MBB Coaching Candidates
While I'm willing to go on the record and say that at least at one point, Beilein was a very very good coach, I'm now willing to move on. I also don't think Beilein is going to be fired at the end of the season. That being said, he is trending towards the hot seat and hopefully this thread can serve as an outlet for people who want Beilein gone to suggest an alternative.
Here are some candidate ideas::
Greg Marshall, Wichita State:
Tremendous record, 444-172 overall in his career, took Wichita to the Final Four. I'm going to guess he's a long shot, but he did show interest in Texas a few years ago, so might be willing to explore Michigan.
Larry Krystkowiak, Utah:
Took over a complete trainwreck in Utah, and has built them into a solid team. No geographic connections however.
Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's:
Surprised no one has hired him yet. Always has that program playing well, and if you like Australians, than he's a home run hire. Not the greatest geographical fit.
Chris Mack, Xavier:
Has had some success at Xavier while also has recruiting connections. Hasn't really been able to take that program to the next step however.
Kevin Ollie, UConn:
Hired by our current AD, won a NC. However has been a bit hit or miss with his own players.
Fred Hoiberg, Chicago Bulls:
On the NBA hot seat now, so might be available. Has familiarity with Big 10 country, did really well with Iowa State which included recruiting a former Mr. Michigan Basketball player. However his time with the Bulls hasn't been impressive and built Iowa State through transfers.
Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa:
His team always seems like they are an NCAA tourney pest, and I imagine it isn't easy to recruit players to Northern Iowa. Still kinda young.
Kermit Davis, Middle Tennessee State
While his last two years have been good, he's been at MTSU forever and didn't start to have success untill now. Older guy at age 57. But on the other hand, f*** Michigan State.
*EDIT* Archie Miller, Dayton:
I don't know how I forgot about him. Has killed it at Dayton, and is young.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:11 PM ^
February 5th, 2017 at 12:52 AM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 10:13 PM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 10:56 PM ^
on a limb and say that I may have double posted.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:56 PM ^
Next he's going to go out on a limb and say that that Bo Schembechler was a pretty swell coach.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^
Oh my, please not Kevin Ollie. I would add Buzz Williams from Virginia Tech. I think Michigan is a better job all day and he is still young.
And I know in conference coaching changes are very unusual, but I would take Chris Collins in a heartbeat.
Oh, and my personal favorite choice: Billy Donovan is also going nowhere with Oklahoma City. Has won multiple national championships at a program with less basketball history than Michigan and is still young.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:46 PM ^
Don't think Donovan is getting fired this year, and I wouldn't say pushing Golden State to the brink only to have Durant choke in games 6 and 7 as not going anywhere. They were not even in the playoffs the year before he took over. This year they lost a lot, but are doing alright.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:49 PM ^
I'm operating under the assumption that Beilein will not be fired until after 2017-18. OKC will eek into the playoffs this year and get blasted, and probably faces a similar fate next year barring major personnel changes. The window to steal is narrow but it might -- might -- be there.
February 4th, 2017 at 11:08 PM ^
February 5th, 2017 at 12:43 AM ^
I still don't get Durant. The OKC loss to Golden State was 100% on him. He played awful those two games. If the rest of the team choked, I get the decision. As they say, if you cant beat em'...join em'.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:47 PM ^
Billy Donovan would be huge but cant see that happening. Then again, Harbaugh!
February 5th, 2017 at 11:18 AM ^
donovan finally left cbb after 20 years of coaching it and getting jaded by recruiting. hes not going right back to it.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:19 PM ^
How about Chris Collins? He's probably done a more impressive coaching job than any of those other guys
February 4th, 2017 at 10:21 PM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 10:27 PM ^
He's about to take Northwestern to the tournament for the first time in their history. That's some pretty good coaching. He's a former Coach K assistant, his dad was a successful coach in the NBA. I would like Collins a lot, and think we could lure him away
February 4th, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 11:00 PM ^
I'd pass on him. Pretty much the same coach as Beilien. Great offenses, bad defense, super soft teams. I think we should try for better and he's getting up there in age isn't he? I'd prefer a young, energetic guy that if successful, could stick around for 15-20 years.
February 4th, 2017 at 11:04 PM ^
Whoosh.
