As anticipated by many, Heather Lyke made her move today and
cut ties with now former Pitt Men’s Basketball coach Kevin Stallings. Now the pressure lays directly on her
shoulders to find his replacement.
Hiring Kevin Stallings was a massive blow to the Pitt basketball
program. Firing him now was the right
move but making the correct hire for his replacement is just as important if
Pitt wants to get back to were they were 7 years ago, when they were the #1
overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Pitt is a good job.
Pitt is going to be one of the better jobs available this year (the
NCAA/FBI thing won’t start bringing down programs for another 1-2 years, if
ever). Pitt, despite what many people
say, can pay big bucks for the coach they want.
They showed that by paying big bucks to a coach they didn’t want, in
buying out Stallings. In my mind, Pitt
is the 2nd best job available this offseason, behind only
Louisville. Even with pending NCAA
sanctions, Louisville has the history and the money to attract ANY coach they
want. After that, you have teams like
Pitt and Mississippi and maybe Georgia (if they fire Mark Fox). Other than that, there doesn’t look to be
many major conference jobs coming open this year, which helps Pitt.
I have already given you my Coaches NOT to Hire.
Here are my Top 5 choices for the next basketball coach at
Pitt.
1. DAN HURLEY – Head Coach at Rhode Island
If you haven’t read my previous RANT making a case for Hurley, here it is. Hurley is in his 6th year at Rhode Island and has the Rams entering the A-10 Tournament as the #1 seed and regular season champs. Hurley will NOT be back at Rhode Island next year. His team currently is loaded with seniors and he has basically maxed out his earning power at Rhode Island with his last contract extension. Hurley is a proven winner, who has won at both Wagner and Rhode Island after taking them over as rebuild projects. He is clearly the top mid-major coach this year, that is ready to take the step to the to the next level. Louisville could also be an option for Hurley, but I think the Cardinals are going to try and make a big push for Xavier head coach Chris Mack. If they strike out with Mack, Hurley may be their next target.
If you haven’t read my previous RANT making a case for Hurley, here it is. Hurley is in his 6th year at Rhode Island and has the Rams entering the A-10 Tournament as the #1 seed and regular season champs. Hurley will NOT be back at Rhode Island next year. His team currently is loaded with seniors and he has basically maxed out his earning power at Rhode Island with his last contract extension. Hurley is a proven winner, who has won at both Wagner and Rhode Island after taking them over as rebuild projects. He is clearly the top mid-major coach this year, that is ready to take the step to the to the next level. Louisville could also be an option for Hurley, but I think the Cardinals are going to try and make a big push for Xavier head coach Chris Mack. If they strike out with Mack, Hurley may be their next target.
2. MICK CRONIN – Head Coach at Cincinnati
I’m going to set this at about a .5% chance of happening. Cronin is the only name on this list that I think might choose to stay at his current job, rather than taking the Pitt job, if offered. He is in a pretty good spot right now. Cronin is born and raised in Cincinnati and a graduate of UC. Cronin makes $2.2M coaching there, but I don’t think money would factor into Cronin’s decision much. The biggest question is does he want to leave Cincinnati, his alma mater, and try his hand in the ACC? Cronin has a great background, coaching under Bob Huggins and Rick Pitino before getting his 1st head coaching job. Cronin was at Murray State for 3 years before going to Cincinnati, he took Murray State to the NCAA Tournament in 2 of his 3 years there. He is in his 12th year at Cincinnati and has the Bearcats ready to return to the NCAA Tournament for the 8th straight year. Likely not going to happen, but if Lyke doesn’t give his agent a call, she isn’t doing her job.
I’m going to set this at about a .5% chance of happening. Cronin is the only name on this list that I think might choose to stay at his current job, rather than taking the Pitt job, if offered. He is in a pretty good spot right now. Cronin is born and raised in Cincinnati and a graduate of UC. Cronin makes $2.2M coaching there, but I don’t think money would factor into Cronin’s decision much. The biggest question is does he want to leave Cincinnati, his alma mater, and try his hand in the ACC? Cronin has a great background, coaching under Bob Huggins and Rick Pitino before getting his 1st head coaching job. Cronin was at Murray State for 3 years before going to Cincinnati, he took Murray State to the NCAA Tournament in 2 of his 3 years there. He is in his 12th year at Cincinnati and has the Bearcats ready to return to the NCAA Tournament for the 8th straight year. Likely not going to happen, but if Lyke doesn’t give his agent a call, she isn’t doing her job.
