Story: Adam Nelson (@HD_DirtKing)
So much going on. The DIRT section has been packed with small college openings for the last few weeks – now the D1’s are ramping up quickly. Here’s a speed round of a bunch of thoughts and some rumors…
Former Tarleton State head coach Billy Gillispie working hard to land a certain D1 JUCO gig in Texas (he knows the President of the school pretty well).
Boston College needs to make a splash and have some one who can force the administration into spending $ on basketball like Bill O’Brien is doing for football. Former BC assistant Ed Cooley and BC alum Bruce Pearl should be the first two calls that AD Blake James makes. If the Eagles can’t hire someone who can push for change, we’ll be right back here in 2029.
How about a return for Billy Donovan to Providence? Billy the Kid is a 1987 PC grad is a proven winner at the college level (2 National Championships at Florida) who could bring the NBA style leadership and organization to Providence (which is what college sports at that level has turned into). Also, how quickly do you think Richard Pitino would bounce from Xavier for this one? Also, in my very unscientific poll on the cesspool known as X, 92.4 of the nearly 800 respondents voted PC to be a better job than BC (7.6%).
Get used to hearing Schertz, Gallo, Steele, Hodgson with every high major job that opens. If I’m a betting man (and I am), I would predict that AT LEAST two of them stay put.
The Saint Bonaventure job is an interesting one. I’m curious to see what direction Basketball Czar Adrian Wojnarowski will go with this one, but I can’t believe that they would “retire” Mark Schmidt and hire Mike MacDonald. The St. Bona alum has been killing it at D2 Daemen (currently 28-1), but why move on from Schmidt to hire someone of similar age and background? Someone like Wizards assistant (and St. Bona alum) David Vanterpool makes more sense. In today’s day and age (see Billy the Kid above), and with Woj at the helm, this seems like a better fit.
No secret here, but Justin Joyner is way out in front at Oregon State. The second-year Michigan assistant knows the WCC – he spent seven years with Randy Bennett at St. Mary’s before joining Dusty May’s staff. Imagine if OSU knocks off Gonzaga tonight? Could be looking at another Dan Monson situation circa 2024. Glenn Sugiyama and DHR Global have this search.
A couple of interesting names floating around with the search at Air Force: Radford associate head coach Marcus Jenkins and UCF assistant Adam Hood. They are both Air Force alums. Kyle Bowlsby at Elevate is running this one.
The search at San Diego will wrap today, with an announcement shortly after. This was narrowed to three late last week. Working to confirm the name. Parker has this search.
Eastern Arizona head coach Cameron Turner is the leader at D2 Alaska Anchorage. Turner served as an assistant there from 2011-17 and was part of a program that went 116-60 during that span. In nearly four seasons at EAC, Turner has gone 93-31, including a 17-11 record so far this season.
Preston Tabor has had the interim tag removed at Paris JC. Tabor took over back in November after head coach Bill Foy was suspended indefinitely. Tabor had previously worked for both Grant McCasland and Ross Hodge at North Texas.
Working on:
There is an Ivy League job that is opening. Search firm has already been contacted, and a few guys have been reached out to. More on this one soon.
Big changes to an America East staff – stay tuned.
Big-time D3 WBB job is opening on the women’s side. Could be one of the better D3 men’s or women’s jobs around.
Check out all of the openings at every level of college basketball in HoopDirt’s coaching changes tracker HERE.
