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.