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I imagine this will be done quick, possibly by Monday or Tuesday, end of the week at the latest. I imagine Cunningham already has a short list of candidates and possibly even already knows who he is going to hire.

Of the names on Chad's list, I'd probably take Dennis Gates or Darren Savino.

Another name I'd throw out is Jon Jakus.

On Mark's list I'd like Mark Pope or Dave Smart, but I doubt either will happen.

If we are going to take a retread, I'd take Bryce Drew over Archie.

I’d guess Archie Miller or Bryce Drew.

I’m guessing UC’s admin might already know who it’s going to be

(04-09-2021 04:17 PM)skyblade Wrote:  I imagine this will be done quick, possibly by Monday or Tuesday, end of the week at the latest. I imagine Cunningham already has a short list of candidates and possibly even already knows who he is going to hire.

Of the names on Chad's list, I'd probably take Dennis Gates or Darren Savino.

Another name I'd throw out is Jon Jakus.

On Mark's list I'd like Mark Pope or Dave Smart, but I doubt either will happen.

If we are going to take a retread, I'd take Bryce Drew over Archie.

I’d lean Drew as well. His Valpo teams were great. And he had a pretty good team at GCU in year one this year. His tenure at Vandy was bad but he was able to land 5 star recruits while he was there. His last team that got him fired had a ton of injuries. Being a former NBA first round draft pick doesn’t hurt either.

(04-09-2021 04:17 PM)skyblade Wrote:  I imagine this will be done quick, possibly by Monday or Tuesday, end of the week at the latest. I imagine Cunningham already has a short list of candidates and possibly even already knows who he is going to hire.

If that's the case, it'll almost certainly be Archie Miller.

With that said, UC got Brannen by going the easy route a couple years ago. They better get it right, even if it takes time.

(04-09-2021 04:17 PM)skyblade Wrote:  I imagine this will be done quick, possibly by Monday or Tuesday, end of the week at the latest. I imagine Cunningham already has a short list of candidates and possibly even already knows who he is going to hire.

Of the names on Chad's list, I'd probably take Dennis Gates or Darren Savino.

Another name I'd throw out is Jon Jakus.

On Mark's list I'd like Mark Pope or Dave Smart, but I doubt either will happen.

If we are going to take a retread, I'd take Bryce Drew over Archie.

Jakus is intriguing. Has apprenticed under two of the hottest coaches in the business.

(04-09-2021 04:26 PM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:17 PM)skyblade Wrote:  I imagine this will be done quick, possibly by Monday or Tuesday, end of the week at the latest. I imagine Cunningham already has a short list of candidates and possibly even already knows who he is going to hire.

If that's the case, it'll almost certainly be Archie Miller.

With that said, UC got Brannen by going the easy route a couple years ago. They better get it right, even if it takes time.

I’d be okay with Archie. I’m sure he has a ton of recruiting connections in this area and would likely be able to put together a good staff around him. He’s only 42 and I’m sure he’ll be motivated to redeem himself after the way his Indiana tenure went. Still had a top 50 Kenpom team this year despite the 12-15 record

(04-09-2021 04:27 PM)Former Lurker Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:17 PM)skyblade Wrote:  I imagine this will be done quick, possibly by Monday or Tuesday, end of the week at the latest. I imagine Cunningham already has a short list of candidates and possibly even already knows who he is going to hire.

Of the names on Chad's list, I'd probably take Dennis Gates or Darren Savino.

Another name I'd throw out is Jon Jakus.

On Mark's list I'd like Mark Pope or Dave Smart, but I doubt either will happen.

If we are going to take a retread, I'd take Bryce Drew over Archie.

Jakus is intriguing. Has apprenticed under two of the hottest coaches in the business.

Apparently was once a Cincinnati HS basketball coach, per someone on the 247 forums. So some degree of local connection for him as well.

(04-09-2021 04:26 PM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:17 PM)skyblade Wrote:  I imagine this will be done quick, possibly by Monday or Tuesday, end of the week at the latest. I imagine Cunningham already has a short list of candidates and possibly even already knows who he is going to hire.

If that's the case, it'll almost certainly be Archie Miller.

With that said, UC got Brannen by going the easy route a couple years ago. They better get it right, even if it takes time.

They've probably known this was coming for 2+ weeks. Per the B. Fox podcast it seems they'd be allowed to reach out to coaches while Brannen was under contract.

They've had time to do all the legwork in the background. They should have a short-list ready to go and should have made some contact with every coach on that list. Now just comes interviews and (once they've made a decision) contract negotiations. Don't see that taking more then a week at the longest. They should be able to get any coach and have it done quick.

I prefer to get someone with head coaching experience but Jakus is an interesting option.

(04-09-2021 04:53 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  I prefer to get someone with head coaching experience but Jakus is an interesting option.

