Let’s jump right into the coaching search, where admittedly (and expectedly) things have been quiet. The four names we continue to hear are (caveat: we are not saying there are no other names in the mix) Dayton’s Archie Miller, Butler’s Chris Holtmann, VCU’s Will Wade and UNC Wilmington’s Kevin Keatts.
Here is a mini-breakdown of the conventional wisdom on each candidate:
• Miller: What will be a key indicator in the next few weeks is to see if Miller uses those close to him to shoot down speculation about him and NC State. Some may recall that six years ago, the Millers' father confirmed to the Raleigh News and Observer that Arizona’s Sean Miller would not be a candidate for the NC State opening.
Miller himself is not likely to shoot it down as commenting on specific jobs opens a can of worms where Miller would invite even more speculation when the time comes that he does not comment on a job. If you do not see some sort of report from perhaps a family member that Miller is not a candidate, it could be a subtle confirmation that Miller will listen to the initial pitch. The feeling we have is that all NCSU wants is a chance.
We continue to hear that while he could be willing to listen, it would take an incredible sales job for Miller to come to NC State. In other words, nearly everyone believes that Miller at best is a long shot.
• Holtmann: We’ve heard from a couple of sources who thought that Holtmann would have an interest in the job, but there are those close to him who wonder if NC State would be the move/fit for Holtmann. He is in a good spot at Butler and has the luxury of being able to look down the road at what could potentially/likely will open up, especially since his stock has risen dramatically this year.
It is likely that NC State could offer a package that Butler would not be able to match, but would that be enough? Two sources have described Holtmann as, in essence, meticulous, when it comes to his decision-making.
• Wade: There is an interesting range of opinions on Wade. There are some who doubt he would take the job. There are some who believe he almost certainly would take it. Then in the middle are those who believe that, at a minimum, Wade will be intrigued.
Putting all the pieces together, the latter most category is probably the most accurate, especially with an attractive offer. The one caveat, what will be the other openings? ESPN’s Jeff Goodman has openly speculated about Wade being a candidate at LSU, for instance, and his alma mater, Clemson, could have an opening coming up in a couple weeks, too.
The LSU job in particular will be an interesting one to follow. It’s not officially open yet, but it will be from all accounts. In what should be a good indicator to Wolfpack fans about where NCSU is in the pecking order of the national college basketball scene, there are many who believe that LSU could be more attractive than NC State to perspective coaches, and the two could cross paths on the market.
• Keatts: There are few who doubt that Keatts would take the NC State job if given a good offer, but it could be a delicate balance that NCSU has to walk where they do not give an appearance that they are slow-playing him or that he is a B-list candidate. Keatts is also likely to generate other interest both this year and down the road if he elected to stick tight for another year in Wilmington.
Swinging back to the LSU job: there is some speculation that Virginia Tech's Buzz Williams might be in the mix there. If that was true, there is little doubt that Keatts would become a candidate for the Hokies.
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One note on the budget for a coach: it is important to know that when there is an amount thrown around for a new coach is that it will include about $1 million earmarked for assistant coaches and salary. So any coaching salary demands coming from perspective candidates will have a $1 million added to it by NCSU to get an idea for the total budget.
Thus if coaching candidate X says give me $3.5 million, that will be a total of $4.5 million from a budget perspective.
Here is a mini-breakdown of the conventional wisdom on each candidate:
• Miller: What will be a key indicator in the next few weeks is to see if Miller uses those close to him to shoot down speculation about him and NC State. Some may recall that six years ago, the Millers' father confirmed to the Raleigh News and Observer that Arizona’s Sean Miller would not be a candidate for the NC State opening.
Miller himself is not likely to shoot it down as commenting on specific jobs opens a can of worms where Miller would invite even more speculation when the time comes that he does not comment on a job. If you do not see some sort of report from perhaps a family member that Miller is not a candidate, it could be a subtle confirmation that Miller will listen to the initial pitch. The feeling we have is that all NCSU wants is a chance.
We continue to hear that while he could be willing to listen, it would take an incredible sales job for Miller to come to NC State. In other words, nearly everyone believes that Miller at best is a long shot.
• Holtmann: We’ve heard from a couple of sources who thought that Holtmann would have an interest in the job, but there are those close to him who wonder if NC State would be the move/fit for Holtmann. He is in a good spot at Butler and has the luxury of being able to look down the road at what could potentially/likely will open up, especially since his stock has risen dramatically this year.
It is likely that NC State could offer a package that Butler would not be able to match, but would that be enough? Two sources have described Holtmann as, in essence, meticulous, when it comes to his decision-making.
• Wade: There is an interesting range of opinions on Wade. There are some who doubt he would take the job. There are some who believe he almost certainly would take it. Then in the middle are those who believe that, at a minimum, Wade will be intrigued.
Putting all the pieces together, the latter most category is probably the most accurate, especially with an attractive offer. The one caveat, what will be the other openings? ESPN’s Jeff Goodman has openly speculated about Wade being a candidate at LSU, for instance, and his alma mater, Clemson, could have an opening coming up in a couple weeks, too.
The LSU job in particular will be an interesting one to follow. It’s not officially open yet, but it will be from all accounts. In what should be a good indicator to Wolfpack fans about where NCSU is in the pecking order of the national college basketball scene, there are many who believe that LSU could be more attractive than NC State to perspective coaches, and the two could cross paths on the market.
• Keatts: There are few who doubt that Keatts would take the NC State job if given a good offer, but it could be a delicate balance that NCSU has to walk where they do not give an appearance that they are slow-playing him or that he is a B-list candidate. Keatts is also likely to generate other interest both this year and down the road if he elected to stick tight for another year in Wilmington.
Swinging back to the LSU job: there is some speculation that Virginia Tech's Buzz Williams might be in the mix there. If that was true, there is little doubt that Keatts would become a candidate for the Hokies.
***
One note on the budget for a coach: it is important to know that when there is an amount thrown around for a new coach is that it will include about $1 million earmarked for assistant coaches and salary. So any coaching salary demands coming from perspective candidates will have a $1 million added to it by NCSU to get an idea for the total budget.
Thus if coaching candidate X says give me $3.5 million, that will be a total of $4.5 million from a budget perspective.
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