Fox leaves Wolf Pack for Georgia

In a surprise move, Georgia has hired UNR basketball coach Mark Fox to replace Dennis Felton, who was fired in January.

Georgia will announce the hiring at a news conference today, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed Thursday. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the hiring has not been officially announced.

Fox confirmed he was leaving but didn't say where he was headed. "I truly loved being the coach at Nevada and forever will cherish my time in this community," he said in a statement issued by the school.

The announcement is a surprise because Georgia athletic director Damon Evans left Thursday for the Final Four in Detroit, where he was expected to interview candidates.

Fox led the Wolf Pack to a 21-13 record this season.

• SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA -- Tim Floyd will stay on as the Trojans' coach, spurning an offer to take the head post at Arizona.

"I heard what they had to say," Floyd said. "But there is something really special about building your own traditions and your own history."

• TENNESSEE -- Coach Bruce Pearl has a newly negotiated six-year contract keeping him with the Volunteers.

The agreement came hours after reports surfaced that Memphis wanted to talk to Pearl about replacing John Calipari, who left for Kentucky. Details of Pearl's deal will be released within the next few days.

• BUTLER -- Bulldogs coach Brad Stevens has agreed to a contract extension through the 2015-16 season.

The new contract adds one year to the contract Stevens signed a year ago. Terms of the new deal were not disclosed.