In a roundabout way, I suppose you could thank assistant coach Joe Dooley for winning the 2008 National Championship for Kansas. After all, he was the man who recruited Mario Chalmers.

Unfortunately, his contributions to Kansas may be disappearing soon. Yesterday foxsports.com reported that Dooley is currently in negotiations with East Carolina to become the school’s next head coach.

Later that afternoon, Bill Self refuted that report.

“Nothing has been offered,” Self said. “Nothing is imminent at all. (They are) still gauging interest.”

If Dooley were to leave, it would be a huge loss for Kansas. He has the accolades to be considered one of the best recruiters in the country. Since becoming an assistant coach in 2003, Dooley has had a major role in recruiting for the Jayhawks. In the spring of 2008, foxsports.com rated him as the sixth best recruiter in the country. The recruiting website rivals.com rated Dooley as the fourth best recruiter after the 2007 class of Cole Aldrich and Tyrel Reed committed.

If Dooley were to go back to East Carolina, Kansas would lose an assistant with a lot of influence in the eastern part of the country.

Dooley, who is from West Orange, N.J., and played basketball at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., has connections in that part of the country that have helped him recruit a few current players, including Thomas Robinson.

Robinson, a Washington D.C., native, has appeared in all but two of Kansas’ games this year.

“A major impact,” Robinson said of the effect Dooley has had in his college career thus far. “He stays on me. He helps me out. He’s the reason why I progress throughout the season. He’s a big part of why I’m here.”

In addition to Chalmers, Aldrich, Reed and Robinson, Dooley also has assisted in the recruiting of Sasha Kaun as well as east coast natives Tyshawn Taylor and Marcus and Markieff Morris.

Dooley has previously been the head coach at East Carolina. He had a 57-52 record in four seasons with the Pirates from 1995-96 through 1998-99. If Dooley were to return to coach there, Kansas may have a hard time finding an assistant coach who is as talented a recruiter.

— Edited by Anna Archibald