UCLA basketball Coach Ben Howland just told me in a telephone call that there is no truth to the Internet speculation that he is heading to DePaul.
"I'm going to stay at UCLA as long as they will have me -- I love UCLA," Howland said by cellular phone (he is traveling while recruiting).
"I just refinanced my house -- I was in the bank yesterday signing papers. My wife (Kim) loves it here. My daughter (Meredith) is finishing her Master's at UCLA. My son (Adam) is getting his Bachelor's degree at UCLA. My mom (Mary) is going to be 77 next month and lives in Santa Barbara.
"I want to stay at UCLA for the rest of my career. That is my goal and dream. So I will be at UCLA as long as Chancellor (Gene) Block and (Athletic Director) Dan Guerrero will have me.''
He did confirm that his representative was contacted by DePaul officials to gauge his interest "but I never talked to anyone from DePaul."
He would not confirm Internet reports that DePaul offered him a contract that would have paid him more than $3 million per season for seven years.
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