CoachPAW’s Short List
I would love nothing more than for UA to make a real run against the rest of the SEC schedule and make the NCAA tourney. I will be rooting for them to do so at every remaining home game at Coleman Coliseum. However, barring an 8-3 or better finish in the league, Anthony Grant’s tenure at Alabama is done.
So what now? I believe that
Alabama will be willing to pay up to 2.5 million to hire the right coach, but
who is that right coach? First, these
are the things that Crimson Tide hoops fans desire most in a new coach:
1. Accessibility to the media
Of all of Grant’s negative
characteristics, his utter abhorrence for promoting the Alabama basketball
brand has to be the worst. How are fans
supposed to be excited about the program without at least the appearance that
their head coach is excited as well?
Bama fans want a dynamic personality that will be willing to meet with
the media on a consistent basis. Coach
Grant has been about as easy to interview as Marshawn Lynch. This needs to be changed with a new coach,
especially when recruiting in a state that includes a personality like Bruce
Pearl.
2. An offensive mind
Every game, I hear the overwhelming
moans and groans of fans who absolute despise our current offensive
philosophy. We run some false motion, do
a ton of handoffs, and traditionally wait until too deep in the shot clock to
get a quality look. A new offense that
provides a little more freedom would ignite the crowds and be a big time help
in recruiting as well.
3. A proven track record of winning close games.
We have ZERO wins against the top
25 under Grant. There’s a familiar
storyline in each game too. We fight
hard, close the gap and tie the game late, then lose in the last minute. Grant’s tenure is marred with moral victory
after moral victory but we never can get over the hump, especially on the
road. We literally went a whole season
without winning a road game last year.
A Beginning List of Coaches
Would Walk to Tuscaloosa Coaches
Archie Miller-Dayton (79-41, final four appearance last
year)
Current Salary: $450,000
Miller,
the brother of more widely-known Arizona coach Sean Miller, made a name for his
own self at last year’s NCAA tourney by making a run to the final four with
Dayton. The Flyers beat us in our own
gym a couple of years ago. They
currently score 68 points a game while giving up 59. Coach Miller did well on
the television and radio circuit during his run in the tourney last
season. He will be a hot coach again
this year as his team looks to be a lock for the tourney again.
Ben Jacobson-Northern Iowa (184-103, 2 NCAA tourney
appearances)
Current Salary: $550,000
Ben
Jacobson’s Panthers are ranked #18 and the country. They score 65 points a game while giving up
55. He’s had a long 9 year tenure at
Northern Iowa and may be the type that’s comfortable there. He wouldn’t be the big name Bama fans are
looking for, but he’s certainly a viable option.
Within the Realm of Possibility Coaches
Josh Pastner-Memphis (141-50, 4 NCAA appearances)
Current Salary: 2,650,000
Pastner
personally admits that he was lucky when he got the Memphis job in 2009. Other high profile coaches turned the job
down when the then 32-year old Pastner was tabbed to replace John
Calipari. He’s had the Tigers in the
NCAA tournament every year since though.
His team scores 68 points a game this year while giving up 62. Pastner makes a good deal of money, but his
seat is getting hot in Memphis during his worse year yet. He may not leave Memphis willingly, but they
may run him on down to Tuscaloosa. I
think he could provide the youthful energy needed at Alabama as he is a
tireless recruiter.
Probably Not Coming But We Should Try
Jay Wright- Villanova (422-235, 11 NCAA tournament
appearances)
Current Salary: $2,500,000
Mark Few- Gonzaga (423-101, 15 NCAA tourney appearances)
Current Salary: $1,180,000
Gregg Marshall- Wichita State (382-156, 10 NCAA tourney
appearances)
Current Salary: $1,750,000
