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Tommy Amaker will be staying at Harvard. "After thoughtful deliberation, I continue to realize my heart is at Harvard," Amaker said in a statement released by the school Saturday. "To teach, lead and serve at this amazing institution, and in this special community, is truly meaningful to me."  Amaker's name had been floated in connection with other high-profile openings, including one across town at Boston College. But in the end, Amaker decided to stay with the Crimson -- the team he has led to six straight wins over BC. Harvard athletic director Bob Scalise praised Amaker as "a great leader, a great coach and a great educator." "He is an inspiration to many in the Harvard community," Scalise said in the statement. "We are excited he will continue to lead our men's basketball program." In seven seasons as the Crimson coach, Amaker has overseen a transformation from perennial Ivy League also-ran to powerhouse. The Crimson have won four straight Ivy titles, including a share of the title in 2010-11 and outright titles the past three seasons, and have played in the NCAA tournament in three straight seasons. Their win against No. 5 seed Cincinnati in a second-round matchup this season gave the program NCAA tournament victories in back-to-back seasons. Prior to those wins, Harvard never had won an NCAA tournament game. Amaker is 139-71 overall at Harvard, including a 67-31 mark in Ivy play. He has led his team to 20-plus victories in five straight seasons -- the first Ivy team to do so since Penn had a run of six consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins from 1970 to '75. Though the Crimson lose key veterans Kyle Casey, Brandyn Curry and Laurent Rivard to graduation this season, Amaker returns a strong core for 2014-15. Point guard Siyani Chambers, star guard Wesley Saunders (Ivy Player of the Year in 2013-14) and big man Steve Moundou-Missi will be back.
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