Five Guys On A Shortlist: If the U Decides Change Is Needed, Aim High & Don't Be Cheap With That Big Ten Cash

I think it's moot whether we would want him or not (I don't) because I doubt he would return here. If he keeps performing well at UNM, he certainly could get other power conference offers if he wants them. The ACC has multiple poor performing teams now and the Big East also has a few.
I suspect Richard will want to avoid the Big East for now.
 

You think Indiana would take lil Richie? His UNM resume is the perfect candidate for a school like us, expect of course he was already here
 

Now that's a very interesting prospect!

His head coaching career has been pretty short (two years) but he's been successful so far. He had a winning season last year and is having a much better one this season. Apparently, he was an Alabama assistant prior and recruited some of their top players during his time there.

He has an interesting background. Born to a teenage mother, placed in foster care due to some bad domestic stuff, and eventually adopted. Played at a NY junior college and then a small New York state university. Despite coaching for southern universities in recent years, he's a cold weather guy having spent most of his life in the cold and snowy parts of New York state.
I love that story! Props for doing the research. He clearly has more than earned his way to where he is. He gets the most out his players. They were projected to win the Sun Belt in the preseason and they're currently in first at 18-5 (9-2) and are currently on a 7 game heater.
Soooo what you're saying is the weather wouldn't be a deterant? 😃 he's in my top 3 of coaching candidates.
 

You think Indiana would take lil Richie? His UNM resume is the perfect candidate for a school like us, expect of course he was already here
IU needs to go raid the Big East. Shaka or McDermott or Miller.
 



IU needs to go raid the Big East. Shaka or McDermott or Miller.
If getting to the Dance is the #1priority, what would induce either of these coaches to leave the Big East and go to an 18 team slug fest in the Big10? Certainly, it won't be $$$ alone where they could burn up in 2-3 years and have to start over at a level lower than the Big East.
 

If getting to the Dance is the #1priority, what would induce either of these coaches to leave the Big East and go to an 18 team slug fest in the Big10? Certainly, it won't be $$$ alone where they could burn up in 2-3 years and have to start over at a level lower than the Big East.
I agree. They make B1G money as the highest paid Big East coaches. MWC, MVC, Summit Coaches are where you look when you can't pay with the big boys.

MN would have to pay at least $3M/yr for coach to look at moving from the Big East.
 


If getting to the Dance is the #1priority, what would induce either of these coaches to leave the Big East and go to an 18 team slug fest in the Big10? Certainly, it won't be $$$ alone where they could burn up in 2-3 years and have to start over at a level lower than the Big East.
IU basketball is special. Like Nebraska football.
 



I've heard some speculation that Indiana will make a run at Chris Beard. Beard is making 5 million this season at Old Miss.
 



I tend to agree that Otz is not gettable. I doubt Miller or McDermott are either outside of the B1G/Big East factor.

My top 10 (after obligatory calls to Dutcher and Musselman).

1. Brad Brownell-Clemson. This is a reach too. But he's been there a long time, been on the hot seat a couple times and the ACC might be UNC or FSU bolting away from chaos. Would have to pay him a Fleck-ian salary though.

2. Darian DeVries-WVU

3. Ben McCollum-Drake

4. Tad Boyle-Colorado

5. Niko Medved-CSU

6. Chris Mack-Charleston

7. Leon Rice-Boise

8. Craig Smith-Utah

9. Anthony Grant-Dayton

10. Sundance Wicks-Wyoming
My Revised Top 10 (after obligatory calls to Dutcher and Musselman).

1. Darian DeVries-WVU-Probably a reach especially if Iowa opens.


2. Chris Mack-Charleston


3. Ben McCollum-Drake


4. Kyle Smith-Stanford. Also a reach to get a guy to leave after one year. But Stanford in the ACC has to suck.


5. Niko Medved-CSU


6. Leon Rice-Boise


7. Andy Enfield-SMU. Same as Kyle Smith


8. Anthony Grant-Dayton


9. Sundance Wicks-Wyoming


10 (tie) Johnny Tauer-St. Thomas/Steve Smiley-Northern Colorado
 











My Revised Top 10 (after obligatory calls to Dutcher and Musselman).

1. Darian DeVries-WVU-Probably a reach especially if Iowa opens.


2. Chris Mack-Charleston


3. Ben McCollum-Drake


4. Kyle Smith-Stanford. Also a reach to get a guy to leave after one year. But Stanford in the ACC has to suck.


5. Niko Medved-CSU


6. Leon Rice-Boise


7. Andy Enfield-SMU. Same as Kyle Smith


8. Anthony Grant-Dayton


9. Sundance Wicks-Wyoming


10 (tie) Johnny Tauer-St. Thomas/Steve Smiley-Northern Colorado
If you're stooping to the Summit League add SDSU coach Eric Henderson. Keeps on winning despite year over year portal losses (Mayo at Kansas and Kyle at UCLA).
 

