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Cavs closing in on coach, search in second month

By WTOP Staff

CLEVELAND (AP) — More than one month after firing Mike Brown, the Cavaliers still haven’t found his replacement.

However, they could be close.

The team had second interviews with Los Angeles Clippers associate head coach Alvin Gentry and assistant Tyronn Lue on Friday, meetings that were expected to include Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. Gentry and Lue are among at least a dozen candidates contacted by the club since Brown was fired on May 12 following a 33-49 season, ending his second stint with the club.

While Gentry and Lue appear to be the co-favorites to become Cleveland’s coach in three years, neither of them has been offered the job and the Cavs’ search will extend into next week.

Cleveland has scheduled an interview with former Maccabi Tel Aviv coach David Blatt, who announced Thursday he was resigning from his job with the European champion to take a coaching job in the NBA. Blatt did not specify which team he was joining, but said he has not been offered the Cavs’ position. Blatt also has been approached by Golden State to be an assistant under new coach Steve Kerr.

The 55-year-old Blatt was first contacted by the Cavs last week, but he has known new Cleveland general manager David Griffin for several years. Blatt is considered an offensive mastermind, and he’s been on the radar of several NBA teams. He acknowledged his interest in returning to the U.S. — he was born in Massachusetts and played at Princeton — while leading Russia to a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

Blatt said he was leaving Maccabi to “follow my dream.” He led the club to a stunning upset over Real Madrid in the European Championships, a victory that touched off massive celebrations in Israel. If the Cavs decide to hire him, Cleveland fans would probably not have the same reaction because Blatt is unknown outside hoops circles and he’d be an unconventional choice.

Earlier this week, the team met with Charlotte assistant Mark Price, a four-time All-Star point guard in Cleveland who remains one of the most beloved players in franchise history. Former Memphis coach Lionel Hollins, Bulls assistant Adrian Griffin, former Chicago coach Vinny Del Negro also had interviews with the club, but it’s not known if any of them will get a second look.

Gilbert and Griffin understand the importance of landing the right coach as the Cavaliers enter a significant summer.

The club owns the No. 1 overall pick in this month’s draft and the Cavs are in the process of evaluating the top college prospects. Kansas center Joel Embiid visited Cleveland earlier this week and the Cavs gave him a thorough medical exam and worked out the 7-footer. Jayhawks forward Andrew Wiggins and Duke forward Jabari Parker are scheduled to meet with the Cavs next week.

Embiid has been touted as a franchise-changing player, but there are medical concerns about the 18-year-old, who only started playing basketball a few years ago in his native Cameroon. He missed the NCAA tournament last season with a stress fracture in his lower back, and the Cavs wanted to make sure he’s healthy before they considered taking him.

The Cavs are not confirming player visits until the day they take place.

And while they juggle the coaching search and various options with the top pick, including a trade, the Cavs must also decide whether to offer All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving a maximum, five-year contract extension next month. Irving has given mixed signals about his commitment to Cleveland, and it certainly hasn’t helped that the Cavs have been in disarray since he arrived.

The team was expected to get to the playoffs last season under Brown, who was fired for the first time four years ago by Gilbert. Maybe the next coach can not only inspire Irving, but get the Cavs back on track.

First, though, they’ve got to find him.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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