I'd be really surprised if it's not someone with head coaching experience, but I do like Kimani Young. Very good recruiter and some friends of mine in the business are very, very high on him.

Just get someone who can forge a bond with the players. This is a different era. It starts there.

Richie Riley is an interesting name thrown out by Matt Norlander. South Alabama coach, recently turned down a job offer from Utah State. Is semi-local, from Eastern Kentucky. Turned around Nichol's State (in his second year they had only their second 20+ win season in school history (38 years)). Then Turned around S. Alabama.

Cons: Never had a really great team. Has taken bad teams and made them good, but not very good or great. Never made an NCAA tournament or even an NIT. But he has only been a coach for 5 years, may be an up-and-comer.

(04-09-2021 04:27 PM)Former Lurker Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:17 PM)skyblade Wrote:  I imagine this will be done quick, possibly by Monday or Tuesday, end of the week at the latest. I imagine Cunningham already has a short list of candidates and possibly even already knows who he is going to hire.

Of the names on Chad's list, I'd probably take Dennis Gates or Darren Savino.

Another name I'd throw out is Jon Jakus.

On Mark's list I'd like Mark Pope or Dave Smart, but I doubt either will happen.

If we are going to take a retread, I'd take Bryce Drew over Archie.

Jakus is intriguing. Has apprenticed under two of the hottest coaches in the business.

Jakus has a really interesting resume. W

He has coached USA basketball and spent many years as a volunteer with Athletes in Action.

He was a head coach in Macedonia's top-level professional league in 2010-11.

Before that, he was head basketball coach and chaplain for three years at Agape Bulgaria, which appears to be an adoption center (although his Gonzaga profile says he "worked with professional players" there).

Before Bulgaria, he coached for 4 years at Cincinnati Hills.

His undergrad degree was from a school in Chicago that is mostly an Evangelical seminary. His major was religious studies.

Per Justin Williams (on Mo Egger's show): Dennis Gates, Archie Miller, Erik Martin and Darren Savino are the likely candidates. Not sure if he has sources for that. Says Gates and Miller are probably the top two. Of those two, I'd take Gates in a heartbeat. He has only two years of coaching experience, but he had success with JuCO's and transfers at CSU and his style has been compares to Kelvin Sampson's.

Dennis Gates and CSU were rated #1 in Kenpom’s luck metric this year fwiw

(04-09-2021 05:00 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:27 PM)Former Lurker Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 04:17 PM)skyblade Wrote:  I imagine this will be done quick, possibly by Monday or Tuesday, end of the week at the latest. I imagine Cunningham already has a short list of candidates and possibly even already knows who he is going to hire.

Of the names on Chad's list, I'd probably take Dennis Gates or Darren Savino.

Another name I'd throw out is Jon Jakus.

On Mark's list I'd like Mark Pope or Dave Smart, but I doubt either will happen.

If we are going to take a retread, I'd take Bryce Drew over Archie.

Jakus is intriguing. Has apprenticed under two of the hottest coaches in the business.

Jakus has a really interesting resume. W

He has coached USA basketball and spent many years as a volunteer with Athletes in Action.

He was a head coach in Macedonia's top-level professional league in 2010-11.

Before that, he was head basketball coach and chaplain for three years at Agape Bulgaria, which appears to be an adoption center (although his Gonzaga profile says he "worked with professional players" there).

Before Bulgaria, he coached for 4 years at Cincinnati Hills.

His undergrad degree was from a school in Chicago that is mostly an Evangelical seminary. His major was religious studies.

There's a pretty good interview with him on Youtube. Apparently he intended to be a career international coach once he started coaching overseas. But his son was diagnosed with severe autism. Came back because of better treatment and Baylor has a very high quality autism treatment center. Not sure if that would prevent him coming here, but he was willing to move to Gonzaga for a bit, so as long as it can be accommodated he may be willing.

He'd be near the top of my list (if not at the top), despite lack of college HC experience. International ties, Cincinnati ties and ties with Baylor/Gonzaga seems really good for recruiting. His international HC experience makes him a lot more experienced as a HC than other up-and-comers.

CBS's Matt Norlander's list...

Quote:Archie Miller, former Indiana coach: He just got paid $10 million to leave Indiana. But he was really good at Dayton. Can also afford to take the year off if he wants. Would be the biggest-name hire, I'd think, but there could be a job in a better spot that comes open in a year.

Nick Van Exel, scout for Mavericks: One source lobbed this name to me a few days ago when we were discussing the inevitability of UC opening. The fan base would likely love it. He's an alumnus. If he wants it, well, there probably wouldn't be a hire that would create more immediate momentum.

