Latest Candidates For Pitt Head Coach, Link, & Poll:
Sean Miller, Arizona
This is probably not going to happen. Sean Miller already has a great job at Arizona, and while the Wildcats under-performed this season, the 47-year-old coach has had success in Tucson. He just finished his seventh year at Arizona and has a phenomenal record of 188-61 (.755 winning percentage), three Elite Eight trips and three Pac-10/12 regular season titles. Pittsburgh is Miller’s alma mater and he was a star player for the Panthers from 1987-92. The pull to go home will be there, but put simply: Arizona is a better job than Pitt. Miller knows that, and though he may take a call out of courtesy, there’s almost no chance he leaves Arizona.
Archie Miller, Dayton
If the Panthers want a Miller, they would do well to target Sean’s little brother Archie. Dayton’s 37-year-old coach has had a successful six-year run to this point, with an overall record of 115-55 (.676 winning percentage), three NCAA Tournament berths and a trip to the Elite Eight in 2014. Archie Miller and his Flyers were 25-7 this year and co-Atlantic 10 regular season champions but were bounced from the tournament in the opening round by Syracuse. During the 2014-15 season, Miller’s squad was 27-9 and reached the second round of the tournament. That followed Dayton’s Cinderella run in 2014 where they upset Ohio State, Syracuse and Stanford before bowing out to Florida. Miller would immediately re-energize Pitt basketball and should be one of the first people Barnes calls.
Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa
Despite his team’s epic meltdown against Texas A&M Sunday night, Northern Iowa’s Ben Jacobson will certainly be a hot name on the coaching carousel. In 10 years at the school, the 45-year-old is already a three-time Missouri Valley Coach of the Year, has led the Panthers to two regular season MVC titles and four MVC Tournament titles. UNI has reached the NCAAs four times under Jacobson and made a Sweet 16 in 2010. The Montana native could be looking to trade up and a gig in the ACC would certainly be that. The only question is whether he will decide to stick around for one more campaign and take a run at an opening next year. He signed a 10-year contract extension after last season and could be comfortable.
Kevin Stallings, Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt vastly underachieved this season and as a result, long-time head coach Kevin Stallings’ seat may be getting warm. In fact, he has reportedly talked to St. Louis about the school’s coaching vacancy. Stallings just finished his 17th season at Vanderbilt and he may feel he has maxed out the potential of that program. He has posted a record of 332-220 (.601 winning percentage) at a place not known for athletics. He’s a two-time SEC Coach of the Year, led the Commodores to an SEC Tournament title in 2012 and has taken them to the NCAA Tournament seven times, with two Sweet 16 appearances. He isn’t flashy and won’t be a big-name hire, but Stallings has a ton of credibility in coaching circles. When you’re praised by your peers as much as he is, you’re bound to trade up to another job at some point. Pitt could do far worse.
Ben Howland, Mississippi State
How about a Ben Howland reunion? There is certainly a segment of Pitt’s fanbase who would welcome Howland back, as his 89-40 record during his four-year stretch at the school was fantastic. He took the Panthers to new heights, getting them to the Sweet 16 twice while winning two Big East titles and being name National Coach of the Year in 2002. He bolted for UCLA following the 2003 season. Howland was wildly successful at UCLA for a time, reaching three-straight Final Fours in 2006, 2007 and 2008. But things began to erode for the 58-year-old when he began to value talent over fit in his system. He is a tough-nosed, defense-first coach and many of his top recruits refused to buy-in to his slowed down pace. That kind of pace would be perfect for Pitt again. Howland just finished up his first year as the head coach at Mississippi State, and the team’s 14-17 record won’t exactly make him look like an attractive candidate. But we’ve seen what he can do at a place like Pitt and it wouldn’t be hard to bring him back.
Lorenzo Romar, Washington
Lorenzo Romar is another name that won’t bring a ton of excitement with it, but Barnes knows the veteran coach well from the four years he spent as senior associate athletic director at Washington (2005-08). Washington was an afterthought of a basketball program before Romar arrived in 2002, and he has taken the Huskies to great heights during his tenure. Romar and co. won the Pac-12/10 twice (2009, 2012), he is a three-time Pac-10/12 Coach of the Year (2005, 2009, 2012) and he has reached the NCAA Tournament six times, with three Sweet 16 appearances. Romar is coming off of four pretty down years, but the 57-year-old has a ton of energy and may just need a new opportunity to shine. His style would fit well in the ACC and his relationship with Barnes should help him get an interview if he wants one. Why would he leave a Washington program he essentially built by himself? Some guys relish a chance for a new challenge and after four average seasons maybe it’s time to move on.
Link
http://thebiglead.com/2016/03/21/sean-miller-and-five-candidates-for-pittsburgh-job/
PPG CANDIDATES & LINK:
Bryce Drew
Age: 41 Valparaiso head coach Coaching record: 120-48
Why it would work: The man perhaps most famous for his buzzer-beating heroics as a player at Valparaiso has returned to his alma mater and cemented his status as one of college basketball’s best young coaches. Drew, younger brother of Baylor coach Scott Drew, has won at least 24 games in three of his past four seasons and has taken the Crusaders to the NCAA tournament twice.
