2:15 p.m. Friday update:
As the St. Louis University coach search enters its third week, athletics director Chris May seems to have a decision to make.
Does he wait for Valparaiso to complete its run in the National Invitation Tournament and make a hard push for Bryce Drew? Or does he play it safe and make a hire from the group of candidates that has been identified? Or not identified.
News on the search slowed Friday but it was learned Thursday that former Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford had interviewed for the job. Florida Gulf Coast's Joe Dooley is in the mix. Other unidentified candidates could be lurking.
Drew's history with other job openings certainly makes waiting a risk. However, his agent has been contacted by a search firm and he has not issued a statement saying he isn't interested. A source in Valparaiso, Ind., hinted that Drew could be in play, or at least willing to listen, but the Crusaders are preparing for the NIT semifinals in New York on Tuesday.
Numerous schools have filled openings since SLU announced the firing of Jim Crews. They include Oklahoma State (Brad Underwood), Rutgers (Steve Pikiell), Central Florida (Johnny Dawkins) and Stanford (Jared Haase). Many are the type of candidates SLU is pursuing. Pittsburgh, UNLV, Alabama-Birmingham and Western Kentucky are among the schools still searching and their candidate profile could be similar to SLU's.
The number of names mentioned in connection with SLU is far more numerous than will ever be reported. But even some that have been reported come with complicated stories.
Dana Caldwell at the Naples News has reported that SLU has not requested permission to talk to Dooley. On the day he reportedly was in St. Louis for an interview, Dooley told Caldwell he was on a recruiting trip. As recently as Friday morning, FGCU AD Ken Kavanagh told Caldwell he hadn't been contacted.
Meanwhile, Drew has been mentioned at Pitt and is sure to be contacted by more schools. Ford, according to a source, has talked only with SLU so far, having been interviewed in Denver.
Meanwhile, the early Kevin Stallings reports have been muddled by confusion in Nashville. There were reports Thursday that Stallings had been fired but the school offered a denial, as did Stallings.
Thursday's news
Former Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford has interviewed with St. Louis University for its basketball coaching position, and Florida Gulf Coast's Joe Dooley was reportedly in St. Louis this week.
However, SLU's top target continues to be Valparaiso's Bryce Drew, whose team will be playing in the National Invitation Tournament until at least Tuesday.
That could delay the hire if SLU believes Drew has legitimate interest in the job. His representatives were contacted by a search firm SLU is working with, according to a source.
However, in a video message released by the university today, Drew seemed to hint at staying another season. He thanked fans and students for their support and concluded with "Look forward to seeing you next year."
Ford entered the picture this week after he was fired following eight seasons in Stillwater, Okla. Sources say he was interviewed Tuesday with the meeting taking place in another city.
Ford took the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament five times but won only one game. He had a 155-111 record at Oklahoma State. He previously coached at Massachusetts in the Atlantic 10. Ford played one season at Mizzou (1989-90) before transferring to Kentucky.
Dooley has been at Florida Gulf Coast three seasons, posting a 65-38 record. His team won a First Four game in the NCAA Tournament this year. He spent a decade as an assistant coach at Kansas.
Drew has not commented on reports connecting him to SLU and other jobs. He has interviewed for other jobs in the past and been linked by published reports but has yet to leave Valpo, where his dad (Homer) and brother (Scott, now at Baylor) preceded him as coach.
He also has been mentioned as a candidate at Pittsburgh and last year reportedly turned down a huge contract to coach at Iowa State.
Contact also has been made between SLU representatives and Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings, a Collinsville, Ill., native who remains on the job in Nashville.
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As the St. Louis University coach search enters its third week, athletics director Chris May seems to have a decision to make.
Does he wait for Valparaiso to complete its run in the National Invitation Tournament and make a hard push for Bryce Drew? Or does he play it safe and make a hire from the group of candidates that has been identified? Or not identified.
News on the search slowed Friday but it was learned Thursday that former Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford had interviewed for the job. Florida Gulf Coast's Joe Dooley is in the mix. Other unidentified candidates could be lurking.
Drew's history with other job openings certainly makes waiting a risk. However, his agent has been contacted by a search firm and he has not issued a statement saying he isn't interested. A source in Valparaiso, Ind., hinted that Drew could be in play, or at least willing to listen, but the Crusaders are preparing for the NIT semifinals in New York on Tuesday.
Numerous schools have filled openings since SLU announced the firing of Jim Crews. They include Oklahoma State (Brad Underwood), Rutgers (Steve Pikiell), Central Florida (Johnny Dawkins) and Stanford (Jared Haase). Many are the type of candidates SLU is pursuing. Pittsburgh, UNLV, Alabama-Birmingham and Western Kentucky are among the schools still searching and their candidate profile could be similar to SLU's.
The number of names mentioned in connection with SLU is far more numerous than will ever be reported. But even some that have been reported come with complicated stories.
Dana Caldwell at the Naples News has reported that SLU has not requested permission to talk to Dooley. On the day he reportedly was in St. Louis for an interview, Dooley told Caldwell he was on a recruiting trip. As recently as Friday morning, FGCU AD Ken Kavanagh told Caldwell he hadn't been contacted.
Meanwhile, Drew has been mentioned at Pitt and is sure to be contacted by more schools. Ford, according to a source, has talked only with SLU so far, having been interviewed in Denver.
Meanwhile, the early Kevin Stallings reports have been muddled by confusion in Nashville. There were reports Thursday that Stallings had been fired but the school offered a denial, as did Stallings.
Thursday's news
Former Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford has interviewed with St. Louis University for its basketball coaching position, and Florida Gulf Coast's Joe Dooley was reportedly in St. Louis this week.
However, SLU's top target continues to be Valparaiso's Bryce Drew, whose team will be playing in the National Invitation Tournament until at least Tuesday.
That could delay the hire if SLU believes Drew has legitimate interest in the job. His representatives were contacted by a search firm SLU is working with, according to a source.
However, in a video message released by the university today, Drew seemed to hint at staying another season. He thanked fans and students for their support and concluded with "Look forward to seeing you next year."
Ford entered the picture this week after he was fired following eight seasons in Stillwater, Okla. Sources say he was interviewed Tuesday with the meeting taking place in another city.
Ford took the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament five times but won only one game. He had a 155-111 record at Oklahoma State. He previously coached at Massachusetts in the Atlantic 10. Ford played one season at Mizzou (1989-90) before transferring to Kentucky.
Dooley has been at Florida Gulf Coast three seasons, posting a 65-38 record. His team won a First Four game in the NCAA Tournament this year. He spent a decade as an assistant coach at Kansas.
Drew has not commented on reports connecting him to SLU and other jobs. He has interviewed for other jobs in the past and been linked by published reports but has yet to leave Valpo, where his dad (Homer) and brother (Scott, now at Baylor) preceded him as coach.
He also has been mentioned as a candidate at Pittsburgh and last year reportedly turned down a huge contract to coach at Iowa State.
Contact also has been made between SLU representatives and Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings, a Collinsville, Ill., native who remains on the job in Nashville.
Comment
Share
You May Like
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