Possible Gillispie replacements
Who is next? Since Gillispie is gone, someone else will be the new head coach at UK. The Kernel takes a look at the top five coaches who will likely fill those blue shoes.
Billy Donovan, head coach at Florida and a former UK assistant under Rick Pitino, will likely be the first choice of many UK fans. Conflicting reports swirled on Friday, with some Florida news outlets reporting Donovan will resign and join Kentucky. In an e-mail to the Kernel, Donovan said he was committed to building his program at Florida. After former head coach Tubby Smith’s departure in 2007, Donovan reportedly turned down the job. Odds: 3-1
John Calipari, head coach at Memphis, has a strong résumé, including a National Championship appearance in 2008, and should merit serious consideration. He has twice won the Naismith National Coach of the Year award and went to the Final Four in 1996 before a brief stint in the NBA. He’s a strong recruiter with an exciting style of play, but recruiting violations from his time as head coach of Massachusetts could detract from his chances. Messages left for Memphis’ athletic department were not immediately returned. Odds: 5-1
Travis Ford, head coach at Oklahoma State, is a former UK standout who knows the atmosphere surrounding the program. In his first season as coach of the Cowboys, he guided them to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Several pundits believe Ford would take the job if offered. Ford was recruiting Friday and unavailable for comment. Odds: 6-1
Tom Izzo, head coach at Michigan State, is an established coach who won the 2000 NCAA Championship. The Spartans have been to four of the last 11 Final Fours under his watch. It would be surprising if Izzo left the program he’s built in East Lansing, Mich., but it would also be surprising if UK Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart didn’t at least make an inquiry. Odds: 10-1
Herb Sendek, head coach at Arizona State, is a former UK assistant under Pitino in the early ‘90s. He is known for coaching fast-paced teams with strong zone defenses, two characteristics UK fans value. Odds: 12-1
Jay Wright, head coach at Villanova, reportedly turned down the opening in 2007 after Smith’s departure. The Villanova Wildcats are still in the NCAA Tournament, so it’s unlikely Wright would speak to Barnhart anytime soon. Still, his guard-oriented teams and salesman approach to coaching would fit well in Lexington. Odds: 15-1
Sean Miller, head coach at Xavier, may be waiting for the head-coaching job at Pittsburgh to open up because he played for the Panthers. The Musketeers have been to the NCAA Tournament each of the last four years and advanced to the Elite Eight in 2008. Miller’s contract at Xavier, which goes through the 2015-16 season, could present an interesting hurdle for any school courting him. Odds: 20-1
Thad Matta, head coach at Ohio State, is a tenacious recruiter best known for guiding the Buckeyes to the NCAA Championship game in 2007, where his freshman-laden team lost to Florida. Ohio State has one of the strongest athletic departments in the nation and would likely do whatever they could to keep him, but the draw of coaching Kentucky might be enough to pull him away from football-crazy Columbus, Ohio. Odds: 30-1
Darrin Horn, head coach at South Carolina, is a Lexington native who rebuilt the Western Kentucky basketball program before joining the Gamecocks this season. His local ties and success against the Cats in his first year in Columbia, S.C., make him an intriguing candidate, but his résumé may not be strong enough. He has only one NCAA appearance. Odds: 40-1
John Pelphrey, head coach at Arkansas, is an ‘unforgettable’ UK alum who led the Razorbacks to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season. His young team made serious noise early in the season when they upset Oklahoma and Texas before going a disappointing 2-14 in Southeastern Conference play. Still, if all else fails, it’s difficult to imagine he wouldn’t be a candidate. Odds: 50-1
Sorry for injecting humor here, but….
Were those photos taken from a “Send us your coach’s worst screaming, angry, ugly face” contest?
You gave 6-1 odds on Ford. I would have figured he was the front runner considering Donovan and Calipari have both had press releases stating that they aren’t interested in the job. However, I do wish Calipari would reconsider his position. I would rather have him than Ford, although I will support whoever the staff picks.
You need a new mathematician. The sum of the reciprocals of the odds shoud add up to 1 at most, not 1.07 or whatever you got.
