ESPN article on new coaches…


Abilene Christian Wildcats: Brette Tanner

What's the challenge? Build on the NCAA tournament victory. Joe Golding led the Wildcats to two NCAA tournaments in the last three years, including a first-round win over Texas in March. Tanner helped build that success as an assistant, and now he'll be expected to continue it.


Chicago State Cougars: TBA

What's the challenge? Win a WAC game. Well, I guess the biggest challenge is finding a head coach at this point in the offseason -- but the Cougars went 0-16 in the league in 2019, 0-14 in the league in 2020 and ended their season before conference play started last year. Their last league win was Jan. 12, 2017 -- and they're expected to leave the league in 2022. They need to get one before they depart.


Lamar Cardinals: Alvin Brooks

What's the challenge? Make an early impact in the WAC. Lamar left the Southland earlier this month to join the WAC, where New Mexico State has been the hunted for most of the last decade. Can Brooks get the Cardinals to make an early push?

UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros: Matt Figger

What's the challenge? Awaken the sleeping giant. Industry people think UTRGV is a sneaky-good job and it had a surprisingly impressive list of head coach candidates -- but the Vaqueros have never been to the NCAA tournament as a D-I team. Figger left a good job at Austin Peay to make the move.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...basketball