LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – The movement, if any, in the University of Louisville men’s basketball coaching search is well beneath the surface. While there have been rumblings of offers, WDRB hasn’t confirmed them independently. Still, none of the three top candidates, as speculated here, has declared themselves out of the running, so we proceed on that front.
None of that means there hasn’t been some significant movement. There has been some attrition among secondary candidates, as contracts have been extended and raises received.
Everybody has their own thoughts, hopes, dreams, and speculation. Here’s a second update, with defections and additions to the list noted.
STILL THE ONE
SCOTT DREW, Baylor
He’s the top target, until he isn’t. This week, several web and radio sources, including Mike Rutherford of Card Chronicle, reported that Louisville has met with “Drew’s people” and offered $8 to $8.5 million plus a large Name, Image and Likeness guarantee. WDRB cannot independently confirm any of that.
Scott Drew (Photo courtesy of Baylor University)
But on March 12, Eric Crawford related, via his X account, that Louisville was prepared to offer Drew a package that would make him “among the handful of highest paid coaches in college basketball.”
While we can’t confirm any meeting or even an official offer at this point, it seems reasonable to assume that Drew has been approached in some fashion by Louisville, and for Louisville, no news may be good news in that it means he hasn’t said no, at least not yet.
Crawford thoughts: The money in this past week’s speculation is seven figures more than I’d heard, but either way, would be an offer any coach would have to take seriously. (It’s worth remembering that there is no individual state income tax in Texas.) While the timing of these reports aligns with that of a school that would need an answer one way or the other before moving on to other candidates, their becoming public sends up a couple of red flags. Word could be leaking out because of a coach’s agent trying to get more money from his school or because of the school’s wish to demonstrate that it has swung for the fences before moving to other candidates. All that assumes the speculation is accurate – which is never a safe assumption. All I know for sure is that the longer we go without hearing that Drew is out of the running, the more interesting it is.
Bozich thoughts: Program builder? Check. NCAA Tournament winner? Check. Understands the complete job of being a head coach? Check. It’s just a question of whether he wants to walk away from what he’s built in Waco, Texas because what he has built is special.
STILL WORTH WATCHING
DUSTY MAY, Florida Atlantic
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.
Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May directs his team in the first half of an Elite 8 college basketball game aKansas State in the NCAA Tournament's East Region final, Saturday, March 25, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Crawford thoughts: As Ohio State appears to be targeting its interim coach, May looks more and more like a real possibility for Louisville, and that’s a good thing. The biggest concern with May is possible interest in Indiana, which is bound to come open at some point in the not-too-distant future.
Bozich thoughts: Won his 60th game in two seasons Friday night at the AAC Tournament. 60 wins in less than 2 full seasons. The Final Four run last season has him in the mix at West Virginia and other jobs. Upbeat, driven guy who earned his way from being an Indiana student manager. Remember the Owls stepped up from Conference USA to the AAC this season – and May won games over Loyola (Chicago), Butler, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M and Arizona.
MICK CRONIN, UCLA
A disappointing season in Westwood ended with a 68-66 loss to eventual champion Oregon in the Pac-12 Tournament. The Bruins finished 16-17, their first losing season since 2016. For Cronin, it was his only losing season since two rebuilding years at Cincinnati in 2008 and ‘09.
Crawford’s thoughts: Having coached here and having worked under Rick Pitino (and with Scott Davenport), nobody in the field knows more about the program here and its importance to the city and university. Cronin is probably a better fit here than people realize, and if Drew doesn’t work, is as proven a winner as there is left on the board. The buyout is more than Louisville will do – but there has been speculation that it could be reduced or even eliminated because of UCLA’s impending move to the Big Ten, and that’s speculation I have reason to believe is accurate.
UCLA head coach Mick Cronin called the early seed list by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committe "comical." AP Photo
Bozich thoughts: His fifth season in Westwood was his worst season. The Bruins lost 17 of 33 games and Cronin publicly criticized his players several times. I believe the reports that he’d like to come back to his Midwest roots. The honeymoon period is over at UCLA, where the shelf life of coaches has not been long since John Wooden retired 49 years ago. Plus UCLA moves into the Big Ten next season and the travel will be a burden. But that $16-to-20 million buyout is silly.
STILL ON CALL
ERIC MUSSELMAN, Arkansas
The season is over in Fayetteville, ending at 16-17 with a 14-point loss to South Carolina in the ACC 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.
Crawford thoughts: Going to be honest, when 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. The longer the search goes on, the more I wonder if he won’t drift back into the picture.
Bozich thoughts: Two years ago he would have been on top the list. The Razorbacks went to the Elite Eight in 2021 and 2022. But Arkansas collapsed this season, finishing 12th in the SEC. That can happen when you’re turning your roster over every season and so reliant on the portal.
JOSH SCHERTZ, Indiana State
The Sycamores’ bubble has likely burst – along with just about everybody else on the bubble. Still Schertz had an amazing year in Terre Haute and remains a hot name among young coaches expected to move up.
