Coaches with NBA-scars work; new breed of coach prospects?

Every college coach wants to be the next Larry Brown. Unfortunately, there is just one LB. And it’s been documented and documented how college coaches keep learning this–that they cannot make the transition to the NBA.

Many of these coaches though, they are smarter than we may think. When they return (and they do), they’ve got major cache. Just ask John Calipari, Rick Pitino, Tim Floyd and Mike Montgomery. They can remove their sports jackets,  roll up their  sleeves and flex their NBA war scars. Recruits cannot get enough of this, as evident by each signing day.

And since recruits love these scars so do athletic directors. It’s not surprising then to see recent Golden State Warriors coach Reggie Theus’ name thrown around for the Arizona and Memphis job.  Theus is a scarce commodity as the college-to-pros pool of candidates is quite small. Of all currrent NBA head coaches, only the Wizard’s Brown (Kansas and UCLA) and the Pacer’s Jim O’Brien (Dayton) have collegiate head coaching experience. (Gregg Popovich’s brief stint at Division III Pomona-Pitzer doesn’t count).

Message to Billy Gillespie: give the NBA a try. Kelvin Sampson is already one step ahead of you.

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This brings us to a new breed of NCAA basketball coaching prospect: NBA coaches who haven’t been back on a college campus with a tie or loafers. Terry Porter (mentioned for Washington St.) and Avery Johnson (message boarded for Memphis) fit this category.

If hired, this breed of coach should be given time. Managing life with 365 days/year of recruiting, class attendance-monitoring, booster-appeasing, etc…. and etc.  is a whole new basket of worms. Let’s not even mention the differing style of play. These coaches, with  administration help, should surround themselves with people who can help smooth this bumpy road.

Do you think Porter or Johnson can make the jump? The Trail Blazer or the Maverick? The results they produce if chosen could set a trend for similar hires in upcoming years.

Update: Terry Porter has removed his name for consideration.

Links: Lute’s boys speak, quicker Fox, Xavier Henry’s lead, Bobby Knight luv

• Some Wildcat hoops alums are calling for Josh Pastner. Reggie Theus stumps for job. Also, here’s the word on Xavier’s Sean Miller, Virginia Tech’s Seth Greenberg, Creighton’s Dana Altman and  Clemson’s Oliver Purnell. Jeff Capel is likely to stay put.

• If as ESPN’s headline state’s “Georgia is quick as a Fox,” then Nevada is quick like a fox on steroids hiring David Carter.

• According to blogger Adam Zagoria, Memphis top recruit Xavier Henry says what he hears about the Tigers job:

I’ve been told [by sources at Memphis] either Reggie Theus or Avery Johnson [could be the new coach]. That’s what I  hear.”

• Washington State is interviewing former Indiana coach Mike Davis. Speaking of  Indiana, the Bobby Knight Luv Fest continues, and I’m not talking about Facebook. Plus, add Utah State coach Stew Morrill’s name, and delete Terry Porter’s.
• Boston University may be waiting for Villanova’s associate head coach Pat Chambers’ season to end.

Links: ‘Zona’s plan, longer Memphis list, top Nevada candidate, new Cal Poly coach

This link basket is filled to the brim:

• The Tuscon Citizen’s Gimino says Arizona may be looking to “Plan G”:

[Tim] Floyd on Thursday, when asked what Arizona had told him during his visit to Tucson a day earlier, said: “They just told me that they would like to have me as their coach yesterday morning.”

• Meanwhile, the Memphis Commerical Appeal  says the Tiger War Room may be regrouping with Bruce Pearl and Tim Floyd signing new deals. So what about Baylor’s Scott Drew, or drumroll…Beaver First Coach Craig Robinson (Michelle’s bro). If you asked the message board gang, they would add NBA seasoned coaches Avery Johnson and Reggie Theus to the wish list.

• Is Nevada’s associate head coach David Carter a front runner for the Wolf pack opening? All he would have to do is drop the “associate.” Carter recruited and coached a couple NBA players including Ramon Sessions, and Kirk Snyder. Former coach Mark Fox vouches for him.
• Cal Poly announced they have hired Seattle University head coach Joe Callero. So who’s on SU’s list? Start with Washington assistant Cameron Dollar. Remember him from his UCLA days?
• Trail Blazer great Terry Porter visited with Washington State players. Hmm….

For full lists of school candidates, click on the Candidates tab above.