Michael Jordan is surrounding himself with old colleagues in his second stint at running a team.

The Charlotte Bobcats hired Rod Higgins, his former teammate and aide, as general manager, a move that nearly recreates Jordan's staff with the Washington Wizards.

Jordan is also in discussions with his college roommate -- Coastal Carolina coach Buzz Peterson -- about joining the franchise as an assistant coach or scout.

Higgins served as Golden State's general manager the last three season.

Higgins will also be reunited with Fred Whitfield, Washington's director of player personnel during Jordan's time with the Wizards. Whitfield was hired as team president shortly after Jordan joined the team as part-owner last summer.

It all seems to be part of an effort by Jordan to surround himself with people he trusts. Last week, the Bobcats hired Sam Vincent -- who played with Jordan in Chicago -- as coach.

And next up could be Peterson, his former North Carolina teammate. Peterson, who just finished his second season at Coastal Carolina, has also coached at Tennessee, Tulsa and Appalachian State. He was fired by the Vols after the 2004-05 season.

"We're having those conversations in terms of Buzz," Higgins said. "We look forward to getting something done real soon."

Peterson told The Sun News last Thursday that he spoken with Jordan about the possibility of becoming an assistant coach, but he didn't see the move happening.

"When you've been a head coach for 11, 12 years, it's hard to listen to someone else," the 44-year-old Peterson told the newspaper.

"I'm not going to call him up and say, 'I want to be an assistant.' ''

Peterson, who makes a base salary approximating $132,000 annually, said the NBA lifestyle would be too much of a strain on his children.

"He's (Jordan's) a good friend; he knows I'm happy," Peterson said. "He's not going to put me in something I'm not happy with."