GopherLady
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via our own Tony Liebert. https://gopherhole.com/10-most-interesting-options-to-replace-richard-pitino/
Who should be on this list or not be on this list?
WCCO’s Henry Lake reported Sunday that Richard Pitino and Mark Coyle had a discussion Friday that may have all been the beginning of the end of his time as the head coach of the Gophers. Assuming that this report is true, let’s look at a speculative list of the most interesting candidates to replace Richard Pitino.
10. Tim Miles
Miles is most known for his time spent as Nebraska head coach for seven years, where he finished with a 116-114 record. He has spent much of his career in the midwest, acting as the head coach for North Dakota State and (D2) Southwest Minnesota State. He wasn’t insanely productive anywhere he has been, but he seems very well-liked across the country. He is only 54 years old, so he makes for an interesting safety net.
9. Craig Smith
Craig Smith is currently the head coach of Utah State. Now in his third year as head coach of the Aggies, Smith has a 70-22 record competing in the Mountain West Conference. Before residing in Logan, Utah Smith was a head coach at South Dakota and an assistant at Nebraska and Colorado State. He was born in Stephen, Minnesota and he is only 48 years old. Being that he is due for a jump to the high-major program level why not come home?
8. Thad Matta
Thad Matta was the longtime head coach at Ohio State where he recorded a record of 337-123 in 13 seasons. Since the 2016-17 season, he has been out of coaching completely, and there have been rumblings that he wants to get back into the mix. He has familiarity in the Midwest having previously coached Butler and Xavier. He is only 53 years old and would certainly be an interesting option for the Gophers.
7. Darian DeVries
DeVries will be one of the most popular names among D1 coaching searches. In only his third season at Drake, he has the Bulldogs 24-3. He has earned 20+ wins in all three of his seasons as head coach. After being an assistant at Creighton for 16 years, he has taken advantage of his opportunity at Drake. Another midwest guy that is only 45 years old could be a terrific option.
6. Porter Moser
College basketball fans may recognize Moser’s name from his magical run with Loyola-Chicago and Sister Jean to the 2017-18 Final Four. Well, Moser’s Ramblers are back this season reaching as high as No. 21 in the country and a current 21-4 record. He is only 52 years old with stops at Arkansas Little-Rock and Illinois State as a head coach. If he can do it in the Missouri Valley why can’t he do it in the Big Ten?
5. Ryan Saunders
It seems to be a recent trend in college basketball for programs to hire a famous alumnus. Memphis with Penny Hardaway, Michigan with Juwan Howard, and Georgetown with Patrick Ewing to name a few. Some have been more successful than others, but why wouldn’t the Gophers take a shot in the dark. It makes sense any way you put it, and I would imagine a 34-year-old would be much more comfortable coaching college kids instead of grown men.
4. John Beilein
Beilein has been a very popular name within Big Ten basketball for years, having made the Michigan basketball program a consistent powerhouse. He has most recently been let go by the Cleveland Cavaliers promoting a career in the booth for Big Ten Network. He is 68 years old, but I would have to imagine that he would like to get back out there, and why not jump into a familiar conference. There are no connections to Minnesota, but this would certainly be great for the Gophers program.
3. Eric Musselman
Musselman is a popular name in college basketball, as he has completely turned around Arkansas’ program in only his second season. He has the Razorback ranked No. 20 in the country and only rising. He has a connection with Minnesota, as his father Bill was head coach of the Gophers from 1971-75 as well as the first coach in Timberwolves history. This move makes a lot of sense, but unfortunately I just really don’t see it happening, but you can always hope.
After receiving a contract extension at San Diego St with a nearly $7MM buyout, he insisted on only a $1MM buyout if he goes to Gophers. “It’s my school where I went & was able to be part of basketball program with my dad,” said Dutcher.
Who should be on this list or not be on this list?
WCCO’s Henry Lake reported Sunday that Richard Pitino and Mark Coyle had a discussion Friday that may have all been the beginning of the end of his time as the head coach of the Gophers. Assuming that this report is true, let’s look at a speculative list of the most interesting candidates to replace Richard Pitino.
- Honorable Mention: Rick Pitino
10. Tim Miles
Miles is most known for his time spent as Nebraska head coach for seven years, where he finished with a 116-114 record. He has spent much of his career in the midwest, acting as the head coach for North Dakota State and (D2) Southwest Minnesota State. He wasn’t insanely productive anywhere he has been, but he seems very well-liked across the country. He is only 54 years old, so he makes for an interesting safety net.
9. Craig Smith
Craig Smith is currently the head coach of Utah State. Now in his third year as head coach of the Aggies, Smith has a 70-22 record competing in the Mountain West Conference. Before residing in Logan, Utah Smith was a head coach at South Dakota and an assistant at Nebraska and Colorado State. He was born in Stephen, Minnesota and he is only 48 years old. Being that he is due for a jump to the high-major program level why not come home?
8. Thad Matta
Thad Matta was the longtime head coach at Ohio State where he recorded a record of 337-123 in 13 seasons. Since the 2016-17 season, he has been out of coaching completely, and there have been rumblings that he wants to get back into the mix. He has familiarity in the Midwest having previously coached Butler and Xavier. He is only 53 years old and would certainly be an interesting option for the Gophers.
7. Darian DeVries
DeVries will be one of the most popular names among D1 coaching searches. In only his third season at Drake, he has the Bulldogs 24-3. He has earned 20+ wins in all three of his seasons as head coach. After being an assistant at Creighton for 16 years, he has taken advantage of his opportunity at Drake. Another midwest guy that is only 45 years old could be a terrific option.
6. Porter Moser
College basketball fans may recognize Moser’s name from his magical run with Loyola-Chicago and Sister Jean to the 2017-18 Final Four. Well, Moser’s Ramblers are back this season reaching as high as No. 21 in the country and a current 21-4 record. He is only 52 years old with stops at Arkansas Little-Rock and Illinois State as a head coach. If he can do it in the Missouri Valley why can’t he do it in the Big Ten?
5. Ryan Saunders
It seems to be a recent trend in college basketball for programs to hire a famous alumnus. Memphis with Penny Hardaway, Michigan with Juwan Howard, and Georgetown with Patrick Ewing to name a few. Some have been more successful than others, but why wouldn’t the Gophers take a shot in the dark. It makes sense any way you put it, and I would imagine a 34-year-old would be much more comfortable coaching college kids instead of grown men.
4. John Beilein
Beilein has been a very popular name within Big Ten basketball for years, having made the Michigan basketball program a consistent powerhouse. He has most recently been let go by the Cleveland Cavaliers promoting a career in the booth for Big Ten Network. He is 68 years old, but I would have to imagine that he would like to get back out there, and why not jump into a familiar conference. There are no connections to Minnesota, but this would certainly be great for the Gophers program.
3. Eric Musselman
Musselman is a popular name in college basketball, as he has completely turned around Arkansas’ program in only his second season. He has the Razorback ranked No. 20 in the country and only rising. He has a connection with Minnesota, as his father Bill was head coach of the Gophers from 1971-75 as well as the first coach in Timberwolves history. This move makes a lot of sense, but unfortunately I just really don’t see it happening, but you can always hope.
- Niko Medved
- Brian Dutcher
After receiving a contract extension at San Diego St with a nearly $7MM buyout, he insisted on only a $1MM buyout if he goes to Gophers. “It’s my school where I went & was able to be part of basketball program with my dad,” said Dutcher.
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