As a member of the extended UConn basketball family, Ricky Moore has closely followed the developments in Storrs.

The recent retirement of his former coach, Jim Calhoun, opened up a door for Moore's return to his alma mater.

Moore recently applied for the assistant director of basketball administration job, which opened up when former teammate Kevin Freeman moved to the director's spot and Karl Hobbs was promoted to assistant coach status.

Signs point to Moore as the favorite to be hired to join new coach Kevin Ollie's staff sometime in the next few weeks. Moore, who played at UConn from 1995-99, has been an assistant coach at Dartmouth for the last two years.

"Right now, I'm waiting to hear back from UConn," Moore said Thursday. "I sent them a resume and I'm going through the process. It has to be cleared through different departments. I don't know anything yet."

He expects to hear something by sometime next week.

Obviously, Moore would jump at the chance to come back to Storrs where he helped lead the Huskies to the 1999 national championship and served as a co-captain for three years. He's a member of the UConn's All-Century Basketball Team.

After being part of a rebuilding process at Dartmouth, he's looking forward to a new challenge.

"It's sad that coach (Calhoun) is stepping down and also a challenge for each and every coach that is going to be filling a role," Moore said. "I would look forward to the challenge. I know Kevin Ollie will do a great job and everyone on the staff will do a great job. Otherwise I wouldn't be leaving here if I didn't believe in Kevin Ollie and the staff."

If hired, Moore would become the fifth member of the UConn basketball family on the staff. Ollie, assistant Glen Miller, Hobbs and Freeman played at UConn. They're all former point guards with the exception of Freeman. George Blaney is still the associate head coach.

Moore told the Dartmouth players about his situation Thursday morning.

"They know what a great opportunity it is for me and my family to go back to my alma mater," Moore said.

Moore is a big believer in Ollie, a first-year coach given just one season to prove himself.

"It's going to be a challenge," Moore said. "I just feel he's up for the challenge I really have faith in him.

Ollie has yet to interview Moore but he told him that he'd be one of the finalists if he applied.

"We'll see what happens," Moore said. "I've got faith that I'll get the job."

g.keefe@theday.com