February 5th, 2017 at 1:19 PM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 10:46 PM ^
I'm leery of hiring guys with one good year like Chris Collins. Too many times, guys have caught lightning in a bottle.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:52 PM ^
Northwestern has been on a steady rise under Collins though. 14-19, 15-17, 20-12, now 18-4 this year.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:19 PM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 10:21 PM ^
He's close to being up there with Hoiberg and Marshall and he should be easy to snag from UD. Miller is 38 and should be able to recruit well.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:26 PM ^
I typed this up really quick and I knew I was missing a big name guy. Thanks for pointing it out. I'd take him in a heartbeat.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:35 PM ^
I would love Archie in Ann arbor, but I live in the Dayton area. UD basketball is loved and fun with Archie there. It's cool to have UD playing well with him there. I kinda want him to stay, but I'd take him everyday of the week. Plus Miller loves the area and signed a long term contract: he looks happy building up Dayton basketball and may not take the Michigan job right now.
February 4th, 2017 at 11:03 PM ^
and signed long term contract...this is the case for 99% of coaches that are massively successful at mid-tier program and still end up moving up. I am surprised he hasn't left yet, though. Maybe he's the rare guy, like a Mark Few, that stays for life.
February 4th, 2017 at 11:08 PM ^
He seems like a "stay for life' type of guy. No joke that Dayton is a basketball town: he can compete here so the incentive for him to leave isn't high. He will wait till a big, cushioned job opens.
February 4th, 2017 at 11:25 PM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 11:33 PM ^
One that isn't a rebuild. Let's face it: our offense is stagnant and bland and we're lazy and bad on defense. we need a rebuild. We can be a great program, but I don't see Miller taking us right now. He's got a good thing going and we're a sinking ship is what I'm saying.
February 5th, 2017 at 12:35 AM ^
Come back to reality. A sinking MIchigan program will always be a better job than Dayton at its peak.
February 5th, 2017 at 12:57 AM ^
defense lazy?...hmmm those all sound like things a good coach can correct, immediately! Those aren't talent issues. If you're a coach and looking at inheriting Wilson, Wagner, and Matthews and you can keep the incoming class together, you're getting a very talented team and you're only an elite guard away from having near final four talent. Our best two players are returning (assuming Wagner doesn't go back to Europe) and improving rapidly. A great coach could very reasonably get this team to the sweet 16 in year one.
This is an attractive job. High pay, state-of-the-art facilities, talent to work with. You're not going to get the home crowds of a Kansas but you're also going to get a longer leash and have less pressure (if that's appealing, great coaches might want the pressure).
February 4th, 2017 at 10:20 PM ^
If this university wants to get serious about the trajectory of this program, I think Archie Miller would be a great candidate, along with Gregg Marshall as you mentioned. Main problem standing in the way of either a Marshall or Miller hiring is Beilein's buyout cost AND Archie or Gregg's buyout from their recent extensions. Those would be the two "homerun" coaches in my opinion.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:21 PM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 10:25 PM ^
Absolutely nailed it. I highly doubt the athletic department will be willing to pay potentially 10-15 million dollars just for buyouts.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:27 PM ^
It'd be $6 million to buy him out after this season. Do your homework.
February 5th, 2017 at 1:12 AM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 10:42 PM ^
I mean we had one single donor pay for our football team to go to Rome for a week. I doubt that it happens this year because Warde seems really loyal. Just get a new hockey coach. If we trot Red out to the benches next year, I'll start to wonder.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:43 PM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 10:49 PM ^
The fans didn't run off those two coaches and they both had much much better teams at this point in their tenure. If Beilein left for Arizona State, not even John Wooden could come in and win the national title like what happened in 1989.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:52 PM ^
John Wooden -- the Calipari of his time.
February 5th, 2017 at 12:40 AM ^
He will be gone after next season at the latest and to say the only opinion that matters is Manuel's is pretty stupid. There are voices that matter quite a bit (donors, critical mass of fans, etc) out there and I think you're about to find that out in a big way.
February 5th, 2017 at 8:30 AM ^
February 5th, 2017 at 8:31 AM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 10:21 PM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 10:25 PM ^
You know that Hackett gave him the contract with this terrible buyout, right? Why the fuck are you blaming Warde and not Hackett?
February 4th, 2017 at 10:23 PM ^
February 4th, 2017 at 10:29 PM ^
You just described Brady Hoke.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:38 PM ^
February 5th, 2017 at 12:28 AM ^
Guy's been in the NBA for 24 years now. Not seeing it.
February 4th, 2017 at 10:23 PM ^
Mentions Kermit Davis and not Archie Miller. What a joke.
Miller should be the 1-A candidate. Marshall is not realistic. He makes as much money as Beilein.