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Links: Miller to Arizona, Pastner elevated at Memphis, Bone heads north
Bam, bam, bam. On the afternoon of the national championship, the coaching carousel winds to a putter as the last three big jobs are filled.
- Sean Miller fills the Arizona gig, opening up a spot at Xavier. Arizona fans like the hire.
- Memphis taps young but experienced assistant Josh Pastner to succeed John Calipari. Pastner developed a great reputation among Arizona’s NBA alums. The big question: can he save the Tiger’s recruiting class?
- Portland States’ Ken Bone has reportedly accepted the Washington State job. Utah State’s Stew Morrill had withdrawn his name.
- Utah coach Jim Boylen say he was contacted by both Arizona and Memphis, though of course, both jobs have just been filled!!
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: BU chooses Tony Jones; Memphis and Theus, Pearl to stay
- According to the Boston Globe, Tennesse assistant Tony Jones will be the next coach at Boston University. Will this have implications for the Rick Pitino/Richard Pitino sweepstakes?
- Andy Katz says former Sacramento Kings coach Reggie Theus would be a perfect fit for Memphis.
- Katz also weighs the USC option for Jamie Dixon. Dixon’s wife is Trojan and his parents live in the area.
- Prep junior Cougar recruit say the Tony Bennett move was a “big shock.”
- Tennesse’s Bruce Pearl is out of the Tiger hunt.
- Xavier A.D. say coach Sean Miller is hot: “Quite honestly, they’re not doing their jobs at those places if they’re not asking about Sean.”
Link: Porter interested in Cougars?
Throw Portland Trail Blazer great Terry Porter into the ring for the Washington State job. Most recently, he was the head coach for the Phoenix Suns. If I was a a recruited by someone who coached Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Michael Redd, I might listen.
Here is an old interview with Porter who discusses his coaching style:
TP: I would say, he thinks he knows that defense is very important, so he’s defensive-minded. Yet, he knows offensively there’s got to be some structure but freedom for the players. Players nowadays need structure, but they also need freedom. There’s not really a lot to my philosophy. In order to win in this league, you have to be able to defend and you have got to be able to score whether in the halfcourt or open court or combination of both.
Also, click here for other candidates for the Wazzou job. Ken Bone has already been contacted to interview.
Links: Anderson to meet with Georgia, Pennell looking, Kent’s expensive hot seat
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Bryan Burwell says it’s time for Missouri to tear up Mike Anderson’s old contract before Memphis does…
- …or Georgia: ESPN.com’s Mark Schlabach is reporting Anderson will meet with Georgia officials, but Missouri won’t lose Anderson without a fight.
- Arizona Daily Star’s Greg Hansen writes Russ Pennell is worthy of a good head coaching job. Hmm…how about Washingtion State?
- Arizona Repulic’s Paola Boivin says Wildcat fans, boosters and consecutive tournament streak are good reasons to continue aiming high.
- Register Guard’s Bob Clark notes it could get expensive to fire Oregon coach Ernie Kent.
- ESPN.com’s blogs about every carousel related topic imaginable, including who may be looking at Miami’s Frank Haith and Clemson’s Oliver Purnell (uga uga).
Update: It’s official, Coach Cal is a Wildcat. Now who will follow?
Bennett to coach Virginia
According to ESPN.com, Tony Bennett will become the next Virginia Caviliers head basketball coach. Bennett built on the success his father, Dick, brought to Pulman, nuturing a tenacious brand of defense. He had previously been a candidate for high profile jobs like Indiana.
While this could be viewed as a lateral move, Virginia has greater resources, a bigger stadium and a good group of young players to build around.
What do you think of this hire?
The Coaching Carousel 