Darren Savino, UCLA assistant: Longtime Mick Cronin assistant who just helped bring UCLA to a dream Final Four run. Cincinnati was an NCAA Tournament regular when Cronin and Savino were there. He was passed over for the job two years ago. Had he not been, UC would not be in the spot it finds itself in now.

Dennis Gates, Cleveland State coach: Gates' name was connected to Penn State, Minnesota and DePaul. All those jobs filled and Gates is still the head coach at Cleveland State. Hard to see how he's not in the mix here, though. A young coach destined for a bigger job eventually, maybe this will wind up being fate. Gates inherited a disaster at CSU two years ago and got the Vikings to the NCAAs this year. It would be negligence to not give him a long look.

Scott Nagy, Wright State coach. Cincinnati could easily look in-state and see the coach at Wright State who's both as qualified and has more wins to his name than anyone else who should be considered for the job. The 54-year-old Nagy has a 519-289 record across his time at South Dakota State and Wright State. He's unassuming, but ideal. He also better get a call.

Richie Riley, South Alabama coach: Riley is from the Cincinnati area and is 54-39 in his past three years running that program. Not a huge name, but someone who's a fixer. This situation is in need of fixing.

Ritchie McKay, Liberty coach: McKay has received a bump in buzz in recent years because he's guided the Flames to three consecutive ASUN championships. He has a history in coaching at the power-conference level and might eventually get one more crack at a bigger gig.

Norlander's Top 7

Van Exel isn't Penny Hardaway. Most kids today have no clue who he is and he has basically no head coaching experience. If they're going to go the 1990's Bearcat route, Martin makes more sense.

With that said, I think head coaching experience is the most important attribute a candidate should have. That's especially true at a school where you don't have significant built-in advantages.

Scott Nagy? Do we want another local Horizon coach?


Why not HC Rick and AHC-HCIW Richard? I guess Mr. Bean would not allow.

Get the band back together. NVE or Eric Martin. Assistant Corry Blount to coach biggies. I have talked to Corry and he needs a second chance.

(04-09-2021 05:17 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  CBS's Matt Norlander's list...

Quote:Archie Miller, former Indiana coach: He just got paid $10 million to leave Indiana. But he was really good at Dayton. Can also afford to take the year off if he wants. Would be the biggest-name hire, I'd think, but there could be a job in a better spot that comes open in a year.

Nick Van Exel, scout for Mavericks: One source lobbed this name to me a few days ago when we were discussing the inevitability of UC opening. The fan base would likely love it. He's an alumnus. If he wants it, well, there probably wouldn't be a hire that would create more immediate momentum.

Darren Savino, UCLA assistant: Longtime Mick Cronin assistant who just helped bring UCLA to a dream Final Four run. Cincinnati was an NCAA Tournament regular when Cronin and Savino were there. He was passed over for the job two years ago. Had he not been, UC would not be in the spot it finds itself in now.

Dennis Gates, Cleveland State coach: Gates' name was connected to Penn State, Minnesota and DePaul. All those jobs filled and Gates is still the head coach at Cleveland State. Hard to see how he's not in the mix here, though. A young coach destined for a bigger job eventually, maybe this will wind up being fate. Gates inherited a disaster at CSU two years ago and got the Vikings to the NCAAs this year. It would be negligence to not give him a long look.

Scott Nagy, Wright State coach. Cincinnati could easily look in-state and see the coach at Wright State who's both as qualified and has more wins to his name than anyone else who should be considered for the job. The 54-year-old Nagy has a 519-289 record across his time at South Dakota State and Wright State. He's unassuming, but ideal. He also better get a call.

Richie Riley, South Alabama coach: Riley is from the Cincinnati area and is 54-39 in his past three years running that program. Not a huge name, but someone who's a fixer. This situation is in need of fixing.

Ritchie McKay, Liberty coach: McKay has received a bump in buzz in recent years because he's guided the Flames to three consecutive ASUN championships. He has a history in coaching at the power-conference level and might eventually get one more crack at a bigger gig.

Norlander's Top 7

After Miller, what a lackluster list. Sad that the national media thinks that's where UC is as a program, and even sadder that it may be correct.

(04-09-2021 04:02 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Has a retread ever had success? I can't think of a guy who failed at a high major and then had success at another major school. (guys like Huggins and Bruce Pearl and Bobby Knight didn't fail on the court, so they don't count).


Archie Miller and Bryce Drew seem a lot like Dave Leitao and Tubby Smith.

(Tubby wasn't a horrible coach, but after leaving UK he only made the NCAA 4 times and never made the Sweet 16 in 11 years at Minnesota, Texas Tech, and Memphis).

Hasn't been at a high major until just now, but Porter Moser was probably regarded as a midmajor retread by many when Loyola hired him. To now get "promoted" to the Oklahoma job makes it an even bigger rebound.