One of many largest jobs in males’s school basketball is up for grabs. However who desires it?
John Calipari formally left his function as Kentucky head coach on Tuesday and took the identical place at SEC rival Arkansas on Wednesday. Within the days since information started to trickle out, loads of big-name coaches have been linked to the Kentucky job — and plenty of have already turned it down.
Alabama’s Nate Oats and Baylor’s Scott Drew opted to stick with their present groups. Two-time defending nationwide champion Dan Hurley is likely to do the same at UConn. Then there’s the longshots just like the retired Jay Wright and Boston Celtics govt Brad Stevens, who’re pipe desires for Massive Blue Nation.
Listed below are 5 candidates who may very well be Kentucky’s subsequent coach:
Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls coach
Would he go away his present job? Possibly. Donovan’s four-year tenure with the Bulls has been largely mediocre — one playoff look (first-round loss), a play-in loss and one other looming play-in sport subsequent week. Whereas his contract runs for 3 extra seasons after this one, Chicago is not close to championship competition and that would entice Donovan to maneuver again to the faculty sport.
Would Kentucky need him? For certain. Donovan was a Kentucky assistant coach from 1989 to 1994 earlier than profitable back-to-back nationwide titles with rival Florida in 2006 and 2007. Although he is been out of school teaching for practically a decade (since 2015), the 58-year-old Donovan would command instant respect from recruits, transfers and boosters.
Tommy Lloyd, Arizona males’s basketball coach
Would he go away his present job? Most likely. Lloyd has spent the final three seasons with Arizona after 20 years as an assistant with Gonzaga. Whereas he hasn’t had a ton of match success (two Candy 16 losses, one first-round loss), his Wildcats have gone 88-20 total. Lloyd has shortly confirmed to be an elite recruiter — and there is not any doubt that may solely get simpler in Lexington with a richer basketball pedigree.
Would Kentucky need him? Most likely. As candidates start to skinny out, Lloyd may very well be the perfect and most sensible choice. At simply 49 years outdated, Lloyd might theoretically match Calipari’s run of 15 years on the job if issues go in keeping with plan.
Mark Pope, BYU males’s basketball coach
Would he go away his present job? Completely. If Kentucky comes calling, Pope could not say “sure” quick sufficient. He was a two-year starter and captain on the Wildcats’ 1996 title-winning workforce. Whereas Pope is beginning to construct a constant contender at BYU, a return to Lexington can be an enormous step up.
Would Kentucky need him? Finally, possibly. Pope probably is not atop the want listing for athletic director Mitch Barnhart. But when coaches like Donovan and Lloyd be part of the others in turning the job down, Pope might vault into competition. In 5 seasons at BYU, the workforce has gone 110-52 with two NCAA Match appearances however no wins. That observe document is nice however not nice, which implies he is in all probability not the main candidate simply but — regardless of his Kentucky ties.
Rick Pitino, St. John’s males’s basketball coach
Would he go away his present job? In a heartbeat. The 71-year-old Pitino has been the pinnacle coach for six faculties and two NBA groups in his profession. After one season at St. John’s, Pitino ought to bounce on the likelihood to take over at Kentucky — the place he coached for eight seasons and gained a nationwide title in 1996.
Would Kentucky need him? Doubtlessly. Like Pope, Pitino in all probability is not the best choice for Kentucky. His age alone signifies that he would solely be a short-term repair. However there is not any denying that Pitino will get outcomes wherever he goes within the school sport. If Barnhart desires to make a splash and reignite this system, Pitino is the man — regardless that it would solely work for a restricted period of time.
Daybreak Staley, South Carolina girls’s basketball coach
Would she go away her present job? Not sure. Staley has constructed South Carolina into the mannequin program of girls’s school basketball. The Gamecocks are 440-106 in 16 seasons underneath Staley, together with three nationwide titles and an undefeated 2023-24 season. That is so much to stroll away from, however the wage at Kentucky can be onerous to cross up.
Would Kentucky need her? It ought to. The 53-year-old Staley checks all of the containers to be the primary girl to teach males’s school basketball. She’s a confirmed winner, an elite recruiter and an all-time nice chief. There have not been any experiences linking Staley to the job right now, however Kentucky ought to at the least make a name to gauge her curiosity.
