(Yes, I realize it’s way too early for all this, but it’s a message board so just play along)
First, let me preface this by saying that I like Kermit and I hope he turns things around. But, I was talking with some friends about this season and the lack of program momentum, which led to discussions around Kermit’s future. One of my friends asked “who could we realistically hire”? That question got the wheels turning and here are some names I came up with. Feel free to discuss.
The NBA Guy
Kenny Payne, New York Knicks Assistant Coach
Before joining the Knicks staff, the 55-year old Laurel, Mississippi native spent 10 seasons as John Calipari’s right-hand man at Kentucky. There he developed a reputation as an elite recruiter and was known as the “big man whisperer”. Payne should be able to continue his success in recruiting due to his close connection with Knicks’ Senior Basketball Advisor, William Wesley, who has been referred to as “the most powerful man in sports”. Payne is working for a premier franchise with his close personal friends, but it should be noted that he showed interest in returning to the college game as recently as last off-season when he was a candidate for the DePaul job.
The Alumnus
Mike White, Florida Head Coach
The 44-year old former Ole Miss guard is in his 7th season at the helm in Gainesville after taking over for the legendary Billy Donovan. He’s recruited well and has made 5 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. However he hasn’t reached the second weekend since 2017 and missed a golden opportunity last season when the Gators lost in the Round of 32 to 15-seeded Oral Roberts. Nevertheless, Mike White received a 2 year contract extension last summer. Though that would suggest job security, the natives are getting restless. He might be intrigued by restarting his clock back at his alma mater.
The Sitting Power 5 Coach
Brad Brownell, Clemson Head Coach
The 55-year old is in his 12th season at one of the most difficult jobs in a really tough league. He’s taken the Tigers to an NCAA Tournament every 4 years on average, highlighted by a Sweet 16 appearance in 2018. Twelve seasons is a long time in one place, so he could be looking for a fresh start elsewhere.
The Assistant
Jerome Tang, Baylor Associate Head Coach
Tang was an original member of Scott Drew’s Baylor staff back in 2003. Over the last 19 seasons he’s been instrumental in Baylor’s rise from the worst Power 5 basketball program in the country to National Champions. Given Baylor’s success, one has to wonder why Tang hasn’t landed a head coaching job yet. He interviewed for the UTEP opening last off-season, but the Miners ultimately went in another direction. Maybe he’s being selective?
The Retread
Steve Prohm, former Iowa State Head Coach
Iowa State went 14-42 in Prohm’s final 2 seasons, which cost the 47-year old Alabama alum his job. Even so, over his 10-year career, he made 4 NCAA Tournament appearances, averaged 20 wins per season, made a Sweet 16, and won the Big 12 Tournament twice.
The Mid-Major
Matt McMahon, Murray State Head Coach
McMahon figures to be next in a long line of successful Murray State head coaches to make the jump to the high-major level, following the likes of Mark Gottfried, Mick Cronin, Billy Kennedy, and his predecessor Steve Prohm. Murray State has made the NCAA Tournament 3 times under McMahon and is on pace to make it a 4th time this season. It also doesn’t hurt to have the development of Ja Morant and Cam Payne on your list of coaching achievements.
The Out of the Box Candidate
Mike Miller, former Memphis assistant
We last saw the 17-year NBA veteran coaching his son’s HS basketball team to a state championship. This after serving 2 seasons as an assistant on Penny Hardaway’s Memphis staff where he helped the Tigers land the #1 ranked recruiting class in 2019. Since then, Miller has transitioned out of coaching and is now a sports agent. The 2x NBA champion was lauded for his scouting prowess during his brief stint as a college assistant and he has deep ties to in AAU circles. He’s the type of candidate that brings instant NBA credibility, but lacks experience. Even if a school would be willing to take a chance on Miller, would he even be interested in a return to coaching?
The Bruce Pearl Candidate
Sean Miller, former Arizona Head Coach
Once upon a time Auburn hired Bruce Pearl, despite Pearl having roughly 6 months remaining on his “show cause”. Pearl was highly successful at Tennessee before a run-in with the NCAA cost him his job. Auburn was a bottom-feeding SEC program in need of new life, so it felt the upside outweighed the risk of hiring a coach with NCAA baggage. 8 years later, the decision to hire Bruce Pearl speaks for itself as Auburn appears to be headed for it’s first ever #1 ranking. Not to mention the Final 4 in 2019. Sean Miller presents that same upside for a school willing to take a chance on him. Miller was fired at Arizona following his own run-in with the NCAA. His fate is unknown, though many in basketball circles believe a 1 year “show cause” is the worst case scenario. That means whatever school hires Miller would need a contingency plan — a 1 year interim coach with Miller operating on the periphery. There are definitely downsides to that in the transfer portal era, but it may be worth it in the long run to hire an elite coach with real recruiting connections. It took Pearl 3 seasons to get it rolling at Auburn, but I don’t hear any complaints coming from the Plains today. Fortune favors the bold.
