Porter Moser talks about his coaching future at Loyola

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Loyola head coach Porter Moser answers questions after a practice session for the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 29, 2018, in San Antonio. | David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Coming off the Ramblers’ run to the Final Four, Loyola coach Porter Moser is a hot commodity on the college coaching market.

Loyola athletic director Steve Watson is well aware and doing everything in his power to keep Moser in Rogers Park.

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Amid the hubbub of last month’s success, Moser relied on friends and family to help him navigate the situation.

But the question remains: Will Moser stay at Loyola or move on?

“I really haven’t thought about [leaving Loyola],” Moser told Dan Patrick on his radio show Tuesday.

“A good coaching friend who has stayed at a school at this level said, ‘Don’t run from happiness.’ And I’m happy. I am. I hope all this moves in the right direction for my family and me. But I’m happy. We spent so much time investing, and I do believe in this.”

Watson previously told the Sun-Times that Loyola and Moser have been discussing a new contract.

“We started talking about an extension and ripping up the old contract and doing something a little different,” Watson said last month.

Watson wouldn’t get into specifics but said the two have “definitely discussed” a raise.

“I can tell you this: We want Porter to be our coach for a long, long time,” Watson said.

The contract negotiations are ongoing, but Watson hopes Loyola can lock Moser in soon.

And why wouldn’t Moser want to stay around to see his hard work pay off?

“We’ve spent so much energy, my staff and I, building this from the grass roots,” Moser said, “and I feel like we’ve got this in a good place right now where we can even move forward.”

There’s a good chance Moser has built a sustainable program.

Three key seniors — Donte Ingram, Aundre Jackson and Ben Richardson — will be gone, but Clayton Custer, Marques Townes and Cameron Krutwig will be back. New Mexico transfer Aher Uguak also will be eligible to play next season after sitting out 2017-18.

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