The coaching search is moving ahead in quiet fashion. We are led to believe that NC State is going to go with the Parker Executive Search to assist. Here are some of the latest we have gathered:
• We can add yet another source to the growing list that would be surprised if Dayton head coach Archie Miller would take the job. This source was a bit emphatic about it, suggesting rather bluntly it would not happen. We have not kept track at this point of how many sources have provided tidbits on Miller, but the consensus is unanimous.
Some allow that Miller would at least listen but is still not likely coming. Some go straight to the “not going to happen” line. Nevertheless, we still expect that NC State will at least, when the time is appropriate, feel out Miller just to be certain.
Interestingly, Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel suggested this week that he does not think that Ohio State’s Thad Matta will step down or be fired after this season. We should say that goes against what we have heard from those with their finger on the pulse of the coaching carousel this offseason. Some are adamant that there will be an opening at Ohio State, and that Matta’s health is the primary reason why there will be.
As we have implied before, there is a strong belief that Ohio State is higher on Miller’s pecking order of desired jobs after Dayton.
• We had some sources provide some information on Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall. One with a tie that has a direct relationship with Marshall, without getting into Marshall’s potential interest in a second opening at NC State, said that Marshall has expressed a desire to return to the East Coast at some point.
Marshall was born in South Carolina, grew up and went to college in Virginia and coached almost exclusively in the states of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina prior to taking the Wichita State job. A source also suggested that NC State would be on the list of schools that Marshall would consider leaving Wichita State for, and that was proven six years ago when he seriously considered the job.
Another source indicated that is NC State were to approach Marshall, the Wichita State coach will want it to be clear that he is its No. 1 choice and top priority. He would likely not appreciate being one of several coaches on the list and talking with NC State.
The best analogy we can use to describe any chance that Marshall would come to NC State is this: both sides need to get on a high wire and meet in the middle without making a misstep to make it work. And before we get to that point, both sides need to agree to get on the high wire, which remains to be seen if that will happen.
We have also heard it would likely take in the ballpark of $4 million to pry Marshall away from Wichita State. He has been known for his loyalty to programs. He once backed out of a commitment to take a head job at College of Charleston to remain at Winthrop even though Charleston would have been a step up at that point. He’s also turned down numerous lucrative opportunities to remain at Wichita State.
There is also the fact that he is set up to potentially have a monster season next year if he remained put. Wichita State’s roster only has two seniors, a pair of seldom-used reserves who typically play in blowouts. It has seven juniors, and its two leading scorers are a sophomore and freshman on a team that is 26-4 overall and 16-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Thus Marshall, although some have said that there is a feeling this could be the year that he leaves Wichita State, is not likely to be motivated to get out to avoid a reloading year with the Shockers. It is quite the contrary.
• Butler head coach Chris Holtmann is a name that has popped up at times during the coaching search. We reiterate what we wrote last week, although he had a couple of coaching stints at Gardner-Webb in the past, he has few connections to the state other than those times and is more of a Midwestern guy.
Another source who is familiar with Holtmann described him as someone who would be content with a solid, stable mid-major level job like Gonzaga’s Mark Few. Another with direct knowledge of Holtmann believed that he would always listen, but if NC State could not convince an alum like Mlller to come it would be an equally if not harder sell to convince Holtmann to take the position.
Holtmann is also approaching Miller, and before that VCU head coach Shaka Smart, status and can be patient while waiting for one of his dream opportunities to open up. This week's win over Villanova certainly helped him.
In one of those just for fun to think about category: if NCSU somehow did end up with Holtmann, could one of his first moves be to bring back former Wolfpack point guard and current Butler fifth-year senior Tyler Lewis in some kind of role? We do understand that Lewis wants to get into coaching after his college days are over.
• Based on the rumblings, the following jobs, among others are the ones to watch open up: Illinois, Indiana, LSU and Missouri seem to be locks for coaching changes. Some believe Ohio State is a good bet. Others are watching Clemson, Georgia and Washington.
It is also important to know of the trickle down affects that openings can have. For instance, ESPN’s Jeff Goodman floated the potential that perhaps Virginia Tech head coach Buzz Williams could be in play at LSU, which would then open up the Hokies. At that point, UNC Wilmington head coach Kevin Keatts would be a natural candidate for VT and suddenly NCSU could potentially face some company with Keatts.
Thus that is why NC State would like to move quickly to get its firm list of possible realistic candidates to avoid losing out on someone while waiting on another. We heard once again this week about how waiting for Smart to finish the NCAA Tournament six years ago was costly in multiple ways for NC State (not the least of which is a feeling that if VCU had lost in one of the first two rounds it would have been a decent bet that Smart would have taken the job).
