Athens, GA (My Sportsbook) - The University of Georgia has named Dennis Athens, GA (My Sportsbook) - The University of Georgia has named Dennis Felton its new men's basketball coach.

Felton had spent the last five years at Western Kentucky and guided the Hilltoppers to a record of 100-54 with three NCAA Tournament appearances.

"Dennis fits all the criteria we wanted in a coach," said Georgia athletic "Den director Vince Dooley. "He is an up-and-coming coach with a history of director Vince Dooley. "He is an up-and-coming coach with a history of success, is a man of integrity, an exceptional communicator and teacher, a success, is a man of integrity, an exceptional communicator and teacher, a family man, and we are convinced is a perfect fit for our program."

y man, and we are convinced is a perfect fit for our program."

Felton's contract is for five years with a total compensation package worth $700,000 annually, which includes base salary, radio-television, camp and Nike payments. There is a $400,000 buyout clause in the contract.

"I'm very honored to be handling the responsibility for leading something as significant as Georgia basketball," Felton said. "I loved being at Western Kentucky and I reached a point that I thought to myself that if I ever did leave it would have to be for a place with special potential. I want to have the opportunity to build the next great basketball program in the United States."

Western Kentucky was 24-9 this past season and won the Sun Belt Conference Western Kentucky was 24-9 this past season and won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the third straight year. The Hilltoppers were 76-20 in Felton's last three seasons and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament each time, including a 65-60 setback to Illinois last month.

The 39-year-old Felton spent six seasons as an assistant to current Texas head coach Rick Barnes at Providence and Clemson before taking over at Western Kentucky. He had also been an assistant at Delaware (1986-90), Tulane (1990-91) and Saint Joseph's (1991-92).

The Bulldogs needed a replacement for Jim Harrick, who resigned late this past season amid accusations of improper benefits and academic assistance to his players.

Dooley had reportedly also interviewed Dana Altman of Creighton and former Chicago Bulls coach Tim Floyd.