Steve Lavin accepts coaching job at St. John's

Former UCLA Coach Steve Lavin has agreed to become the basketball coach at St. John's.

The school said Tuesday that a news conference to introduce Lavin would be held Wednesday.

Lavin has been an analyst for ESPN since UCLA fired him in 2003. He had a 145-78 record with UCLA, leading the school to the NCAA tournament's round of 16 five times. The Bruins reached the final eight in 1997, his first season.

St. John's, which fired Norm Roberts after six seasons, has not been to the NCAA tournament since 2002.

Georgia Tech Coach Paul Hewitt rejected an offer from St. John's last week. Al Skinner, who was fired by Boston College on Tuesday, also was interviewed.

-- Associated Press

Photo: Steve Lavin coaches UCLA in 2002. Credit: Julie Jacobson / Associated Press.