It seems that BCG was fired more for his lack of understanding of Kentucky basketball “culture” and all which that entails than for lack of coaching ability. I will add that I agree wholeheartedly with the decision to let him go.
In light of that, and how gut-wrenching this whole episode has been for everyone seemingly, why would we start looking at people who don’t understand Ky and its fans anymore than BCG did, i.e. Calipari, etc?
In Travis Ford we have a candidate who has proven that he can coack and recruit at three different universities PLUS he knows Kentucky basketball, the state, its fans, the whole deal because he has been there.
Are we going to fool around until Boone Pickens offers him a gazillion dollars to stay at OSU and he accepts since it appears that he is way down on our “want
list” for a new head coach!
UK should also consider Ray Harper. He knows how to win! He’s a players coach and a motivator.
I think we should try to get pitt coach Jamie Dixion let ‘s see what happen to him in the ncaa.
How can we even consider anyone for this job unless they are accustomed to the high profile position they inherit? Ford will be a great coach one day, he even understands the kentucky bball culture but he is not yet worthy of this job!! Why the heck are we not offering RICK PITINO every dime we can? Yea he’s been successful at UL but he will never find success like he could have with our fertile recruiting resources! Offer him the biggest contract in college basketball and return to prominence!
Here’s my 2 cents worth…. If we cannot get Coach Cal from Memphis, offer a sweet deal to Bobby Knight for a few years. He could, if nothing else, make things very exciting around Big Blue Nation. Bobby Knight is a proven Coach with a pretty good resume. Assuming his wild antics on the hard wood is over, he still has a number of great coaching years ahead of him. Let’s let him get his number “1000″ at UK in his Big Blue Sweater! By the time he and UK are ready to end their respective love affair, our golden boy Travis Ford will be ready to take over and be the next Rupp of Kentucky basketball.
Why Donovan. How many NIT’s does he have on his resume. As for Calipari, we would be back on probation within 10 years. He would not have the luxury here of Fed -X hub to help lure players and get paid big bucks for summertime jobs. (Did I forget about the horse farms here?)
You do not want Harper. He’s dirty. Trust me. Personal experience.
Donovan is King of Gainesville. No pressure to win and what if he goes to the NIT? No pressure there either. Calapari has some baggage with him. We do not need to find out what those issues are, either. Though Travis Ford has had winners in every brief stay so far on his short coaching resume’. Also, he is a Former UK player and knows what it takes to be a player here. This is different from being the head coach. I would be afraid that he would be in over his head here right now. Maybe in 8 to 10 years down the road from now. Tom Izzo is Michigan State, all that needs to be said about him. Jay Wright would be a good choice if he desires to leave Philly and Villy. Otherwise, Next…..
Jamie Dixon might be another good choice, again if we can lure him away from Pitt. Rick Barnes, I would say NO to, before he says No again to us. We been to Texas for a coach and done that. Leave it be…
As for the others listed, NO WAY! They are not high caliber coaches, no offense meant. But, to be able to deal with all situations that Coach of UK brings. I would be afraid that they would be eaten alive here.
Now there is a coach that has been a thorn in UK’s side that one might want to think about. He plays the Pitino style and has beaten Tubby’s teams while at UAB and as an assitant at Arkansas. Mike Anderson, the head coach at Missouri. Then there is always Pat Riley. A proven NBA Hall of Famer and a former UK alum that “Knows” what it takes to be head coach here and a player. Bring him in and let him right the ship.
I think Bobby Knight would make a great coach. hes just what UK needs. He could have the program turned around in a year or two. I think it would be great
I don’t know who we will get, I just hope he is a big name and very successful. IU didn’t do much in the tournament in Bobby’s last 4 or 5 yrs. I would be happy with any coach that can keep our recruits and our players. If our good players leave and our recruits back out we will be another IU this yr. I want someone that is exciting, plays fast pressing and loves to shoot the three. I loved Pitino because anyone could shoot the three without being yanked out of the game. Everyone except Meeks looked scared to shoot the three. Thats how it was under Tubby also, everyone was afraid to shoot the ball. You can’t win unless you shoot. Today UL looked afraid to shoot. Their best player T Will didn’t even shoot the ball and they got their butts kicked. HA HA, UL losing is almost as good as UK winning.