2015 College basketball coaching carousel thread

He turned down UCLA a couple of years ago to stay at VCU. If he leaves Richmond it's going to be for a top-five level job.

 

What's open or likely to be open for Marshall to take? Alabama, DePaul and Utah State are the only major conference vacancies right now, right?

Maybe if Donovan finally jumps to the NBA Marshall would go to Florida, but otherwise, don't see him leaving.

 

Considering no top jobs are open (yet) it would seem absurd to mention Marshall or Smart as candidates to go anywhere.

Unless there is an unexpected retirement or Indiana pulls the trigger on Crean, I'm not sure I would expect any of the top jobs to open unless the NBA hires someone.

 

UCLA is one of those jobs where no matter what you do it's never enough. It's still a great job, but one with enough issues where some coaches are smart to steer clear. I don't think it's the case anymore, but UCLA also had a reputation for a long, long time of being a place that underpaid its coaches.

 

I would be really curious if he would be in the mix at Kentucky if Calipari left. You would think he would be, but I honestly don't know.

I think if UK wins the national title and the Cavs don't win the NBA title, he somehow winds up in Cleveland, but I could be completely wrong.

 

Roy Williams might also retire if the Tar Heels make a real run (like to the Final Four), but don't think that's going to happen.

 

There are enough older coaches at the top programs that I wouldn't be surprised if one of them retired somewhat unexpectedly. There are quite a few in the 60-70 range who could leave tomorrow, or could hang around for another decade.

 

Kentucky would be crazy not to consider Smart if Cal left, but I honestly would not be surprised if Smart turned down Kentucky. He doesn't seem like a great fit for the basketball one-and-done factory. He's talked a lot about the way he relates to his players, part of which involves being abandoned by his father (and many of his players grew without theirs), and the bonds he forms with them. It's a big contrast in style to Calipari who basically says, "Give me a year, win a title, make millions."

Smart would be a great fit at Duke or UNC if K or Williams ever retire.

 

I read something in the Orlando paper a few weeks back where they indicated Donovan might be ready to finally go to the NBA. I won't fully believe he'll leave until his replacement is hired, but I could really see Smart going to Florida. They'd pay whatever it takes, and while there's pressure to win there, it's not like Kentucky.

 

I'm not sure Smart cheats well enough to be considered for Kentucky.

 

I would not want to be the coach who replaces Calipari.

 

Florida would be a good landing spot, too.

Calipari has created such a unique monster at Kentucky, that it's going to be tough for anyone to duplicate, and I'm not sure the school or fans have the patience for any kind of program building. It's got to be difficult to get five (or more) NBA-ready star players to coalesce on the court and be ready to contend for a national title in less than a year, but Calipari has done a great job at that. I'm just not sure who's out there that could successfully replicate the model.