Bill Wade, Post-Gazette Jamie Dixon took over for Ben Howland when he left in 2003 to take the UCLA job. Dixon led the Panthers to the NCAA tournament in each of his three years as Pitt's head coach. Click photo for larger image.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon appears to be the leading candidate at Arizona State, but Sun Devils athletic director Lisa Love is continuing to interview candidates, including one this morning on the west coast.

There were conflicting reports yesterday, including some that indicated Dixon to Arizona State was a done deal, but a source familiar with the process said last night that Dixon still did not have a contract offer from the Sun Devils. The source said that two other candidates were going to be interviewed by Love and that Love would like to have a new coach in place by the middle of next week. Love was still interviewing candidates in case two parties could not come to terms or Dixon had a change of heart.

As speculation swirled yesterday and last night, Dixon and Pitt officials would not comment. Dixon was not on Pitt's campus for the second day in a row yesterday and reports had him in Tempe visiting Arizona State and meeting with school officials. It was not clear last night whether Pitt put together a last-ditch effort to keep Dixon or whether Dixon was willing to listen.

Athletic director Jeff Long was on campus yesterday, but declined an interview request. Executive vice chancellor Jerry Cochran did not return a phone call.

According to one source who was convinced Dixon was leaving, Dixon went into the Arizona State talks willing to listen but had intentions of remaining Pitt's coach. Dixon shot for the stars and asked for more than 1 million annually, and much to his surprise, Arizona State agreed and included yearly raises and perks for his assistant coaches.

When Arizona State agreed to his terms, Dixon decided that he was in a position where he could not turn down such a lucrative offer. Another source said that $1 million figure was high, but said Arizona State's offer was more than the offer Pitt had on the table.

If Dixon does leave, three candidates were being bandied about yesterday as replacements. Moon native John Calipari, who is coaching Memphis in the NCAA tournament, would like to return to Pitt. Calipari was an assistant coach under Paul Evans in the 1980s.

Calipari did not receive a phone call from Pitt three years ago when Pitt hired Dixon to replace Ben Howland, but that could change this time around considering a coach without Pittsburgh ties left the program for the second time in four years while the program was enjoying great success.

Pitt reportedly did not phone Calipari three years ago after huddling with Big East Conference commissioner Mike Tranghese. But Tranghese has apparently softened his stance on Calipari and, the source said, would be willing to welcome him into the Big East.

Manhattan coach Bobby Gonzalez would be pushed for the job as well. Gonzalez's name was mentioned three years ago, but he did not receive an interview.

Pitt also could attempt to promote from within and hire associate head coach Barry Rohrssen, but Rohrssen is being mentioned as a candidate at Seton Hall, which fired Louis Orr yesterday.

Pitt players were unaware of what was happening with their coach yesterday. Aaron Gray stopped by the Petersen Events Center yesterday morning before going home to Emmaus, Pa., for the weekend. Gray said Dixon had not briefed the team on his situation. Junior guard Antonio Graves was surprised to hear Dixon was close to leaving Pitt.

Dixon did not return calls yesterday. A woman who answered the phone at the Dixon residence yesterday afternoon would not say where Dixon was. When she was asked if Dixon was having a hard time making a decision, she said. "I don't think so. But you'll have to ask him."