If you're stooping to the Summit League add SDSU coach Eric Henderson. Keeps on winning despite year over year portal losses (Mayo at Kansas and Kyle at UCLA).
I don't really think Tauer should be on the list tbh, but I figure he will be on every list we see.
 

My Revised Top 10 (after obligatory calls to Dutcher and Musselman).

1. Darian DeVries-WVU-Probably a reach especially if Iowa opens.


2. Chris Mack-Charleston


3. Ben McCollum-Drake


4. Kyle Smith-Stanford. Also a reach to get a guy to leave after one year. But Stanford in the ACC has to suck.


5. Niko Medved-CSU


6. Leon Rice-Boise


7. Andy Enfield-SMU. Same as Kyle Smith


8. Anthony Grant-Dayton


9. Sundance Wicks-Wyoming


10 (tie) Johnny Tauer-St. Thomas/Steve Smiley-Northern Colorado
DeVries situation might be impacted by his son getting injured and applying for a waiver. I would guess it that would make him more likely to stay at WVU and keep some sense of stability for his son. Given what I've read about others buyouts, it's possible he's cost prohibitive going in to only the second year of his deal.

I've soured on Niko personally, but his buyout might also be an issue. I read where it was 33% of his remaining salary which would be about $2 million. However, there are two option years on the deal. If those count ( I think it's unlikely they do), then the buyout would be over $3 million. For comparison, Mack's buyout at Charleston is $1.5 million.

I like McCollum, but he's winning with his DII guys and a kid that transferred in from Wyoming who he previously recruited to DII. They also play at literally the slowest (last I looked) pace in all of a D1 and I would personally not look forward to more of that after the Johnson era, but would happily look the other way if the results are there. His PG is legit though and I am sure he'll have a lot of options in the Spring regardless of where McCollum is. We'd definitely want him to come with.

Brownell is such an interesting name. He's tried to get involved with this job the last two, it not the last three, times it has opened. To be fair, I don't think I ever had much interest in him previously but he's been on the run of his career recently.

I really think we need a name hire. The baseline for Coyle should be something at least in the same ballpark as landing Dawn P from West Virginia for the Women's team. I think DeVries is a fair approximation of that, but I also think he's unlikely.
 

If you're stooping to the Summit League add SDSU coach Eric Henderson. Keeps on winning despite year over year portal losses (Mayo at Kansas and Kyle at UCLA).
I'm surprised that no one (besides me more than a few times) is mentioning Bryan Hodgson from Arkansas State. I like the names mentioned but he's an up and comer as well. He can recruit and can get the most out his players and they play a fun style. Henderson would be a good name to keep an eye on too.
 

What is the intrigue with Chris Mack? Clearly a good coach with his run at Xavier, but when given the keys at a near blue blood, he ran it into the ground.
 


DeVries situation might be impacted by his son getting injured and applying for a waiver. I would guess it that would make him more likely to stay at WVU and keep some sense of stability for his son. Given what I've read about others buyouts, it's possible he's cost prohibitive going in to only the second year of his deal.

I've soured on Niko personally, but his buyout might also be an issue. I read where it was 33% of his remaining salary which would be about $2 million. However, there are two option years on the deal. If those count ( I think it's unlikely they do), then the buyout would be over $3 million. For comparison, Mack's buyout at Charleston is $1.5 million.

I like McCollum, but he's winning with his DII guys and a kid that transferred in from Wyoming who he previously recruited to DII. They also play at literally the slowest (last I looked) pace in all of a D1 and I would personally not look forward to more of that after the Johnson era, but would happily look the other way if the results are there. His PG is legit though and I am sure he'll have a lot of options in the Spring regardless of where McCollum is. We'd definitely want him to come with.

Brownell is such an interesting name. He's tried to get involved with this job the last two, it not the last three, times it has opened. To be fair, I don't think I ever had much interest in him previously but he's been on the run of his career recently.

I really think we need a name hire. The baseline for Coyle should be something at least in the same ballpark as landing Dawn P from West Virginia for the Women's team. I think DeVries is a fair approximation of that, but I also think he's unlikely.
I'm not sure how realistic DeVries is. Coaches don't usually leave after one year. But it's worth a shot.

Brownell was a long-shot in the first place, but I figured if they ended up a bubble team again, he might be open to jumping. With the year they're having, his seat is no longer anywhere near warm and we almost certainly can't afford him or his buyout. It's gone from a long-shot to no shot IMO.

I kind of view Medved as the baseline hire. Coyle shouldn't have to go further down the list than that. He doesn't really excite me, but I think he would at least bring us back to competence. I hope he can get one of the bigger targets though.
 

What is the intrigue with Chris Mack? Clearly a good coach with his run at Xavier, but when given the keys at a near blue blood, he ran it into the ground.
He made the NCAAs every year at Xavier and won 11 NCAA tournament games.

At Louisville, he made the NCAA's in year one. In year two (2020) he would have made it. He was 25-13 in the ACC at that point. Then the weird extortion thing with Dino Gaudio happened and it went south. But Kenny Payne is the one who really ran it into the ground.

I think he's a solid coach who could do well here.
 





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