Jim Larranaga is ready for retirement in South Florida. Sounds typical of a veteran coach or worker doesn’t it? The former Miami coach stepped down in December and now the Hurricanes finally turned to Jai Lucas as their new head coach.

Jai Lucas acknowledges his coaching pedigree lacks the vital role of running a team but believes that experience gained through assistant stops at “Blue Blood” programs has prepared him for the massive undertaking that awaits him.

Jai Lucas and Miami have finalized the contract that makes him the school’s new men’s basketball coach, nearly two weeks after they struck preliminary agreement on a deal, a person with knowledge of the talks said Wednesday.