By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Xavier coach Thad Matta was giving out advice Tuesday. Walk-on senior Tom Compton wandered into Matta's office with some questions about his graduation in May.

A finance major, Compton is trying to line up a job. Matta told Compton he would do whatever he could to help, including placing telephone calls and serving as a reference. It was the least Matta could do, even for a player who scored eight career points and does not have a future playing basketball.

"I am so appreciative Xavier University took a chance on me three years ago," said Matta, 36, who took Xavier to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. "I had one year of coaching experience. They took a chance when they hired me. Everyday I feel like I'm the lucky one to be here."

The feeling is mutual.

"Absolutely, it's nice of him to say that," athletic director Mike Bobinski said. "Although I didn't feel like we were taking a chance. He convinced me. I believed he was going to do exactly what we are seeing happen."

Bobinski continues to work toward increasing Matta's incentive package on his contract that is good through 2013. With incentives, Matta currently makes in the range of $600,000.

It's not just a matter of rewarding Matta for guiding Xavier to its first Elite Eight. Matta is one of the most successful young coaches in the country with a record of 102-31. At the end of each season, his name is mentioned with the best job openings.

Bobinski isn't immune to the rumors that suggest Matta is the heir apparent to Gene Keady at Purdue, Mike Davis at Indiana or any number of other jobs.

Keady is mulling an offer to coach San Francisco next season. Purdue released a statement Tuesday that Keady will make the decision next week. Published stories have listed Matta as a top candidate at Purdue if Keady leaves.

"Concerned? Yes," Bobinski said. "Nervous? No."

Matta, who grew up in Big Ten country in Hoopeston, Ill., envisions himself coaching at Xavier for years to come.

"Yeah, I honestly do," Matta said. "It's literally like I've lived a dream here. ... My time at Xavier, I've always woken up in a good mood. To me, that's happiness. We can play big-time college basketball here. That's what is important to me."

Matta saw evidence of Xavier's potential his first two years on the job when the Musketeers reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament with David West, who was named 2003 national player of the year. This season's tournament run lent more credibility to the case that Xavier can be a coaching destination, rather than a stepping point as it was for previous coaches Bob Staak, Pete Gillen and Skip Prosser who moved on to more established conferences.

The Atlantic 10 put two schools into the Elite Eight for the first time this season and produced back-to-back players of the year in West and Saint Joseph's Jameer Nelson. In 2005, the Atlantic 10 is adding Charlotte and Saint Louis, schools with successful basketball reputations.

"I've never been a guy who has thought about the next position or anything like that," Matta said. "It's more like, I've got a job to do, and as long as I enjoy doing it, I'm going to do it."

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E-mail ddow@enquirer.com