Nurse has options; is replacing McDermott one of them?

AMES -- Iowa State. Creighton. Back with the Iowa Energy.

Nick Nurse isn't hurting for places to work these days, though he remains undecided on where he'll coach next after Greg McDermott's surprise move from Ames to Omaha Monday.

“I've got a lot of good options,” Nurse said Tuesday. “I'm very appreciative of that.”

Nurse was hired away from the NBADL's Energy last Thursday to be McDermott's top assistant. Four days later he, and former Cyclone great Jeff Grayer, who was added to ISU's staff a day later, are left in limbo.

“Everything changed,” Nurse said. “I'm just going to evaluate everything. I don't have anything really to say until things work themselves out.”

Grayer has not returned phone messages seeking comment.

Associate Athletic Director for Communications Steve Malchow said ISU will honor the two-year contracts they agreed to. Nurse was to be paid $130,000. Grayer's salary is $115,000.

“We are obligated to pay them,” Malchow said.

Nurse said he is interested in talking with Athletic Director Jamie Pollard about replacing McDermott as ISU's head coach.

“Of course I am,” he said.

Pollard will not be making public comments until a new coach is hired.

McDermott, who was introduced Tuesday morning in Omaha, is confident the program will be in good shape.

“Jamie will find the right person,” he said. “It's a better job than it was four years ago in large part because of the facilities and there are some good pieces to the puzzle that are in place with the returning players.”