Here are some early names being mentioned at LSU….

Johnny Jones – Head Coach North Texas. His name immediately rises to the top of this list for many reasons. He is an LSU alum who played on the 1981 Final Four team, and he spent 12 seasons on Dale Brown’s staff at LSU (was on staff for with the 1986 Final Four team). He has also been a successful head coach – his 18 wins this season snapped a stretch of five straight 20 win seasons at UNT.

Reggie Theus – Former Head Coach New Mexico State. Was also the head coach of the Sacramento Kings and an assistant with the Timberwolves. Spent 13 seasons as a player in the NBA. His connection here – LSU Chancellor Michael V. Martin was the President at New Mexico State when Theus was the head coach there.

Tony Bennett – Head Coach Virginia. Has gone 53-41 in 3 seasons at UVA including a 22-win season this year. Was also the head coach at Washington State (69-33 in 3 seasons). His wife is a native of Baton Rouge – take it from the DirtKing – you’ve gotta keep the wife as happy as possible when you live the life that we coaches do!

Donnie Tyndall – Head Coach Morehead State. Another former LSU assistant (1997-2001). Has compiled a 114-85 record during his six seasons at Morehead State. Was a part of LSU’s Sweet 16 run in 2000.

Jeff Capel – Assistant Coach Duke. In the former head coach at Oklahoma and VCU. Has a career record of 162-110 in 9 seasons (does not include 13 vacated wins from 2009-10). His name has come up in a lot of conversations regarding LSU.

I’ve also heard Marquette head coach Buzz Williams name mentioned as well as former UAB head coach Mike Davis. I don’t believe that they would be serious contenders however. Williams has already turned down other suitors this off-season, and Davis was recently released from a C-USA school – hard for an AD to sell to the alums at an SEC school.