Cleveland State to hire Gary Waters as coach

The former Kent State coach recently resigned from Rutgers.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Former Rutgers coach Gary Waters has accepted the coaching job at Cleveland State and is expected to take over the program as early as today, a source told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Waters will replace Mike Garland, who resigned last week after his third straight losing season.
The source, who has firsthand knowledge of the school's coaching search, spoke on the condition of anonymity because details were still being finalized on Waters' contract.
Telephone messages were left for Waters and his attorney, Dennis Coleman of Boston.
Took Flashes to NCAA
The 54-year-old Waters led Kent State to two NCAA appearances before going to Rutgers, where he went 79-75 but failed to take the program to a higher level. He resigned in March amid speculation about his future.
Waters was criticized after he missed Rutgers' game against Marquette on Feb. 12. He had flown to Ohio the day before to be inducted into Kent State's athletic hall of fame. A snowstorm delayed flights the next day.
With assistant coach Fred Hill Jr. running the Rutgers team, the Scarlet Knights beat Marquette.
Rutgers' officials have insisted that Waters' departure had nothing to do with him missing the game. Hill was named Waters' successor at Rutgers last week.
Struggling Vikings
Waters led Kent State to a 92-60 record and started a run of eight consecutive 20-win seasons at the mid-major school. He has strong recruiting ties in the region, something sorely needed at Cleveland State. The Vikings haven't had a winning record since 2000-01 when they went 19-13 under Rollie Massimino.
Cleveland State has failed to make the NCAA Tournament since 1986 when it upset Indiana and advanced to the round of 16 before losing to a Navy team led by All-American center David Robinson.
The Vikings have not won a game in the Horizon League tournament in five years.