Marquette and the Coaching Search

I fully expected a coaching search for Marquette in our near future. Travis Ford is coaching himself out of Oklahoma State and I fully expected Buzz to end up there after next season. I did not expect him to take a job at Virginia Tech. Good luck.

Here's a list of names being bandied about and some I threw in knowing the chances are less than naught.

DREAM LIST

The dream list can also be renamed the no way in hell list but let's run three names mentioned.

Shaka Smart- Could he be interested in moving on? Sure. Will he? Seems doubtful at this point and he'd be a target for the blue bloods once their coaches move on. Duke & UNC are most commonly named in regards to Smart but I bet those schools hire from the family, at least in the first instance after K and Roy retire. I think Kentucky or Kansas would be more likely, maybe Louisville. I believe Calipari will try the NBA again and maybe sooner than later.

Gregg Marshall- Jeff Goodman of ESPN hinted this isn't as unlikely as one would think. Neither is me dating Kate Upton.

Tony Bennett- This isn't my dream but for some I guess it is. He might leave Virginia but it isn't going to be now and it isn't going to be for Marquette. Best thing I saw about Buzz getting hired was someone claiming Buzz was great hire for Tech, partly because he might scare Tony & Shaka out of Virginia. Uh, huh.


CURRENT COACHES/EXPERIENCED HEAD COACHES

This list is more realistic and I'll put it in what would be my order of prefrence.

1. Steve Masiello- Masiello lead Manhattan to a near upset of mentor Rick Pitino and Louisville. Masiello is 36 amd has been the Head Coach at Manhattan since 2011. Prior to that, he was a guard on Kentucky's team from 1996-2000 before embarking on a coaching career. Pitino has said he recruited Masiello knowing he'd be a coach someday. He served as an assistant at Manhattan from 2001-04 and then with Louisville from 2005-11. He'd bring a high level of intensity and attitude. Marquette dipped into the MAAC to hire Mike Deane. Previous Manhattan coaches to move on to bigger jobs include Fran Fraschilla and Bobby Gonzalez, so the results have been mixed. It is rumored he is the front runner for the job at South Florida. Age, entusiasm and pedigree are my favorites. I do not believe he is in the mix at all.

2. Archie Miller- The darling of the 2014 NCAA tournament, he has lead Dayton to its first Seet 16 in 20 years. Miller is the brother of Arizona's Sean Miller and served as an assistant under him for 3 years before taking the Dayton job. Miller is only 35 and has worked at NC State (2004-06), Ohio State (2007-08) and started at Western Kentucky from 2003-04. Miller is a rising star and would be a great hire and has experience in lots of different locations. May not be inclined to move at this point as he has done a great job building Dayton to this level. Wake Forest may target him. FWIW, Jeff Goodman tweeted Miller was coaching for the Marquette job last night. I'll say this, Dayton's winning margin has been razor thin. Would he be a hot commodity if a bucket went in for Ohio State or Syracuse? Something to think about but I've liked him for a while.

3. Saul Phillips- The North Dakota State head man is a Bo Ryan disciple so Marquette fans may not like this but Phillips knows the landscape and anyone that watched his team and him saw a good team and great energy from Phillips. Phillips was born in Reedsburg and played under Bo at Platteville and coached for him until 2004 before taking an assistants job at NDSU. He became the head man in 2007 taking them to the dance in 2009, the first year the Bison were eligible. At 41, he's young enough to be a guy that could be at Marquette for years if successful. He has been quoted as talking about the importance of having a solid foundation starting with a University President and AD. Marquette has neither. So...

4. Ben Howland- I believe he is the favorite and will get the job. I'll save thoughts on him for later. It's a long look.

5. Brian Wardle- I don't think he's the guy given the issues that plagued him after last season. He was cleared of any wrongdoing but I'm not sure he energizes the fans. He was an assistant under Tom Crean from 2003-05 and some ex-players have expressed support in him for the job. He coached as an assistant at UWGB until getting the head job in 2010. He's only 34 years old and if it's Howland, he could get a look later, post Howland.

CURRENT ASSISTANTS

I don't think they go this way but here are 4 names I'd consider.

1. Brad Autry- Autry has been an assistant under Buzz Williams since 2008. Autry has been considered by some the man did most of the work at Marquette the last few seasons. Autry coached at Baylor pre-scandal and was part of some success there. He was also an assistant under Bill Self at Tulsa. He has 20 years experience and might help keep the recruiting class here. Isaac Chew who is on the staff may get a look, too, but i think Autry is the most likely if it comes from within.

2. Greg Gard- A Bo man and Wisconsin man, there is zero chance he even gets a call, much less the job but I'd be intrigued by him. Gard could be the coach in waiting should Bo step down anytime soon and that is more likely than we think. Gard's experience has been all Bo, as a player at Platteville and as an assistant at Milwaukee and Madison. My guess is he'll be a good head coach once given the chance.

3. Orlando Antigua- At some point, he's going to get a head coaching job. He is an assistant at Kentcuky who could be a fall back option for South Florida. Antigua played for Pitt and was an assistant under Jamie Dixon at Pitt until 2008 when he joined Coach Cal at Memphis and followed him to Kentucky. He's been a great recruiter for the Wildcats.

4. Mike Hopkins- Hopkins is the lead assistant for Syracuse and has been rumored for numerous jobs the last few years. Hopkins has been named the coach in waiting so that may scare schools off. Would know the landscape for the most part and would be hungry to establish his own identity away from Boeheim.

The tea leaves are reading Ben Howland and Marquette is going to happen. It isn't a done deal by any means and it's possible Marquette is patient and does its due diligence. I hope it does but in today's world, a slow process is seen as being weak, unsure & unattractive. Make the right choice, not the fast choice.