Houston ? Tom Penders was hired Tuesday to coach at Houston, the once-powerful program that hasn’t won an NCAA Tournament game in 20 years.

Penders agreed to a five-year contract, but terms weren’t finalized. Penders, a coach at Texas for 10 years, replaces Ray McCallum, who was reassigned March 8 after going 44-72 in four seasons.

“I feel like I am coming back home. I am excited about this opportunity here at the University of Houston,” Penders said. “It is both a dream and a desire of mine to bring the Cougars back to national prominence and compete for a national championship.”

Penders, 58, is best known for resuscitating Texas after his arrival in 1988 following successful stints at Tufts, Columbia, Fordham and Rhode Island. He led Texas to a 208-110 record and eight NCAA Tournaments, including a regional final in 1990.

“We feel very fortunate to have someone of Tom Penders’ caliber as our coach,” athletic director Dave Maggard said.

Penders is the seventh UH coach, but the fifth since the revered Guy Lewis retired in 1986 after 30 seasons and five Final Four appearances.

Penders resigned from Texas in 1998 after his second losing season with the Longhorns. The move came amid a rift with some prominent players and a lawsuit accusing Penders of being involved in the public release of grades of former player Luke Axtell, who transferred to Kansas. The suit was settled when Texas agreed to pay $7,500 in legal fees.

New Houston basketball coach Tom Penders, right, flashes a UH hand sign as university president Jay Gogue looks on. Penders was introduced at a news conference Tuesday in Houston.