LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Hiring a coach is difficult — unless you’re doing it in an 835-word column.
Then it’s easy. And fun. You don’t have to deal with agents, social media, leaks, false narratives and deep background checks.
You just connect with people in the basketball industry and ask them which coach Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart should hire to replace John Calipari.
Snap.
That’s what I did. I collected opinions from 15 people. Five are current Division I head coaches. One is a former Division I head coach. Two are Division I assistants. The other seven are media members who cover the game on national level.
Here is how their votes broke down:
Rick Pitino, St. John’s (4 votes)
Media Member A: "You want to be The Talk of College basketball? Bring back Camelot.
"The man went to the Final Four in three of the six seasons that Kentucky was eligible when he was there. He went 17-1 in the SEC Tournament. He left Tubby Smith a national championship team.
“Yes, he’s 71. Yes, he’s had NCAA issues. Yes, he coached at Louisville. Yes, he’s only been at St. John’s for one season and New York is home.
“He’s highly motivated to rewrite his resume — and going back to Kentucky would do exactly that.”
Media Member B: “Rick would make sense for five good years.”
Coach A: “Proven commodity. Ultimate winner. Builds teams. Makes guys better. Hall of Famer. Understands the job. Driven.”
Media Member C: “There’s nobody better. He’s already proven he can handle the job.”
Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls (3)
Media Member D: “There are lots of reasons for Billy to do this (even though people say he’s done with college basketball). The Bulls are .500 team that are not going anywhere in the Eastern Conference soon. Kentucky will bump up his salary (reportedly $6 million).
“NIL not an issue at Kentucky, which should take care of recruiting concenrs.”
“His son (Billy III) is an assistant coach in the G League for the Windy City Bulls. He can bring him to Kentucky and put him on his on-the-court staff, preparing him for a head coaching job in college one day.”
Media Member E: “He knows all the good and all the bad of UK. His NBA experience makes him a premier evaluator of what it takes.
“Every kid, and I mean EVERY KID, thinks he’s going to the league. He would be a top line guy from day one.”
Coach B: “Proven college winner with two national titles (at Florida) who would bring NBA credibility to the job. Knows Kentucky. Knows the SEC.”
Scott Drew, Baylor (3)
Coach C: “What I think will happen, (Kansas State coach Jerome) Tang didn’t go to Arkansas because he knew Drew to UK. Tang to Baylor.”
Coach D: “Scott Drew would probably be a good fit for them. But he better win or his personality won’t matter. If they ran Cal out of town, I don’t know. LOL. But Scott’s a good pick.”
Coach E: “Say what you want about him but Scott recruits at a high level (at Baylor). Solid choice.”
Nate Oats, Alabama (1)
Coach F: “Take the names out of it. Who has the profile of what they need? Oats.”
Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics (1)
Media Member F: “An elite coach who might have moved into the Celtics front office prematurely and now has a shot at a blueblood job that he didn’t get with Duke and North Carolina when they hired from within.
“Still in his 40s, so energy level would not be a concern. NBA cachet would play well in recruiting. Low maintenance, unlike the last guy, which should appeal to Mitch Barnhart.
“His son will be a walk-on at Notre Dame next year, so it’s an easier time in life for a family transition. It would be a massive splash hire that also has substance.”
Sean Miller, Xavier (1)
Media Member G: “I would focus on guys who are superior motivators & game tacticians versus talent accumulators.
“Working from assumption that money talks, and no premium for guys who are willing to operate in the shadows, seems like anyone should be able to get guys at UK.
“So you need a staff that knows which guys to get, how to get them to play together, and coach them up. All that said, my first call would be Sean Miller.”
Jai Lucas, Duke assistant (1)
Coach G: “Young and energetic, knows the program (assisted Calipari at UK for one season) and understands how to win and what it takes in the NIL/ Portal Era of college basketball. Jai has a basketball mind and is ready to be a head coach.
“If not Jai and they want the experience of being a head coach … The only option is Scott Drew… PROVEN!”
Bruce Pearl, Auburn (1)
Coach H: “He can handle the job, he don’t care what people think of him, and he can coach and recruit.”
Related Stories:
- OFFICIAL | Calipari, Barnhart confirm that the Hall of Fame coach has left Kentucky
- BOZICH | With Calipari gone, Barnhart must grapple with a UK legacy in transition
- CRAWFORD | Kentucky freshman Rob Dillingham declares for NBA Draft
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