LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – For the University of Louisville men’s basketball coaching search, it’s back to the drawing board. Or, perhaps better put, back to the Hot Board.
Louisville was reported to have offered Baylor’s Scott Drew a package that would have made him among the highest paid coaches in the college game and was awaiting word on whether he was interested. Late Tuesday, word began to drift out that Drew would agree to a raise and other enhancement to his contract in Waco, Texas.
That was supported Thursday by Drew’s comments when asked specifically about the Louisville job.
“Baylor University has been my family's home,” Drew told ESPN Radio in Waco. “All my kids have been born in Waco, Texas. So can't thank the community and the Baylor family for how they've loved our family. We're hoping we can bring another championship home to Baylor this year and for many more years. That's always been our top priority. That's what I focus on during the year and that's what I still focus on. So, hopefully that answers your question."
Well, not really. If he were a college athlete entering the transfer portal, all of that would’ve been prelude to the words, “Having said that . . . “
Still, having said that, sources on both sides are saying that Drew will, in fact, remain in Waco, and that Louisville’s search has largely turned elsewhere (though one more “pretty please” round of calls could still be placed.)
Assuming Drew is off the board, there’s a new No. 1, and an expanding cast vying for the No. 2 spot.
Hence, the revised Hot Board.
TOP TARGET
DUSTY MAY, Florida Atlantic
Could the KFC Yum! Center become the Dust Bowl? There’s a decent chance, though other schools have gotten into the chase in recent days. May is the clubhouse leader. As you look at candidates around the spectrum, he seems to have the ties to the region after growing up in southern Indiana, demonstrated success and ability to coach and recruit that check the most boxes.
The year after a Final Four was a tougher proposition for May as FAU stepped from Conference USA to the AAC. FAU fell prey to an upset in the championship game of the AAC Tournament to a Temple team with a losing record. Still, he remains one of the game’s best young coaches and a worthy top target.
Bozich Thoughts: After last season’s Final Four run, which ended with the Owls two points short of playing in the national championship game, May doubled his salary and got 10 years added to his deal. But it was inevitable that he would be atop nearly every list for the top jobs that opened in 2024. And that’s where you will find him – coaching against Northwestern Friday afternoon in Brooklyn, with Louisville, Michigan, Vanderbilt and others talking to his representatives.
Crawford Thoughts: He reportedly turned down an offer from West Virginia recently. If he were to take the Louisville job after doing that, he’d join another Louisville coach who did so – Denny Crum. He’s also gotten interest from Michigan. If he picked Louisville after that, he’d join another Louisville coach to do that – Rick Pitino. Not saying he’s either of those guys, but if he can put Louisville on a more stable footing, he’ll have gotten off to a good start.
SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY, Seton Hall
The architect of the St. Peter's Elite Eight Cinderella run in 2022 has had a couple of winning seasons at Seton Hall, including a 22-12 campaign this year after a close loss in the first round of the NIT. A solid motivator whose teams take on his personality of being focused, fearless and ferocious on defense, he’s recognized as one of the top young coaches in the game. And according to sources, his interest in Louisville has taken a sharp leap in recent days.
Bozich Thoughts: Holloway was the Dusty May of 2022, knocking down Kentucky and Purdue at St. Peter’s. The only reason he has not been as discussed this season is Holloway took a job in the Big East at Seton Hall, his alma mater. Could he be on the move? Sure. Does he have a job he loves? Yes.
Crawford Thoughts: He’s intriguing, but has been in the northeast his entire life and is fiercely loyal to his alma mater, where he’s now coaching. Not sure he’s at the top of the list, but certainly would be worth a conversation. I can see him as a guy who could come in and wow people with his passion and energy. I don’t think getting players, good ones, would be a worry.
PAT KELSEY, Charleston
A disciple of Chris Mack and Dino Gaudio, Kelsey has had consistent success at Charleston. At Winthrop, he won 67% of his games and took the program to the NCAA Tournament three times in his last five years before taking over at Charleston. After going 17-15 in a rebuild season, he guided the Cougars to a 31-4 record and an NCAA Tournament berth in his second season. They are 27-7 this year and back in the NCAA Tournament. Kelsey has twice been a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award and, after the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in Newtown, Mass., in 2012, gave a speech at Ohio State that was so impassioned that a family of one of the victims reached out to him. He later ran in a triathlon in the family’s honor, and honored the family at a 2014 Winthrop game in which each of his players wore the name of a victim on their jersey.
Bozich Thoughts: He’ll carry a 12-game winning streak into Charleston’s game with Alabama Friday – and if he wins that one, he’ll climb on everybody’s hot list. In 12 years at the mid- or low-major level, he’s won 20 or more games seven times.
Crawford Thoughts: Can’t find a knock – or a bad word – about him. He’s won and, at Charleston, has won big. That he hasn’t done it at the Power 6 level, or yet won big in the NCAA Tournament, probably keeps him from being higher on the Louisville list. But he’s going to get a major job somewhere.
ERIC MUSSELMAN, Arkansas
The longer the search goes, the more Musselman could get a renewed look from Louisville. His season is over in Fayetteville, ending at 16-17 with a 14-point loss to South Carolina in the SEC Tournament. It was a disappointing year for a preseason Top 20 team that endured a good bit of drama on the way to an underachieving finish. For Musselman, who had never failed to win 20 games in eight previous college seasons, the finish was an anomaly.
Bozich Thoughts: If Musselman is the guy, the search would already be over. The Razorbacks have not played in a week since exiting the SEC Tournament.
Crawford Thoughts: What Rick said. But if the search goes awry, or multiple people turn the job down, it could turn back Musselman’s way. Ahen Josh Heird said he wanted a coach who would crawl to Louisville to take the job, I thought of Musselman. He’s 60, which is a bit old for what Heird is looking for – but to be honest, the program doesn’t need to be worried about 10 and 20 years down the road. It needs to return to relevance now. Musselman knows the portal and can get players and has been a winner for his short college career since coming from the NBA.
MOVING OFF
Drew, expected to sign an enhanced deal with Baylor.
MICK CRONIN, UCLA
Earlier this week, Cronin looked as if he would become the coach to beat if Drew didn’t come to Louisville. But something – one can only assume buyout concerns – had interest cooling at Michigan and Louisville simultaneously. On Thursday, even the intrepid @BringBrohmHome poster on X had given up his (or her) efforts and predicted May will take the job.
Stay tuned . . .
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