Why it wouldn’t work: For all Drew has accomplished, the leap from the Horizon League to the ACC is a sizable one. And any experience he has had in college basketball has been connected to Valparaiso, from his four seasons as a player to his 11 as a coach. (He was an assistant there for six years.) Even though his father, Homer, is the school’s associate AD, it stands to reason that Drew would leave for Pitt if given the chance. But how well would he fare outside northern Indiana?
Mick Cronin
Age: 44, Cincinnati head coach, Coaching record: 203-126
Why it would work: After some struggles his first three seasons, Cronin has rebuilt what was an undermanned Cincinnati program following the school’s messy divorce with Bob Huggins. The Bearcats have made the NCAA tournament in each of the past six seasons and have been one of the best defensive teams in the country, utilizing a tough and rugged style that characterized Dixon’s most successful Pitt teams. Before arriving in Cincinnati, he made the NCAA tournament in two of his three seasons at Murray State.
Why it wouldn't work: Cronin is not only a Cincinnati graduate, but also was born and raised there. For all the work he has done in getting the Bearcats to the NCAAs, his teams have made it past the opening weekend just once (a Sweet 16 berth in 2012), the sort of glass ceiling that frustrated Panthers fans believe they had with Dixon. And though interest from Pitt would alter the situation, Cronin is reportedly under consideration at UNLV.
Kevin Keatts
Age: 43, UNC-Wilmington head coach, Coaching record: 43-22
Why it would work: A high school coach at powerful Hargrave Military Academy (263-17) just five years ago, Keatts has ascended in the college coaching world. He spent three seasons as an assistant at Louisville, where he developed a reputation as an excellent recruiter and helped the Cardinals capture the 2013 NCAA championship. That landed him the job at UNC-Wilmington and, in just his second season, he led the Seahawks to their first NCAA tournament in a decade. Keatts also would be the first African-American coach in program history.
Why it wouldn't work: For all he has accomplished, Keatts has only been a college head coach for two seasons, a thin resume for a program in the loaded ACC. He hasn’t yet been connected to the Louisville recruiting scandal, which allegedly took place during his time there, but if the ongoing NCAA investigation implicates him, Pitt would be faced with a public relations disaster and, likely, a new coaching search.
LINK:
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...e-Archie-Miller-and-more/stories/201603220110
Sean Miller, Arizona
This is probably not going to happen. Sean Miller already has a great job at Arizona, and while the Wildcats under-performed this season, the 47-year-old coach has had success in Tucson. He just finished his seventh year at Arizona and has a phenomenal record of 188-61 (.755 winning percentage), three Elite Eight trips and three Pac-10/12 regular season titles. Pittsburgh is Miller’s alma mater and he was a star player for the Panthers from 1987-92. The pull to go home will be there, but put simply: Arizona is a better job than Pitt. Miller knows that, and though he may take a call out of courtesy, there’s almost no chance he leaves Arizona.
Archie Miller, Dayton
If the Panthers want a Miller, they would do well to target Sean’s little brother Archie. Dayton’s 37-year-old coach has had a successful six-year run to this point, with an overall record of 115-55 (.676 winning percentage), three NCAA Tournament berths and a trip to the Elite Eight in 2014. Archie Miller and his Flyers were 25-7 this year and co-Atlantic 10 regular season champions but were bounced from the tournament in the opening round by Syracuse. During the 2014-15 season, Miller’s squad was 27-9 and reached the second round of the tournament. That followed Dayton’s Cinderella run in 2014 where they upset Ohio State, Syracuse and Stanford before bowing out to Florida. Miller would immediately re-energize Pitt basketball and should be one of the first people Barnes calls.
Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa
Despite his team’s epic meltdown against Texas A&M Sunday night, Northern Iowa’s Ben Jacobson will certainly be a hot name on the coaching carousel. In 10 years at the school, the 45-year-old is already a three-time Missouri Valley Coach of the Year, has led the Panthers to two regular season MVC titles and four MVC Tournament titles. UNI has reached the NCAAs four times under Jacobson and made a Sweet 16 in 2010. The Montana native could be looking to trade up and a gig in the ACC would certainly be that. The only question is whether he will decide to stick around for one more campaign and take a run at an opening next year. He signed a 10-year contract extension after last season and could be comfortable.
Kevin Stallings, Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt vastly underachieved this season and as a result, long-time head coach Kevin Stallings’ seat may be getting warm. In fact, he has reportedly talked to St. Louis about the school’s coaching vacancy. Stallings just finished his 17th season at Vanderbilt and he may feel he has maxed out the potential of that program. He has posted a record of 332-220 (.601 winning percentage) at a place not known for athletics. He’s a two-time SEC Coach of the Year, led the Commodores to an SEC Tournament title in 2012 and has taken them to the NCAA Tournament seven times, with two Sweet 16 appearances. He isn’t flashy and won’t be a big-name hire, but Stallings has a ton of credibility in coaching circles. When you’re praised by your peers as much as he is, you’re bound to trade up to another job at some point. Pitt could do far worse.
