Irish coach Mike Brey said he is leaving South Bend Thursday.

Lucky for Irish fans, it's not for the job opening vacated by Roy Williams at Kansas, but to recruit for the future of Notre Dame's basketball program.

Williams left the Jayhawks for the North Carolina post, previously held by former Notre Dame coach Matt Doherty. ESPN.com's Andy Katz reported Monday that Brey could be among five candidates Kansas officials are considering for the coaching vacancy.

But Brey put those rumors to bed very quickly Tuesday at the mens basketball banquet.

"I'm going on the road recruiting on Thursday and we have a lot of work to do," Brey said. "Kansas is a great program with a huge tradition, but I think we're getting close to being a great program. We're in that territory and we're striving for that."

Brey also said he would not talk at all with the Kansas athletic director if asked by Kansas.

Brey has compiled a 66-31 record in three years at Notre Dame. He coached at Delaware before taking the Irish job where he went 99-52 in five years.

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