The Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Skip Prosser signed a 10-year contract Friday to stay at Wake Forest, turning down overtures to coach Pittsburgh.

He was Pitt's top choice to succeed Ben Howland, who left for UCLA.

"Tough, tough, this was a tough one," Prosser said of his decision.

Pitt gave Prosser, the Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year, until Friday to decide whether he was interested in the job in his hometown.

Wake Forest athletic director Ron Wellman and Prosser hammered out his new deal most of Friday morning. The coach was greeted with applause and signs saying "We love you, Skip" at a news conference.

"It has been a difficult couple of days, but I'm thrilled with the outcome. Wake Forest is an environment in which I feel very comfortable. I'm glad the last few days are over," Prosser said.

Wellman refused to say what the private university will pay Prosser or how much of a raise he received. It is believed that Prosser made $800,000 a year under his old deal.

Prosser's 22-10 record in ACC games after two years is second in league history to Bill Guthridge, who was 23-9 in his first two years with North Carolina in 1998-99.

Prosser has a two-year record of 45-18 at Wake Forest after a successful coaching career at Xavier.

Pitt interim athletic director Marc Boehm and chancellor Mark Nordenberg interviewed Prosser at the Final Four in New Orleans, but the Wake Forest coach didn't visit Pittsburgh this week.

Boehm said early conversations with Prosser were promising, but it became clear Friday that the sides would not reach an agreement "within an acceptable period of time."

In the end, Prosser said it was too hard to leave his players at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons finished 25-6 this season and won their first outright regular-season ACC title in 41 years.

"We feel that we have some outstanding players on our team that came here to do some very, very special, if not unprecedented things, at Wake Forest," Prosser said. "While we feel like in the last two years we've had some wonderful moments, we feel that there can be wonderful moments yet to come. We look forward to fulfilling those dreams."

Wake Forest loses ACC player of the year Josh Howard, but returns its seven other top players - who were waiting to hear Prosser's decision.

"I was itching the whole week," guard Justin Gray said.

"Right now everybody is relieved," added forward Vytas Danelius. "I came to Wake Forest to play for coach Prosser and his staff. That's what I was looking for. Without coach, Wake Forest wouldn't be the place, wouldn't be the same. Thank God everything is back to normal."

Wellman also gave a 10-year contract to football coach Jim Grobe in January.

"Are contracts broken all the time? Yes, they are. But this contract is solid. I hope Skip stays longer than 10 years," Wellman said.

KENTUCKY: Tubby Smith is considering an incentive-laden contract extension, The Courier-Journal reported Friday.

"It's not a matter of negotiations. I just need to sit down and look at it," said Smith, who was in Atlanta on Friday to accept the James Naismith Award as the national coach of the year.

The 52-year-old Smith won every major national coaching honor after guiding the Wildcats to a 32-4 record this past season.

OHIO STATE: Senior guard Brent Darby, who led Ohio State in scoring at 18.2 points a game, has been named the Buckeyes' MVP.

The 6-foot-1 Darby also led Ohio State in games started (32), minutes played (1,219), field goals (163), free throws made (205) and attempted (253), assists (141) and steals (58).

The Buckeyes went 17-15, losing in the opening round of the NIT.

MAUI CLASSIC: Ohio State and Dayton will be among the eight teams at the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii, in November.

The tournament will include two local teams: the University of Hawaii, making its first appearance, and host Chaminade.

Also entered in next season's tournament are Villanova, Central Michigan, Santa Clara, San Diego State.

TEXAS A&M: Junior Andy Slocum was sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading no contest to charges of steroid possession. He will begin serving his term on June 2.

Slocum also was given probation for a year, a $500 fine and 50 hours of community service. He missed the first seven games of last season while recovering from back surgery, and missed the 2000-01 season because of a shoulder injury.