Iowa State: Payout to Nurse for brief coaching stint 'right thing to do'

Iowa State will pay Nick Nurse $175,000 as part of a settlement for his brief stay as an assistant men's basketball coach, athletic officials confirmed Wednesday.

Nurse was hired back in April as an associate head coach under Greg McDermott. Soon after, McDermott left for Creighton and former Cyclone star Fred Hoiberg was hired two days later as his replacement.

Nurse had an agreement for a two-year contract worth $130,000 per season.

He has since returned to his previous job as head coach of the NBA Developmental League's Iowa Energy.

“We just thought that (paying Nurse) was the right thing to do given the circumstances,” ISU senior associate athletic director Steve Malchow told the Des Moines Register. “Things happened very quickly during that week and we had every intention of signing Coach Nurse.”

The settlement – which must be paid by July 15 - still allows Nurse to earn his full salary with the Energy.

Nurse did not return a message left on his cell phone Wednesday seeking comment on the settlement.

Four days after Nurse's hiring was announced on April 22, McDermott took over for Dana Altman at Creighton. ISU quickly hired Hoiberg and Nurse was not offered a spot on his staff.

McDermott wanted Nurse to follow him to Creighton, but Nurse decided to stay with the Energy.

The former Northern Iowa standout is the only coach the Des Moines-based franchise has had in its three years of existence.

The Energy has captured back-to-back division titles and won a D-League-best 37 games last year. The team is the affiliate for the NBA's Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns.