As always, I stress, Missouri has a coach. Until they don't, I'm not going to post a hot board or anything. At the same time, we have to acknowledge the possibility (which got stronger on Saturday) that the Tigers are looking for a basketball coach. Here would be the top three names that I believe are realistic and that I would explore if that possibility becomes a reality. These are listed in my personal order of preference
1. Frank Martin--You all know I have listed him for years. I think he fits here. He's an experienced Power Five coach with time in the SEC and in Missouri's geographic area. He knows the program. He knows what works here. He speaks incredibly highly of Missouri.
2. Kevin Keatts--The guy has dominated at UNC Wilmington. He took over a program that hadn't made the postseason in eight years and got them to the CIT in year one and the NCAA in year two, winning the Colonial both times. He is 44 years old. He was the coach at Hargrave Military and then a Pitino assistant at Louisville. He is 10-1 this year and 53-23 overall. He makes about $400K and has no buyout as of April 1, 2016
3. Jeff Capel--Capel recruited Blake Griffin and made an Elite Eight at OU, then they fell off a cliff. Maybe he's waiting for K to retire. Maybe he wouldn't take it. But maybe he wants a chance to show round two will be better than round one and he's learned some things about being a head coach.
There are some other names I'd consider, but these are the three who I believe you would have a chance to get and are good that stand out to me at the current time. Anyway, just something from me to start to conversation to let you all know that I'm not firing Kim today, but I'm not burying my head in the sand pretending it isn't possible.
1. Frank Martin--You all know I have listed him for years. I think he fits here. He's an experienced Power Five coach with time in the SEC and in Missouri's geographic area. He knows the program. He knows what works here. He speaks incredibly highly of Missouri.
2. Kevin Keatts--The guy has dominated at UNC Wilmington. He took over a program that hadn't made the postseason in eight years and got them to the CIT in year one and the NCAA in year two, winning the Colonial both times. He is 44 years old. He was the coach at Hargrave Military and then a Pitino assistant at Louisville. He is 10-1 this year and 53-23 overall. He makes about $400K and has no buyout as of April 1, 2016
3. Jeff Capel--Capel recruited Blake Griffin and made an Elite Eight at OU, then they fell off a cliff. Maybe he's waiting for K to retire. Maybe he wouldn't take it. But maybe he wants a chance to show round two will be better than round one and he's learned some things about being a head coach.
There are some other names I'd consider, but these are the three who I believe you would have a chance to get and are good that stand out to me at the current time. Anyway, just something from me to start to conversation to let you all know that I'm not firing Kim today, but I'm not burying my head in the sand pretending it isn't possible.
