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Three-time NBA head coach Eddie Jordan is on the verge of returning to Rutgers to help his alma mater rebuild its men's basketball program.

(Associated Press File Photo)

Eddie Jordan has reached an agreement with Rutgers to be the Scarlet Knights' next basketball coach, though no official announcement from the school is forthcoming in the immediate future.

The former Rutgers star guard, currently a Los Angeles Lakers assistant, spent the morning putting the finishing touches on a deal to replace Mike Rice, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

The person requested anonymity because the deal had not yet been finalized nor formally approved by university president Robert Barchi or lawyers for both sides.

Details of the agreement were not immediately available, though the person confirmed it was a five-year deal in excess of $1 million a year -- which would make Jordan the highest-paid men's coach in school history..

Jordan, 58, has been an NBA coach three times -- with the Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers -- but has only limited experience as a college assistant.

He played in the NBA from 1977-84 following a storied career at Rutgers from 1973-77 that included helping the Scarlet Knights to the 1976 Final Four.

Jordan compiled a 257-343 record during his nine-year NBA coaching career.

Rutgers has been looking for a coach since Rice was fired on April 3 following the release of a video showing him repeatedly verbally and physically abusing players in practice.

Athletic director Tim Pernetti, assistant coach Jimmy Martelli and university counsel John Wolf resigned shortly after.

Jordan will eventually take over a program on the verge of unraveling a year before the school heads to the Big Ten. Leading scorer Eli Carter reportedly asked for his release on Wednesday, with teammates Mike Poole and Jerome Seagears previously making the same request.

Rutgers has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 1991.

Rutgers' courtship of one of its favorite sons began last weekend, when Jordan flew in from Los Angeles to spend Saturday and Sunday meeting with school officials for preliminary talks about the job.

He then flew back to Los Angeles before returning to New Jersey Wednesday night.