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Logan • As it turned out, Stew Morrill's replacement at Utah State has been sitting next to him for 14 years.

The Salt Lake Tribune confirmed an earlier ESPN report Sunday that assistant Tim Duryea will be the Aggies' new head basketball coach.

Duryea replaces Morrill, who retired after his 17th season with Utah State. The news conference announcing the hiring will be Monday at 11 a.m.

An assistant at Utah State since 2001, the 50-year-old Duryea is a native of Medicine Lodge, Kan., and a graduate of North Texas State.

Before joining Morrill's staff, Duryea was the head coach at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. He has been Morrill's associate head coach since 2008.

Duryea's promotion was helped by Utah State's improvement during the just-completed season and its surprising run through the Mountain West Conference.

With little returning experience or depth, the Aggies finished 18-13 overall and 11-7 in league play.

They ended up as the No. 5 seed in the Mountain West tournament where, after a first-round bye, Utah State lost to eventual champion Wyoming, 67-65.

Expectations will be higher next year.

Utah State returns all five starters, including forward Jalen Moore and center David Collette. Moore, who will be a junior, was a second team all-Mountain West selection. Collette was named Freshman of the Year.

Duryea's new staff is expected to include current Utah State assistants Chris Jones and Tarvish Felton. Jones, however, has been interviewed for the head coaching job at Utah Valley. Wolverine athletic director Vince Otoupal has said he plans to name a new coach by April 1.

In recent weeks, much of the speculation about the USU job centered on University of Utah assistant Tommy Connor.

Sources told The Tribune last week that Connor interviewed with Aggie athletic director Scott Barnes but was never offered the job.

Morrill announced his decision to retire in Jan. 9 during an emotional news conference.

Referring to his players, he said, "I do think a new voice will be good for them. It'll all work out, and that's what I tried to reassure them. It'll all work out. They're playing at a great place and in a really good league. A new voice will be positive for the university, for the fans, for the players. It's time for a new voice."

At the time, Barnes said, "It's never easy when a coach and a person who has built a program to greatness retires. But I am proud to have worked with him."

Duryea and his wife, Angie, are the parents of two daughters and one son. Tanner, their son, plays lacrosse at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. His twin sister, Taylor, plays volleyball at Dixie State. —

Tim Duryea file

Hometown • Medicine Lodge, Kan.

Age • 50

College • North Texas State (1988)

Career • An assistant coach at Colorado State (1988-92), North Texas (1993-97) and Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College (1998-99). … Head coach at Hutchinson (2000-01). … Assistant at Utah State for 14 seasons (2002-2015).