Story: Adam Nelson (@HD_DirtKing)
Just a few things as we get ready for the NCAA First Round to kick-off today…
Updating the ETSU list from yesterday with some additional names…It sounds like these three should be added: Penny Collins (Head Coach – Tennessee State), Jerrod Calhoun (Head Coach – Youngstown State), and Preston Spradlin (Head Coach – Morehead State). Depends on who you talk to – some say Penny Collins is the leader, some say it’s Wake assistant Brooks Savage. Sounds like this could be wrapped up soon.
I can confirm that Kyle Bowlsby / Bowlsby Sports Advisors has the Northwestern State search.
The search at Army is moving. In addition to names that I’ve already mentioned (Carl Little and David Grace), I’ve also heard: Brandon Linton (Head Coach Tufts / former Army assistant), David Klatsky (Head Coach NYU / longtime Patriot League assistant), and Josh Loeffler (Head Coach Johns Hopkins / another former PL assistant).
It sounds like Chris Beard is getting the old gang back together at Ole Miss. It’s no secret that former Georgia Southern head coach Brian Burg will join the Rebels staff. Now hearing that Al Pinkins will most likely join Beard’s staff as well. Both were with Beard at Texas Tech – Pinkins remained with Mark Adams after Beard departed.
Southern Utah Interim Head Coach Flynn Clayman is the early leader to replace his former boss Todd Simon who departed for Bowling Green. Sounds like he has a ton of support at SUU to get the job. But, it also sounds like a lot of good coaches with ties to the program are lining up for this one. Stay tuned…
University of New Orleans head coach Mark Slessinger will return next year. AD Tim Duncan released a statement yesterday that read in part, “I have tasked Coach Slessinger with making the changes in his program that will lead to better results, and I am hopeful that we will share in the experience of once again raising the trophy as Southland Conference Basketball champions.” Full statement is HERE.
Oregon State’s Wayne Tinkle also got a vote of confidence from his AD. According to Oregon Live, Beavers AD Scott Barnes said “we have a reclamation project that is underway, and I’ve seen growth and development of the players,” Barnes said. “We aren’t where we want to be obviously, but we’re making progress. This isn’t a one-year project. We’re looking forward to the next step and continued growth.” More on that one HERE.
I said on Tuesday that I wasn’t buying any Chris Holtmann to Notre Dame reports – he’s now confirmed that by telling the Columbus Dispatch, “I’m not going to Notre Dame. I stand by what I publicly said. I’m committed to being here.”
Yesterday’s Twitter Question of the Day…head over to weigh in:
HoopDirt.com’s up-to-date list of college basketball coaching changes at the D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO levels can be found HERE.
