Former University of New Hampshire men's basketball Coach Phil Rowe has returned to New Hampshire, joining Daniel Webster College as the assistant vice president of student affairs for athletics. Rowe had gone to George Washington University for the last year, serving as an assistant men's basketball coach after his stint as coach of the UNH men's basketball team.

Hobbs, considered one of college basketball’s promising young coaches, had been a candidate for the University of Cincinnati job before that school hired Mick Cronin of Murray State in late March. Rowe’s departure, meanwhile, was quick and clean.

"I didn’t get a chance to say good-bye," Bower said. "If you see him, tell him thanks. We’ll miss him."

This will be the first winter Rowe hasn’t coached college basketball since 1995-96, the last of three years he spent as Daniel Webster College’s athletic director.

His job will involve overseeing Daniel Webster’s entire athletic program, with an emphasis on fund-raising, recruiting and expanding the athletic profile of the school. The college has 11 teams that compete at the Division III level, most of them in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.

Rowe also cited the opportunity for professional growth and the chance to spend more time with his family. His wife, Sue, teaches physical education at Londonderry Middle School.

"We are so fortunate that Phil was intent on returning to the area where he can now work with (athletic director) John Griffith to significantly grow the college’s athletic program," said Dr. Robert Myers, the college’s president.

Rowe resigned under pressure at UNH last May after going 45-125 over six seasons. He was the latest in a string of coaches who had difficulty winning in a program that athletics director Marty Scarano, at the time, termed an "institutional embarrassment."

While his successor, Bill Herrion, has infused optimism after guiding the Wildcats to a fifth-place finish in America East and 12-17 record in his first season as coach - with the players Rowe recruited - Rowe has taken the high road. He has been publicly complimentary of his experience at UNH, the people he dealt with and the person who replaced him.

"Billy’s a good guy and a great coach," he told the Herald in February. "I only want the very best for them."