Some big changes on the latest hot board. Appreciate everyone’s patience on this update as I watched more film and finished up some calls. The good news is the end is near.
Tier One:
1. Niko Medved - Great year at Colorado State at 18-3 and #51 in KenPom. Knows Midwest well after stints at Drake and Minnesota. Track record of quickly rebuilding programs.
2. Jeff Lidner - New name to the list. In his second year at Wyoming he has them at 20-3 and #34 in KenPom. Previously turned around Northern Colorado after prior coach got them on massive probation. Still young at 44.
3. Randy Bennett - DRF knows him well and interviewed him for UNLV job. Unique recruiting strategy focused on international players but it works. St Mary’s is having another great year at 19-5 and #20 in KenPom.
4. Kyle Smith - Another new name - has Wazzu at #30 in KenPom and poised to make only their seventh tourney appearance in history. Big into analytics - trying to bring Moneyball elements to CBB. OU took a chance on a prior Wazzu coach that took them to only one tourney in his seven seasons there - the name was Kelvin Sampson. Small buyout at $750k.
5. Todd Golden - USF head coach and Kyle Smith’s protege. Has the Dons at 19-6 and #40 in KenPom. Very young at 36 but he’s a future star. Very into analytics. Previously was assistant under Pearl at Auburn so knows how to recruit in SEC.
6. Grant McCasland - Another year, another winning season for McCasland at North Texas - 17-4 and #63 in KenPom. Has spent his entire career in Texas. Beat Purdue in last year’s tourney. Only 45.
7. Darian DeVries - Has Drake competing for another Valley title and tourney appearance. Disciple of Dana Altman and Greg McDermott. Son is a star freshman for Drake and they’d likely be a package deal.
8. Chris Jans - Jans has won everywhere he’s been and is now winning again at New Mexico State at 19-3 this season. Former lead assistant for Gregg Marshall. Reminds me of Brad Underwood. Early fifties so still young.
9. John Becker - Vermont coach, has them poised to win the conference title for the sixth straight year and make the tourney again. Not the sexiest name but the guy can coach and has built Vermont into a perennial winner.
Tier Two (second chance hires):
10. Sean Miller - HR hire and there’s mutual interest, but Mizzou will need to get comfortable with the shirt-term media backlash that would come (except in KC where Self is accused of even more shenanigans).
11. Gregg Marshall - He’s going to coach again and have big success somewhere. All it will take is him apologizing, taking responsibility, and moving forward.
12. John Beilein - Doesn’t fit DRF’s track record for preferring young coaches, but Level 5 source says he hasn’t retired and would be very interested in the Mizzou job.
HM - Kim English, Kyle Keller, Mark Pope, Thad Matta, Steve Forbes (I don’t think Pope, Matta, or Forbes will take this job)
Tier One:
1. Niko Medved - Great year at Colorado State at 18-3 and #51 in KenPom. Knows Midwest well after stints at Drake and Minnesota. Track record of quickly rebuilding programs.
2. Jeff Lidner - New name to the list. In his second year at Wyoming he has them at 20-3 and #34 in KenPom. Previously turned around Northern Colorado after prior coach got them on massive probation. Still young at 44.
3. Randy Bennett - DRF knows him well and interviewed him for UNLV job. Unique recruiting strategy focused on international players but it works. St Mary’s is having another great year at 19-5 and #20 in KenPom.
4. Kyle Smith - Another new name - has Wazzu at #30 in KenPom and poised to make only their seventh tourney appearance in history. Big into analytics - trying to bring Moneyball elements to CBB. OU took a chance on a prior Wazzu coach that took them to only one tourney in his seven seasons there - the name was Kelvin Sampson. Small buyout at $750k.
5. Todd Golden - USF head coach and Kyle Smith’s protege. Has the Dons at 19-6 and #40 in KenPom. Very young at 36 but he’s a future star. Very into analytics. Previously was assistant under Pearl at Auburn so knows how to recruit in SEC.
6. Grant McCasland - Another year, another winning season for McCasland at North Texas - 17-4 and #63 in KenPom. Has spent his entire career in Texas. Beat Purdue in last year’s tourney. Only 45.
7. Darian DeVries - Has Drake competing for another Valley title and tourney appearance. Disciple of Dana Altman and Greg McDermott. Son is a star freshman for Drake and they’d likely be a package deal.
8. Chris Jans - Jans has won everywhere he’s been and is now winning again at New Mexico State at 19-3 this season. Former lead assistant for Gregg Marshall. Reminds me of Brad Underwood. Early fifties so still young.
9. John Becker - Vermont coach, has them poised to win the conference title for the sixth straight year and make the tourney again. Not the sexiest name but the guy can coach and has built Vermont into a perennial winner.
Tier Two (second chance hires):
10. Sean Miller - HR hire and there’s mutual interest, but Mizzou will need to get comfortable with the shirt-term media backlash that would come (except in KC where Self is accused of even more shenanigans).
11. Gregg Marshall - He’s going to coach again and have big success somewhere. All it will take is him apologizing, taking responsibility, and moving forward.
12. John Beilein - Doesn’t fit DRF’s track record for preferring young coaches, but Level 5 source says he hasn’t retired and would be very interested in the Mizzou job.
HM - Kim English, Kyle Keller, Mark Pope, Thad Matta, Steve Forbes (I don’t think Pope, Matta, or Forbes will take this job)