Crawford thoughts: He may be the next big thing, but I’m not sure Louisville can risk rolling the dice on a second straight head coach with little major experience – though he certainly has more experience than the last one.
Bozich thoughts: I’m sure he’s a fine coach. I’m also sure this is not the time to hire a coach who’s never made the Division I NCAA Tournament.
JAMIE DIXON, TCU
In 21 seasons, he’s failed to win 20 games only three times, and failed to have a winning record only once. He doesn’t bring a lot of sizzle, but he does have substance. And it must be noted, he hasn’t coached at a progam with resources like Louisville could give him. The Horned Frogs lost to No. 1 seed Houston in the Big 12 Tournament. At 21-12, they are expected to be among the last four teams into the field, which would be his 15th trip to the NCAA Tournament. He’s also won the NIT and the CBI Tournaments, but been to the Elite Eight just once.
Bozich thoughts: I believe this one has popped onto the list because former Villanova coach Jay Wright has a relationship with U of L athletic director Josh Heird and Wright knows that Dixon did solid work at Pitt, where the program collapsed after Dixon left for TCU his alma mater. UCLA wanted Dixon five years ago but declined to pay his buyout. He’d be a solid double but far from a home run.
Crawford thoughts: Louisville fans have clamored for Wright, I’d say this is as close as it will get – Wright being on the small group Heird is consulting with on prospective coaches. I do think Dixon is a really good coach. He’s won a ton of games. It hasn’t translated to a lot of NCAA Tournament success, but pair him with Louisville and it could have some potential. Not sure at this point in his career that he’d want to leave his alma mater, though.
JEROME TANG, Kansas State
Following up initial success is always difficult. There’s no bigger challenge than the second novel, second album, second movie, especially when the first one was a hit. Tang fashioned a total roster makeover into an Elite Eight trip in his first season, but will miss the field after Year Two ended with a lot of difficulty. At one point, the Wildcats lost seven of eight games – though the one win in that stretch was an overtime win over Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse.
Bozich thoughts: Brings a lot of the qualities people like in Drew, but only two seasons of head coaching experience. Year 2 at K State was not the same joy ride as Year 1. K State lost 10 of its last 15 games and is likely bound for the NIT.
Crawford thoughts: If you’re going to take a hard look at Drew, you probably should give at least some consideration to Tang, who was with him through his entire rebuilding job at Baylor and who showed the ability to breathe life into a program immediately in his first year at K-State.
NEW NAME
SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY, Seton Hall
The architect of the St. Peters Elite Eight Cinderella run in 2022 has had a couple of winning seasons at Seton Hall, including a 21-12 campaign this year that is likely a casualty of the NCAA Tournament bubble. 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.
Crawford’s 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.
Bozich’s thoughts: After making his remarkable run over Kentucky and Purdue into the Elite Eight two years ago, Holloway had the Pirates positioned as the first team out of the field with Joe Lunardi before the bubble exploded. He finished fourth in the Big East this season. He’s also an East Coast guy coaching at his alma mater.
STILL DREAMING
BILLY DONVAN, Chicago Bulls
The two-time national champion at Florida would be a beast if he decided to return to the college game at Louisville. He just hasn’t expressed any interest in returning to the college game.
Bozich thoughts: Even if Donovan is getting roasted by the Chicago media, I’m skeptical that he wants to return to college basketball. He tired of the recruiting nonsense during his final years at Florida. And if you listen to what the coaches who have left the game are saying, the transfer portal and NIL have only made their lives more unpleasant.
Crawford thoughts: As I think I said on Twitter, if he wants to return to the college game, a lot of us would help him move. Donovan is a great coach and a great person, but he’s made all the money he’ll ever need, and even if the Bulls job goes away, he needs only to sit for a bit, do some TV, and take his pick when the next handful of NBA jobs come open.
BRUCE PEARL, Auburn
Pearl is at the top of his game. His Auburn team will play in the SEC Championship game Sunday afternoon. The Tigers are a dangerous NCAA team, ranking in the Top 10 nationally in offensive and defensive efficiency. Since losing to Kentucky, Auburn has won six out of seven, with the only loss at Tennessee.
Bozich thoughts: Terrific coach. Even better salesman. Tireless worker. But he will turn 64 Monday and Heird made a point of saying he was looking for a guy who could have a long run here.
Crawford thoughts: I think when you put all the boxes together that Louisville wants to check, Pearl checks more of them than any other coach. His age is a factor, and for that reason (and a large buyout after signing a lifetime contract at Auburn two years ago) I just don’t see it happening.
OFF THE LIST
Craig McDermott, Creighton: Announced a contract extension March 8.
Chris Beard, Ole Miss: Announced a contract extension on March 14
Lamont Paris, South Carolina: Announced a contract extension on March 15.
Nate Oats, Alabama: Announced a contract extension March 15.
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