One guy on Utebuntu’s list that caught my attention was Chris Mooney from Richmond. It would be interesting to see what he could do with, hopefully, better athletes than Richmond or AFA. IMO he’s the dark horse bet, very much a long shot here.
If I had my way, it’d be Alex Jensen, but I don’t see it happening. Johnnie Bryant? I think he’d be successful, if he wants it.
Craig Smith and Mark Pope? I don’t see Pope moving up the road 45 miles or so, I think he’s more 2000 miles away on the East Coast kinda guy. Smith? I don’t know what his goals are, I don’t really have a feel for him. If either are hired, I’d cheer for either to do well.
I suppose my top 3 are: Jensen, Bryant, and Mooney. I guess we’ll find out in due course.
Do you think they can get Bryant to come and Donnie Daniels to un-re-retire? If you get a guy like Bryant, I think you need someone like Daniels to help him.
I believe Thad had some health issues. He is like 53…not old washed up, IMHO. Apparently, Matta was let go by Ohio State because of health issues. He has or had lower back problems. A friend of mine who posts here @Ute_In_Texas thinks Matta might come to Utah if offered. Said, get Harlan to offer Mark Few, when he turns it down, ask Matta.
Jensen moved beyond college basketball at this point.
Half of the guys listed on 247Sports as potential candidates, I’m thinking, I hope not. A bunch of guys who have done well in the last few years but who have career records as good (and that is not good) as K3.
Johnnie Bryant is an intriguing prospect. Never coached college. Never recruited college.
I’d love to see Utah land the contemporary Dana Altman. I just don’t know who that would be.
You’re actually wrong about Alex Jensen not having head coaching experience. He does actually. He was the head coach of the then-NBA D-League Canton Charge for two seasons. He was 2013 D-League Coach of the Year. Then he was hired by the Jazz as an assistant.
I don’t see a “must-get” hire this time around. Alex Jensen and Johnnie Bryant appear as likely as anyone. Would be taking a Juwan Howard type flyer on either one I guess.
credit to Harlan for pulling the plug, I believe he could have easily used COVID as an excuse to stay the course. Harlan has impressed in his short time here.
I believe Harlan hired head basketball coach Brian Gregory while AD at South Florida. Not a great hire, Brian is still at USF with a 57-64 record, but the Bulls don’t have a stellar basketball history. so maybe it is what it is. USF has been to the NCAA’s a total of three times in their history.
one long shot name that haven’t been mentioned yet (at least I don’t think):
Earl Watson - familiarity with the PAC-12, AAU experience, head coaching experience. Lived in Utah for a couple of years with the Jazz.
I’ve heard plenty of people say you can’t hire someone without college basketball experience, but then I look at the recent success of a Patrick Ewing, or a Juwan Howard who had zero experience coaching in college and I think the game has changed significantly. Its more of a players league than at anytime previously.
I think Randy Bennett’s ship has sailed. He hasn’t torn it up in the WCC, and I think his name came up the last two times we were looking for a new head coach. Both times he angrily denied his interest. I’ll pass.
Ha. One of those Basketball office shills, suddenly out of work.
The money to fund Krystowiak’s exorbitant salary has always been there, whether or not he’s fired. Taxpayers haven’t been paying for this. They can’t afford to fire him explanation was always an urban myth. That’s not how it works.
The new hire candidates is not speculative, smarty pants. This isn’t Amazon looking for a programmer. It’s not like bracketology in January. Basketball is a relatively small industry, and head coach of a P5 college basketball program is a job that demands a narrow set of rarified skills. There is a finite and reasonably discernible pool of possibilities, defined by individuals both interested and desirable. Many accurately predicted Mark Pope would be hired at BYU. Were they speculating? Most emphatically not. It was a reasonable estimation.