• We can add yet another source to the growing list that would be surprised if Dayton head coach Archie Miller would take the job. This source was a bit emphatic about it, suggesting rather bluntly it would not happen. We have not kept track at this point of how many sources have provided tidbits on Miller, but the consensus is unanimous.
Some allow that Miller would at least listen but is still not likely coming. Some go straight to the “not going to happen” line. Nevertheless, we still expect that NC State will at least, when the time is appropriate, feel out Miller just to be certain.
Interestingly, Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel suggested this week that he does not think that Ohio State’s Thad Matta will step down or be fired after this season. We should say that goes against what we have heard from those with their finger on the pulse of the coaching carousel this offseason. Some are adamant that there will be an opening at Ohio State, and that Matta’s health is the primary reason why there will be.
As we have implied before, there is a strong belief that Ohio State is higher on Miller’s pecking order of desired jobs after Dayton.
• We had some sources provide some information on Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall. One with a tie that has a direct relationship with Marshall, without getting into Marshall’s potential interest in a second opening at NC State, said that Marshall has expressed a desire to return to the East Coast at some point.
Marshall was born in South Carolina, grew up and went to college in Virginia and coached almost exclusively in the states of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina prior to taking the Wichita State job. A source also suggested that NC State would be on the list of schools that Marshall would consider leaving Wichita State for, and that was proven six years ago when he seriously considered the job.
Another source indicated that is NC State were to approach Marshall, the Wichita State coach will want it to be clear that he is its No. 1 choice and top priority. He would likely not appreciate being one of several coaches on the list and talking with NC State.
The best analogy we can use to describe any chance that Marshall would come to NC State is this: both sides need to get on a high wire and meet in the middle without making a misstep to make it work. And before we get to that point, both sides need to agree to get on the high wire, which remains to be seen if that will happen.
We have also heard it would likely take in the ballpark of $4 million to pry Marshall away from Wichita State. He has been known for his loyalty to programs. He once backed out of a commitment to take a head job at College of Charleston to remain at Winthrop even though Charleston would have been a step up at that point. He’s also turned down numerous lucrative opportunities to remain at Wichita State.
There is also the fact that he is set up to potentially have a monster season next year if he remained put. Wichita State’s roster only has two seniors, a pair of seldom-used reserves who typically play in blowouts. It has seven juniors, and its two leading scorers are a sophomore and freshman on a team that is 26-4 overall and 16-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Thus Marshall, although some have said that there is a feeling this could be the year that he leaves Wichita State, is not likely to be motivated to get out to avoid a reloading year with the Shockers. It is quite the contrary.
• Butler head coach Chris Holtmann is a name that has popped up at times during the coaching search. We reiterate what we wrote last week, although he had a couple of coaching stints at Gardner-Webb in the past, he has few connections to the state other than those times and is more of a Midwestern guy.
Another source who is familiar with Holtmann described him as someone who would be content with a solid, stable mid-major level job like Gonzaga’s Mark Few. Another with direct knowledge of Holtmann believed that he would always listen, but if NC State could not convince an alum like Mlller to come it would be an equally if not harder sell to convince Holtmann to take the position.
Holtmann is also approaching Miller, and before that VCU head coach Shaka Smart, status and can be patient while waiting for one of his dream opportunities to open up. This week's win over Villanova certainly helped him.
In one of those just for fun to think about category: if NCSU somehow did end up with Holtmann, could one of his first moves be to bring back former Wolfpack point guard and current Butler fifth-year senior Tyler Lewis in some kind of role? We do understand that Lewis wants to get into coaching after his college days are over.
• Based on the rumblings, the following jobs, among others are the ones to watch open up: Illinois, Indiana, LSU and Missouri seem to be locks for coaching changes. Some believe Ohio State is a good bet. Others are watching Clemson, Georgia and Washington.
It is also important to know of the trickle down affects that openings can have. For instance, ESPN’s Jeff Goodman floated the potential that perhaps Virginia Tech head coach Buzz Williams could be in play at LSU, which would then open up the Hokies. At that point, UNC Wilmington head coach Kevin Keatts would be a natural candidate for VT and suddenly NCSU could potentially face some company with Keatts.
Thus that is why NC State would like to move quickly to get its firm list of possible realistic candidates to avoid losing out on someone while waiting on another. We heard once again this week about how waiting for Smart to finish the NCAA Tournament six years ago was costly in multiple ways for NC State (not the least of which is a feeling that if VCU had lost in one of the first two rounds it would have been a decent bet that Smart would have taken the job).