3. MICAH SHREWSBERRY – Boston Celtics Assistant Coach
Here is your head-scratcher name, but trust me, he’s candidate and a darn good one at that. Although Shrewsberry has never been a head coach, he has worked for some good ones. He has spent 8 of the last 10 years working under Brad Stevens, who in my opinion is one of the best basketball minds in coaching. He worked with Stevens for 3 years at Butler, including both years Butler made it to the National Championship Game. Then he went to Purdue and worked with Matt Painter, where he was very instrumental in recruiting. This year’s Purdue team, which has spent most of the year in the Top 10, is a senior laden team. Shrewsberry is a big reason those seniors are at Purdue. In fact, he was invited back to their Senior Night this year because of his ties to that senior class. Shrewsberry returned to Stevens bench and is in his 5th year with the Celtics. He is a defensive minded coach and is credited for the development of two of the Celtics top young players, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, both lottery picks. Shrewsberry would like to return to the college ranks and do so as a head coach. I don’t always have inside information, but I can say with 100% certainty that Shrewsberry is interested in the Pitt job.
Here is your head-scratcher name, but trust me, he’s candidate and a darn good one at that. Although Shrewsberry has never been a head coach, he has worked for some good ones. He has spent 8 of the last 10 years working under Brad Stevens, who in my opinion is one of the best basketball minds in coaching. He worked with Stevens for 3 years at Butler, including both years Butler made it to the National Championship Game. Then he went to Purdue and worked with Matt Painter, where he was very instrumental in recruiting. This year’s Purdue team, which has spent most of the year in the Top 10, is a senior laden team. Shrewsberry is a big reason those seniors are at Purdue. In fact, he was invited back to their Senior Night this year because of his ties to that senior class. Shrewsberry returned to Stevens bench and is in his 5th year with the Celtics. He is a defensive minded coach and is credited for the development of two of the Celtics top young players, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, both lottery picks. Shrewsberry would like to return to the college ranks and do so as a head coach. I don’t always have inside information, but I can say with 100% certainty that Shrewsberry is interested in the Pitt job.
4. RON SANCHEZ – Assistant Coach at Virginia
Just like any assistant coach, you always look at who they have coached under to try to determine how what type of coach he might be. Sanchez has spent the last 12 years on the bench of Tony Bennett, arguably the best defensive head coach in college basketball. Sanchez has established some solid recruiting ties in the ACC as well, which could certainly help Pitt as they look to improve their roster. Sanchez is one of the hot assistant coaches that will certainly have opportunities this offseason to become a head coach if he wants to make the jump. One worry that some might have is that he has worked under just 1 coach for his professional coaching career (he did work under Mike Davis at Indiana as a Grad Assistant).
Just like any assistant coach, you always look at who they have coached under to try to determine how what type of coach he might be. Sanchez has spent the last 12 years on the bench of Tony Bennett, arguably the best defensive head coach in college basketball. Sanchez has established some solid recruiting ties in the ACC as well, which could certainly help Pitt as they look to improve their roster. Sanchez is one of the hot assistant coaches that will certainly have opportunities this offseason to become a head coach if he wants to make the jump. One worry that some might have is that he has worked under just 1 coach for his professional coaching career (he did work under Mike Davis at Indiana as a Grad Assistant).
5. THAD MATTA – Former Head Coach at Ohio State
Matta was actually on my original DO NOT HIRE list, before it was known that he is healthy and wants to get back into coaching. He is #5 on this list simply because nobody really knows how healthy he really is. Pitt can’t afford to hire a coach right now that only lasts 2 years before being forced back into retirement from a pre-existing condition. Matta left Ohio State last June due to lingering foot and back issues that made it difficult for him to do his job. In his final year at Ohio State the Buckeyes went just 17-15, it was the only time in his 17-year career as a head coach that he did not win 20 or more games. Matta made 2 Final Fours, including 1 National Championship Game while at Ohio State. He also won the Big Ten regular season title 5 times and won the Big Ten Tournament 4 times. If Matta is healthy and wants to give coaching another try, Pitt should 100% call him and gauge his interest. He has ties to Pitt AD Heather Lyke, from her time at Ohio State. Pitt also has some similar recruiting areas to what Matta would have been used to at Ohio State.
Matta was actually on my original DO NOT HIRE list, before it was known that he is healthy and wants to get back into coaching. He is #5 on this list simply because nobody really knows how healthy he really is. Pitt can’t afford to hire a coach right now that only lasts 2 years before being forced back into retirement from a pre-existing condition. Matta left Ohio State last June due to lingering foot and back issues that made it difficult for him to do his job. In his final year at Ohio State the Buckeyes went just 17-15, it was the only time in his 17-year career as a head coach that he did not win 20 or more games. Matta made 2 Final Fours, including 1 National Championship Game while at Ohio State. He also won the Big Ten regular season title 5 times and won the Big Ten Tournament 4 times. If Matta is healthy and wants to give coaching another try, Pitt should 100% call him and gauge his interest. He has ties to Pitt AD Heather Lyke, from her time at Ohio State. Pitt also has some similar recruiting areas to what Matta would have been used to at Ohio State.