Ben Howland, Mississippi State
How about a Ben Howland reunion? There is certainly a segment of Pitt’s fanbase who would welcome Howland back, as his 89-40 record during his four-year stretch at the school was fantastic. He took the Panthers to new heights, getting them to the Sweet 16 twice while winning two Big East titles and being name National Coach of the Year in 2002. He bolted for UCLA following the 2003 season. Howland was wildly successful at UCLA for a time, reaching three-straight Final Fours in 2006, 2007 and 2008. But things began to erode for the 58-year-old when he began to value talent over fit in his system. He is a tough-nosed, defense-first coach and many of his top recruits refused to buy-in to his slowed down pace. That kind of pace would be perfect for Pitt again. Howland just finished up his first year as the head coach at Mississippi State, and the team’s 14-17 record won’t exactly make him look like an attractive candidate. But we’ve seen what he can do at a place like Pitt and it wouldn’t be hard to bring him back.
Lorenzo Romar, Washington
Lorenzo Romar is another name that won’t bring a ton of excitement with it, but Barnes knows the veteran coach well from the four years he spent as senior associate athletic director at Washington (2005-08). Washington was an afterthought of a basketball program before Romar arrived in 2002, and he has taken the Huskies to great heights during his tenure. Romar and co. won the Pac-12/10 twice (2009, 2012), he is a three-time Pac-10/12 Coach of the Year (2005, 2009, 2012) and he has reached the NCAA Tournament six times, with three Sweet 16 appearances. Romar is coming off of four pretty down years, but the 57-year-old has a ton of energy and may just need a new opportunity to shine. His style would fit well in the ACC and his relationship with Barnes should help him get an interview if he wants one. Why would he leave a Washington program he essentially built by himself? Some guys relish a chance for a new challenge and after four average seasons maybe it’s time to move on.
Link
http://thebiglead.com/2016/03/21/sean-miller-and-five-candidates-for-pittsburgh-job/
PPG CANDIDATES & LINK:
Bryce Drew
Age: 41 Valparaiso head coach Coaching record: 120-48
Why it would work: The man perhaps most famous for his buzzer-beating heroics as a player at Valparaiso has returned to his alma mater and cemented his status as one of college basketball’s best young coaches. Drew, younger brother of Baylor coach Scott Drew, has won at least 24 games in three of his past four seasons and has taken the Crusaders to the NCAA tournament twice.
Why it wouldn’t work: For all Drew has accomplished, the leap from the Horizon League to the ACC is a sizable one. And any experience he has had in college basketball has been connected to Valparaiso, from his four seasons as a player to his 11 as a coach. (He was an assistant there for six years.) Even though his father, Homer, is the school’s associate AD, it stands to reason that Drew would leave for Pitt if given the chance. But how well would he fare outside northern Indiana?
Mick Cronin
Age: 44, Cincinnati head coach, Coaching record: 203-126
Why it would work: After some struggles his first three seasons, Cronin has rebuilt what was an undermanned Cincinnati program following the school’s messy divorce with Bob Huggins. The Bearcats have made the NCAA tournament in each of the past six seasons and have been one of the best defensive teams in the country, utilizing a tough and rugged style that characterized Dixon’s most successful Pitt teams. Before arriving in Cincinnati, he made the NCAA tournament in two of his three seasons at Murray State.
Why it wouldn't work: Cronin is not only a Cincinnati graduate, but also was born and raised there. For all the work he has done in getting the Bearcats to the NCAAs, his teams have made it past the opening weekend just once (a Sweet 16 berth in 2012), the sort of glass ceiling that frustrated Panthers fans believe they had with Dixon. And though interest from Pitt would alter the situation, Cronin is reportedly under consideration at UNLV.
Kevin Keatts
Age: 43, UNC-Wilmington head coach, Coaching record: 43-22
Why it would work: A high school coach at powerful Hargrave Military Academy (263-17) just five years ago, Keatts has ascended in the college coaching world. He spent three seasons as an assistant at Louisville, where he developed a reputation as an excellent recruiter and helped the Cardinals capture the 2013 NCAA championship. That landed him the job at UNC-Wilmington and, in just his second season, he led the Seahawks to their first NCAA tournament in a decade. Keatts also would be the first African-American coach in program history.
Why it wouldn't work: For all he has accomplished, Keatts has only been a college head coach for two seasons, a thin resume for a program in the loaded ACC. He hasn’t yet been connected to the Louisville recruiting scandal, which allegedly took place during his time there, but if the ongoing NCAA investigation implicates him, Pitt would be faced with a public relations disaster and, likely, a new coaching search.
LINK:
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...e-Archie-Miller-and-more/stories/201603220110
