Tom Brennan with ESPN to serve as studio analyst

Televisionpoint.com Team
The former coach of the University of Vermont's basketball team plans to take a job with ESPN, reports inform.

Tom Brennan said Thursday he had reached agreement on a two-year contract with ESPN to serve as a college basketball studio analyst.

Brennan will begin his new gig Dec. 7. Terms of the deal were not released.

ESPN spokesman Mike Hume said Brennan had not signed a contract but expected the deal to be completed soon.

"I'm thrilled," said Brennan, who retired following last season, which ended with a loss to eventual Final Four participant Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA tournament. "I've had about a hundred people come up and ask me about ESPN, so I really feel like I'm representing (Vermont)."

Brennan is coming off the best era in UVM men's basketball history. His Cats won a school-record 25 games last year, including a third consecutive America East Conference title, three consecutive NCAA appearances and an upset of Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Along the way Brennan's personality helped draw the national media to Burlington, and eventually caught the eye of ESPN.

Brennan said he expects to work in the college basketball studio two days a week generally Fridays and Saturdays breaking down games while providing wisdom and wit. The contract calls for Brennan to work in the studio 35 games in each of the next two seasons.

While one-liners are as big a part of Brennan's game as 3-pointers, the former coach realizes he has to know his stuff. Duke fans need to feel he's an expert on Duke; Gonzaga fans need to know Brennan's up to date on all things Gonzaga.

"It's going to be tremendously challenging," Brennan said.

He said he's going to try hard to be the guy Cat fans know well.

"The biggest advice I got from the folks (at ESPN) is being myself," said Brennan, who will continue to co-host a local radio show. "Letting my personality come through, be that good or be that bad."