It's not going to happen now, but unless something major changes, I am pretty certain we'll be looking for a new coach in a year. Next year is for Juwan what 2021 was for Harbaugh: a must-turn-it-around season.
What are some names we should be looking at?
In no particular order...
Dan Hurley (UConn)
Younger brother of Bobby, former Seton Hall PG, and son of legendary Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony's coach Bob Hurley Sr. Took over Wagner and in his second year had them at 25-6, which earned him the move to Rhode Island, where he rebuilt that program, culminating in 25-10 and 26-8 records in his 5th and 6th seasons, winning a first round game in the NCAA Tourney each time. After taking over a moribund UConn program, he has made them into one of the top tier teams in the Big East and is heading to his third straight NCAA Tournament.
Mark Madsen (Utah Valley)
Was a first round pick out of Stanford in 2000 and spent nine years in the NBA, winning a couple of championships with the Shaq/Kobe Lakers as a smart, tough, gritty role player. He then spent six years on the Lakers' bench before taking the Utah Valley job, where they have steadily risen over four seasons from 11-19 his first year to 11-11 in the COVID season, 20-12 last season and 23-7 this year, winning the Western Athletic Conference.
Matt Langel (Colgate)
Langel is 45, played at Penn, and after six years as an assistant at Penn and Temple, took over Colgate in 2011-12 when he was only 33. They were 8-22 in his first year, the next 5 years they bounced around between 10 and 16 wins, before breaking through with 19 in 2017-18. Colgate have now just won the America East for the 5th straight season and are going to their 4th straight NCAA Tournament. He would really need an ace recruiter with some midwest ties on his staff, as well as his own "Phil Martelli" who could be a bit of a guide to operating at a big program like Michigan. But he's a quality basketball coach who has put in the hard yards and knows how to operate at a good academic institution, and is still fairly young.
Brian Wardle (Bradley)
Took over a struggling Green Bay program and won 24 games each in years 4 and 5. Went to a struggling Bradley program and has won 20 or more in 4 of the last 6 years. Made the NCAA in years 4 and 5, and won the Missouri Valley with a 25-9 record this season. 43 years old, he is a child of Big Ten country having starred in high school in suburban Chicago and then at Marquette, and has coached in Illinois and Wisconsin. He's someone who is due for a major conference job.
Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls)
Some rumors already linking him to Kentucky if John Calipari leaves for Texas, and I can't imagine Carolina not being interested if Hubert Davis gets the axe at some point. If he hasn't settled into another college job at this time next season, he should be the first call. Obviously his credentials speak for themselves. Former Final Four player under Rick Pitino at Providence, played for Pitino in the NBA with the Knicks and then coached under him. Led Florida to two national championships and although he hasn't won an NBA title, is one of the few college coaches to have successfully made the jump. He is respected around the league. It's not working for him with the Bulls as yet, but that's no fault of his - he is stuck with a bunch of mismatched pieces and his PG has been out for a season and a half. Donovan is an elite coach. Few things can attract recruits like being able to wave a couple of Championship rings around, and someone with Donovan's NBA experience can really convince recruits he can get them ready for the league.
Rick Pitino (Iona)
You know what? I really don't give a shit about what went on at Louisville. We're hiring a basketball coach, not a pastor. And in the age of NIL... whatever. The guy's not an axe murderer. He's on the Mt. Rushmore of college basketball coaches. He has won National Championships at two schools and been to a Final Four with a third. He's 70? OK. I'll take him for 5 years and let him leave it stronger than he found it.
What are some names we should be looking at?
In no particular order...
Dan Hurley (UConn)
Younger brother of Bobby, former Seton Hall PG, and son of legendary Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony's coach Bob Hurley Sr. Took over Wagner and in his second year had them at 25-6, which earned him the move to Rhode Island, where he rebuilt that program, culminating in 25-10 and 26-8 records in his 5th and 6th seasons, winning a first round game in the NCAA Tourney each time. After taking over a moribund UConn program, he has made them into one of the top tier teams in the Big East and is heading to his third straight NCAA Tournament.
Mark Madsen (Utah Valley)
Was a first round pick out of Stanford in 2000 and spent nine years in the NBA, winning a couple of championships with the Shaq/Kobe Lakers as a smart, tough, gritty role player. He then spent six years on the Lakers' bench before taking the Utah Valley job, where they have steadily risen over four seasons from 11-19 his first year to 11-11 in the COVID season, 20-12 last season and 23-7 this year, winning the Western Athletic Conference.
Matt Langel (Colgate)
Langel is 45, played at Penn, and after six years as an assistant at Penn and Temple, took over Colgate in 2011-12 when he was only 33. They were 8-22 in his first year, the next 5 years they bounced around between 10 and 16 wins, before breaking through with 19 in 2017-18. Colgate have now just won the America East for the 5th straight season and are going to their 4th straight NCAA Tournament. He would really need an ace recruiter with some midwest ties on his staff, as well as his own "Phil Martelli" who could be a bit of a guide to operating at a big program like Michigan. But he's a quality basketball coach who has put in the hard yards and knows how to operate at a good academic institution, and is still fairly young.
Brian Wardle (Bradley)
Took over a struggling Green Bay program and won 24 games each in years 4 and 5. Went to a struggling Bradley program and has won 20 or more in 4 of the last 6 years. Made the NCAA in years 4 and 5, and won the Missouri Valley with a 25-9 record this season. 43 years old, he is a child of Big Ten country having starred in high school in suburban Chicago and then at Marquette, and has coached in Illinois and Wisconsin. He's someone who is due for a major conference job.
Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls)
Some rumors already linking him to Kentucky if John Calipari leaves for Texas, and I can't imagine Carolina not being interested if Hubert Davis gets the axe at some point. If he hasn't settled into another college job at this time next season, he should be the first call. Obviously his credentials speak for themselves. Former Final Four player under Rick Pitino at Providence, played for Pitino in the NBA with the Knicks and then coached under him. Led Florida to two national championships and although he hasn't won an NBA title, is one of the few college coaches to have successfully made the jump. He is respected around the league. It's not working for him with the Bulls as yet, but that's no fault of his - he is stuck with a bunch of mismatched pieces and his PG has been out for a season and a half. Donovan is an elite coach. Few things can attract recruits like being able to wave a couple of Championship rings around, and someone with Donovan's NBA experience can really convince recruits he can get them ready for the league.
Rick Pitino (Iona)
You know what? I really don't give a shit about what went on at Louisville. We're hiring a basketball coach, not a pastor. And in the age of NIL... whatever. The guy's not an axe murderer. He's on the Mt. Rushmore of college basketball coaches. He has won National Championships at two schools and been to a Final Four with a third. He's 70? OK. I'll take him for 5 years and let him leave it stronger than he found it.
Last edited:
