DAYTON DAILY NEWS                   Copyright (c) 1997, Dayton Newspapers Inc.DATE: Saturday, March 15, 1997              TAG: 9703150121EDITION: CITY          SECTION: NEWS        PAGE: 1A SOURCE: By Chick Ludwig DAYTON DAILY NEWS                                  BASKETBALL                             WSU HIRES NETS COACH * One admirer calls Ed Schilling, an assistant with the Nets, 'possibly thenext Rick Pitino.'     Wright State University on Friday placed the future of its men'sbasketball program in the hands of Ed Schilling, a young and charismatic NBAassistant whose only head coaching experience is at the high school level.   Attempting to put rumors to rest about who the next coach would be, WSUathletic director Mike Cusack named the New Jersey Nets assistant the fifthhead coach in Raiders' history during a hastily called news conference.   "There's been so much speculation about our basketball program, it wasimportant that we end it," Cusack said.   Schilling, a 31-year-old native of Lebanon, Ind., is a 1988 MiamiUniversity graduate and the Redskins' all-time assist leader. At Miami, heplayed two years alongside Ron Harper, the Kiser High grad who is now a guardfor the Chicago Bulls.   The new coach takes over for Jim Brown, a 26-year WSU assistant who servedas interim head coach during the 1996-97 season after Ralph Underhill wasfired Nov. 15.   Schilling was in New Jersey for the Nets' game against the Bulls on Fridayand couldn't be reached for comment. He will attend a news conference Tuesdayat noon in the Berry Room at WSU's Ervin J. Nutter Center.   "He'll be able to start almost immediately," Cusack said. "My feeling isthat he's probably started already. He's raring to go. I think you are all infor a pretty good ride."   Cusack selected the coach after Schilling and three other candidates emergefrom a national search. At least one WSU booster was disappointed inSchilling's hiring. Tony Tononi, a longtime season ticket holder, said thepick reminded him of Dayton hiring Jim O'Brien in 1989 to coach the Flyers.   "He has no experience coaching at the college level," Tononi said. "O'Brienwas from a small college and he came to Dayton and fell flat on his face."   Schilling has garnered a reputation as a motivator and tireless worker as acoach. He has also enjoyed a quick rise through the ranks.   He served as head coach at two Indiana high schools - Logansport (1991-95)and Western Boone (1989-91) - before becoming an assistant to John Calipari atUMass in 1995-96. When Calipari took over the Nets this season, Schillingfollowed.   Schilling impressed the 14-person search committee, faculty and studentgroups, the athletic department staff and the players who met him, Cusacksaid.   Schilling - who beat out assistant coaches Delray Brooks of Kentucky, BruceWeber of Purdue and Tom Crean of Michigan State - "was the consensus pick ofevery group that met him" during his interview on campus Tuesday, Cusack said.   Schilling returned to town Thursday night and met with university PresidentHarley Flack. He stayed overnight and Cusack visited with him Friday morningat his hotel. That's when a handshake deal took place. Cusack said the twowill work out details on a contract over the weekend.   Sources say Schilling will get a four- to five-year deal worth about$100,000 a season. Underhill earned a $75,000 base pay.   "Many of the criteria we had - charisma, ability to communicate, experienceat various levels and successful experience - he embodied all of thosetraits," Cusack said. "Our staff was as excited as I've ever seen them."   WSU associate athletic director Paul Newman said Schilling "just bleweverybody away. He captivated everybody and made them believers. They want tofollow him. It's like the Pied Piper. He has a special aura about him. Youjust believe in what he says and what you think he can do."   WSU assistant athletic director Bob Grant, who served on the searchcommittee, said the committee received some strong recommendations onSchilling.   * "He'll be a real superstar," ESPN basketball expert Dick Vitale said. "Hereminds me of (Kansas coach) Roy Williams and Coach K (Duke's MikeKrzyzewski). I'd stick my neck on the line for him."   * "He will win quickly, electrify your community and be squeaky clean whiledoing it," said Steve Alford, coach at Southwest Missouri State. "He does allthe little things to be successful. Don't discount his camp connections.They'll be very powerful."   * "Players flock to him," said Howard Garfinkel, director of the Five-StarBasketball Camp. "He is possibly the next Rick Pitino."   Schilling has a big job ahead of him. Cusack wants a top 50 program that isin the top 40 in attendance.   Cusack said a lot of talented coaches applied for the job. One of thefinalists, Brooks of Kentucky, said: "I don't know if I'm surprised. I'm veryhappy for Ed. They picked a fine candidate."   Cusack also praised interim coach Brown, who had a 7-20 season and waspassed over for the job.   "It's hard not to feel very strongly about someone who has been here 27years," Cusack said. "I couldn't have any more respect for a person who putsliterally 90 percent of their working life for the institution."   Brown declined to comment about Schilling's hire when contacted Fridaynight. He said he could retire, "but I don't anticipate doing that."LENGTH:  103 linesILLUSTRATION: PHOTOS:          1. Ed Schilling          2. Assistant coach Ed Shilling cheers from the sidelines as the New          Jersey Nets are introduced at Friday night's game against the          Chicago Bulls, which the Nets won 99-98. Schilling was named head          basketball coach at Wright State University on Friday.             CREDIT: BILL KOSTROUN/ASSOCIATED PRESSCATEG: SPORTSSUBJ: COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACHES      EMPLOYMENT NA: ED SCHILLING    WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY AT: HIRE MEMO: * Schilling makes a good impression, but Ralph Underhill and Jim      Brown still have strong support. 1DENHANCER: ref3