, with the Blue Demons at 7-8 overall, 0-3 in the Big East.

DePaul finished the season 8-23 overall and dead last in the Big East at 1-17 under interim coach Tracy Webster.

DePaul went winless in the Big East in 2008-09 and finished 9-24 overall that season.

Meanwhile, Purnell took Clemson to the 2010 NCAA tournament with a 21-10 record (the Tigers lost to Missouri in the first round 86-78). Clemson was 9-7 in the ACC.

Purnell reached the NCAA tournament with the Tigers in three straight seasons, losing in the first round in each of those appearances. He was 138-90 in seven seasons at Clemson, but 50-62 in the ACC.

Prior to Clemson, Purnell resurrected Dayton in a nine-year run that ended with a 24-6 record and an NCAA appearance. He made two NCAA tournament appearances at Dayton.

He also coached at Old Dominion for three years (one NCAA appearance) and three seasons at Radford. Purnell has never won an NCAA game.

Purnell said the move was much more about the challenge at DePaul and had nothing negative to say about Clemson.

"I hope they feel we left the program in great shape,'' Purnell said. "I feel that way.''

DePaul athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto made it clear a few weeks ago that the school was ready to make a big splash, saying the next coach could be among the highest-paid in a conference that Rick Pitino, Jim Boeheim, Bob Huggins and Jim Calhoun call home.