PITTSBURGH — Xavier University assistant Mark Schmidt was hired as the coach at Robert Morris after deciding not to follow Skip Prosser to Wake Forest.

        Schmidt replaces Danny Nee, who resigned after one season and a 7-22 record to coach Duquesne. Schmidt will be paid $100,000.

        “Robert Morris offered me an opportunity to be a head coach at a place where I think we can have a successful program,” Schmidt said. “After seven years at Xavier, I needed a new challenge from a professional standpoint.”

        Schmidt had worked under Prosser, who last month left for Wake Forest after winning at least 20 games in six out of his seven seasons at Xavier.

        Schmidt becomes Robert Morris' third coach in three years. Robert Morris has played in the NCAA tournament five times, the most of any Northeast Conference school, but hasn't appeared since 1992. “It is my job to rekindle that tradition,” Schmidt said.

        Schmidt played for Boston College in the 1980s before becoming an assistant at St. Michael's and at Penn State for two years each. He joined Prosser at Loyola, Md., for a season before following Prosser to Xavier in 1994. Schmidt has been part of five NCAA tournament teams as an assistant.

        “I'm excited,” said Schmidt, who will meet his players Monday. “When you are in this business, everyone dreams of being a head coach. I've been with Skip for a while, but it was time to break away and try another challenge.”

        Schmidt's wife, Anita, grew up in Pittsburgh.

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