With rumors surfacing about the coaching vacancies at Rutgers and South Carolina, and with Jerry Dunn's contract still up in the air with the Lions, the head coach is confident something will be resolved shortly.

"I'd like to say I'll be here as the head coach of Penn State next season," Dunn said yesterday at his season-ending press conference. "There are still some things that need to be worked out, but it's a privacy issue and I cannot comment on that."

Dunn, who was under a lot of criticism about whether he would be back next season, did his part by leading the Nittany Lions (21-12) to the NCAA South Regional in Atlanta, where they eventually lost to Temple in the Sweet 16.

Throughout the year, Dunn remained positive and shielded any questions that placed him on the hot seat. He often told reporters that he could not control anything that was out of his hands.

Now with Penn State's appearance in this year's Sweet 16 and wins against Big Ten champion Illinois, Michigan State, Kentucky and North Carolina, he appears to be in a position that favors the incumbent coach.

"I've spent my whole life trying to prove myself," Dunn said. "I always believed I was a good coach and worked hard every day. I think it's flattering to hear other teams and people speak of you in terms of other programs, but like I've said all along this stems from winning and that's nice to hear."

Dunn has admitted that, despite the slew of rumors mentioning his name at various places lsuch as South Carolina, he has not been contacted by anyone from the universities.

Some of the things Dunn is most proud of are the successes of this past season. While he does admit he has not had much a chance to reflect on the past six months, he is pleased with the way his team performed and the way things are headed for the program.

"I try to think about the commitment and the hard work these guys put into the program," he said. "They've maintained a positive mind throughout all the things we went through. I think that speaks volumes about the character of the basketball people we have here and are attracting. Some of the kids who maybe didn't think about Penn State before are now either looking at us or considering coming here."

One of Dunn's key issues, if he is to stay at Penn State next season, will be making up two thirds of the team's offense.

The Lions will lose starters Joe Crispin, Gyasi Cline-Heard and Titus Ivory to graduation. Although Dunn believes that Penn State has four or five guys that can be double-digit scorers next season, the only player that came close to putting those numbers up is Brandon Watkins.

Watkins who played backup to Crispin the past two seasons is one of the players Dunn will look to next season in terms of filling some of the leadership roles that Crispin, Ivory and Cline-Heard will leave behind.

"I would think Brandon Watkins, Jon Crispin, Jammal Tate, Ndu Egekeze and some of the other guys will step up and take on those roles," he said. "We have a nice group of guys here and I think we'll be fine."

Despite not having a contract, Dunn will honor his commitment to Penn State by beginning his off-season this weekend when he and his assistants will start the recruiting trail on the road at some of the major tournaments throughout the country.