Loyola's Porter Moser Agrees To Take Over At Oklahoma: Reports

CHICAGO — When Porter Moser guided Loyola to an improbable Final Four run in 2018, job interest from bigger college basketball programs followed.

Moser had discussions with St. John’s about a jump to the Big East, but ultimately decided to remain at Loyola, determined to keep the Ramblers on a national stage. After Loyola’s run at another Final Four run ended last weekend in a Sweet 16 loss to Oregon State, Moser danced around talk of whether he had his eyes on another job.

Less than a week later, it appears Moser has decided to leave the ranks of the Mid-Majors and will, according to multiple reports, take over at Oklahoma, which reached the Final Four in 2016.

Neither Oklahoma nor Loyola has confirmed the reports on Friday afternoon. Some media reports indicated Moser and the school had agreed on a six-year deal.

Moser, 52, leaves Loyola with a coaching record of 188-141 in 10 seasons with the Ramblers, whom he coached after stints at Arkansas-Little Rock and Illinois State. The Naperville native was rumored to be a candidate for several jobs after guiding Loyola to a Missouri Valley Conference championship this past season, which landed the Ramblers back in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 8-seed. Loyola stunned No. 1 seed Illinois to move the Ramblers to the Sweet 16, which immediately placed Loyola and Moser back in the national spotlight.

Moser's name immediately became linked with several coaching openings – all of which involved moves to Power 5 conferences. After the loss to Oregon State last weekend in Indianapolis, Moser was asked about his interest in other jobs, including the opening at Indiana, which moved on from Archie Miller before filling the opening earlier this week.

“I need to digest this (loss),” Moser said after Loyola’s loss to Oregon State when asked about his interest in other jobs, including the opening at Indiana. “I’ve had blinders on. I’ve given 110 percent of Porter Moser to this Rambler team. I’ve blocked out the noise. I know a lot of things were swirling outside around me. I can’t help or control that. The only thing that I was focused on was giving 110 percent of my preparation, my energy, my love to these players through this time. Now I just need to sit back and digest it for a second.”

The Oklahoma job came open after the Sooners’ season ended following a second-round loss to Gonzaga. Lon Kruger, who guided Oklahoma to a Final Four appearance in 2016, announced he is retiring from the job after guiding the Sooners to seven NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure in Norman.

CBS Sports reported that Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione flew to Chicago on Thursday to meet with Moser and that the two agreed in principle to an agreement.