First, let me preface this by saying that I like Kermit and I hope he turns things around. But, I was talking with some friends about this season and the lack of program momentum, which led to discussions around Kermit’s future. One of my friends asked “who could we realistically hire”? That question got the wheels turning and here are some names I came up with. Feel free to discuss.
The NBA Guy
Kenny Payne, New York Knicks Assistant Coach
Before joining the Knicks staff, the 55-year old Laurel, Mississippi native spent 10 seasons as John Calipari’s right-hand man at Kentucky. There he developed a reputation as an elite recruiter and was known as the “big man whisperer”. Payne should be able to continue his success in recruiting due to his close connection with Knicks’ Senior Basketball Advisor, William Wesley, who has been referred to as “the most powerful man in sports”. Payne is working for a premier franchise with his close personal friends, but it should be noted that he showed interest in returning to the college game as recently as last off-season when he was a candidate for the DePaul job.
The Alumnus
Mike White, Florida Head Coach
The 44-year old former Ole Miss guard is in his 7th season at the helm in Gainesville after taking over for the legendary Billy Donovan. He’s recruited well and has made 5 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. However he hasn’t reached the second weekend since 2017 and missed a golden opportunity last season when the Gators lost in the Round of 32 to 15-seeded Oral Roberts. Nevertheless, Mike White received a 2 year contract extension last summer. Though that would suggest job security, the natives are getting restless. He might be intrigued by restarting his clock back at his alma mater.
The Sitting Power 5 Coach
Brad Brownell, Clemson Head Coach
The 55-year old is in his 12th season at one of the most difficult jobs in a really tough league. He’s taken the Tigers to an NCAA Tournament every 4 years on average, highlighted by a Sweet 16 appearance in 2018. Twelve seasons is a long time in one place, so he could be looking for a fresh start elsewhere.
The Assistant
Jerome Tang, Baylor Associate Head Coach
Tang was an original member of Scott Drew’s Baylor staff back in 2003. Over the last 19 seasons he’s been instrumental in Baylor’s rise from the worst Power 5 basketball program in the country to National Champions. Given Baylor’s success, one has to wonder why Tang hasn’t landed a head coaching job yet. He interviewed for the UTEP opening last off-season, but the Miners ultimately went in another direction. Maybe he’s being selective?
The Retread
Steve Prohm, former Iowa State Head Coach
Iowa State went 14-42 in Prohm’s final 2 seasons, which cost the 47-year old Alabama alum his job. Even so, over his 10-year career, he made 4 NCAA Tournament appearances, averaged 20 wins per season, made a Sweet 16, and won the Big 12 Tournament twice.
The Mid-Major
Matt McMahon, Murray State Head Coach
McMahon figures to be next in a long line of successful Murray State head coaches to make the jump to the high-major level, following the likes of Mark Gottfried, Mick Cronin, Billy Kennedy, and his predecessor Steve Prohm. Murray State has made the NCAA Tournament 3 times under McMahon and is on pace to make it a 4th time this season. It also doesn’t hurt to have the development of Ja Morant and Cam Payne on your list of coaching achievements.
The Out of the Box Candidate
Mike Miller, former Memphis assistant
We last saw the 17-year NBA veteran coaching his son’s HS basketball team to a state championship. This after serving 2 seasons as an assistant on Penny Hardaway’s Memphis staff where he helped the Tigers land the #1 ranked recruiting class in 2019. Since then, Miller has transitioned out of coaching and is now a sports agent. The 2x NBA champion was lauded for his scouting prowess during his brief stint as a college assistant and he has deep ties to in AAU circles. He’s the type of candidate that brings instant NBA credibility, but lacks experience. Even if a school would be willing to take a chance on Miller, would he even be interested in a return to coaching?
The Bruce Pearl Candidate
Sean Miller, former Arizona Head Coach
Once upon a time Auburn hired Bruce Pearl, despite Pearl having roughly 6 months remaining on his “show cause”. Pearl was highly successful at Tennessee before a run-in with the NCAA cost him his job. Auburn was a bottom-feeding SEC program in need of new life, so it felt the upside outweighed the risk of hiring a coach with NCAA baggage. 8 years later, the decision to hire Bruce Pearl speaks for itself as Auburn appears to be headed for it’s first ever #1 ranking. Not to mention the Final 4 in 2019. Sean Miller presents that same upside for a school willing to take a chance on him. Miller was fired at Arizona following his own run-in with the NCAA. His fate is unknown, though many in basketball circles believe a 1 year “show cause” is the worst case scenario. That means whatever school hires Miller would need a contingency plan — a 1 year interim coach with Miller operating on the periphery. There are definitely downsides to that in the transfer portal era, but it may be worth it in the long run to hire an elite coach with real recruiting connections. It took Pearl 3 seasons to get it rolling at Auburn, but I don’t hear any complaints coming from the Plains today. Fortune favors the bold.
