Arkansas hires Creighton's Altman

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Dana Altman was hired as Arkansas' basketball coach Monday, ending the Razorbacks' weeklong search to replace Stan Heath.

Altman was previously the coach at Creighton. He went 260-141 in 13 seasons there. The Bluejays went 22-11 this season for their ninth straight 20-win season, a Missouri Valley Conference record.

Altman, 48, is 343-208 in 18 years at the Division I level. He coached at Marshall and Kansas State before going to Creighton.

After Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles fired Heath March 26, the ex-coach said Broyles had grown concerned about a decline in the Razorbacks' season ticket sales. Arkansas attendance last season was 14,400 -- down from 18,294 in 1998-99.

Heath was hired after taking Kent State to the round of eight in the NCAA tournament in 2002, but that was his first season as a head coach. This time, Arkansas had eyed Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie -- then the Razorbacks received permission to talk to Memphis coach John Calipari.

Creighton loses Altman just a few days after assistant Kevin McKenna left to take over the Indiana State program. The Bluejays lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Nevada, 77-71 in overtime.

Heath's stint without a job lasted one week.

He agreed Monday to a five-year contract to take over South Florida's struggling program.

Iowa hires Lickliter

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowa hired Todd Lickliter as its new coach Monday night, replacing Steve Alford with the coach who turned mid-major Butler into a NCAA tournament regular.

Lickliter will be introduced at a new conference today.

He was 131-61 record in six years at Butler, taking the Bulldogs to the tournament four times.

This season was his best yet at Butler. The Bulldogs finished 29-7, losing to Florida in the NCAA tournament's round of 16.

-- The Associated Press