2018 College Basketball Coaches Hiring and Firing Thread

BleedGopher

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I never expected the 2018 college hoops season hire/fire thread to start just days before most teams start practice, but alas, here we are.

Starting the thread with about as big of a name we can get in the game.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...-rick-pitino-athletic-director-tom-jurich-out

My guess is we'll have a few more soon. It will be interesting what some of these programs will do if they have to clean out the entire staff while the season is going on.

Go Gophers!!
 


At least Louisville was willing to say enough is enough and acted swiftly. I'd be surprised if some schools don't evade and obfuscate.
 

Rumors are that Louisville is considering Crean as interim, which would be enjoyable to watch. They have no coach, no AD and an interim president and practice starts in 2 days.
 

per ESPN:

Louisville assistant David Padgett was named acting head coach of the program on Friday, just two days after Rick Pitino was placed on unpaid administrative leave after being linked to a federal corruption investigation that has rocked college basketball.

Interim president Greg Postel announced the hire during a late-afternoon news conference on campus.

Padgett, a former player who returned to the program as director of basketball operations in 2014, averaged 11.2 points per game as a senior at Louisville during the 2007-08 season. The former prep All-American played overseas for two seasons before joining IUPUI's staff and commencing his coaching career.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...hired-interim-head-coach-louisville-cardinals

Go Gophers!!
 


per CBS:

Ex-UConn coach Jim Calhoun comes out of retirement to coach Division III St. Joseph

Former Connecticut coach and Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun is coming out of retirement to return to the sideline as the head of a basketball program. As ESPN's Jeff Goodman reported this week, the Hall of Famer has taken the head coach job at Division III St. Joseph in Connecticut — a private school with fewer than 3,000 students.

"I terribly missed the coaching on a daily basis," Calhoun told USA Today Sports. "I missed the association with the kids."

Calhoun is still employed as an adviser at UConn and can't take the St. Joseph coaching job until his current contract expires in March. So officially, his title at St. Joseph is a consultant and adviser to the president as the Division III upstart aims to assemble a team to compete beginning in 2018-19.

So what will Calhoun do in his soon-to-be-role if he can't coach until March? According to ESPN, it's simple: Recruit.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...f-retirement-to-coach-division-iii-st-joseph/

Go Gophers!!
 

ESPN: CSU officials don't intend for Larry Eustachy to return as coach

Colorado State officials are trying to negotiate a walk-away package for Larry Eustachy and don't intend to allow him to return as men's basketball coach, a source told ESPN on Friday.

The Denver Post, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported Thursday that CSU officials intend to fire Eustachy with cause for violating a zero-tolerance policy for abusive behavior with staff and players, which was implemented after an initial internal review of his behavior in 2013-14.

Eustachy was placed on administrative leave Saturday while the university said it was concluding its internal "climate assessment" into the culture of the program -- specifically Eustachy's behavior toward players and staff members.

On Thursday, the team boycotted its practice because of its growing frustration over lack of communication from the school about the internal investigation.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...-away-package-basketball-coach-larry-eustachy

Go Gophers!!
 

ESPN: Ole Miss hoops coach Andy Kennedy to step down after season

Ole Miss men's basketball coach Andy Kennedy will step down after the season, the school announced Monday.

Kennedy will address the decision at a news conference Monday afternoon. He is in the middle of his 12th season at Ole Miss (11-14, 4-8 in the SEC). The Rebels have only three victories in their past 12 games, including five consecutive losses.

Kennedy is 245-154 in his Ole Miss career, making him the winningest coach in school history. An assistant at Cincinnati under Bob Huggins before being hired by Ole Miss, Kennedy is the only coach in program history to lead the Rebels to 11 consecutive winning seasons.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...andy-kennedy-ole-miss-rebels-part-ways-season

Go Gophers!!
 

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This thread is going to end up rivaling the Shaka Smart thread.
 



CBS: Reggie Theus to exit as CSU Northridge coach, sources say

Cal State Northridge has decided to part ways with Reggie Theus after five seasons, sources told ESPN.

The Matadors were 17-18 in Theus' first season, but struggled to a 30-63 record the following three seasons. Northridge went 6-24 this past season and was 3-13 in league play. The program also self-imposed a postseason ban in 2016-17, following an investigation into alleged academic transgressions involving up to six players.

Theus, 60, is a former UNLV standout who was the head coach at New Mexico State and also the NBA's Sacramento Kings.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...arting-ways-men-basketball-coach-reggie-theus

Go Gophers!!
 



CBS: Reggie Theus to exit as CSU Northridge coach, sources say

Cal State Northridge has decided to part ways with Reggie Theus after five seasons, sources told ESPN.

The Matadors were 17-18 in Theus' first season, but struggled to a 30-63 record the following three seasons. Northridge went 6-24 this past season and was 3-13 in league play. The program also self-imposed a postseason ban in 2016-17, following an investigation into alleged academic transgressions involving up to six players.

Theus, 60, is a former UNLV standout who was the head coach at New Mexico State and also the NBA's Sacramento Kings.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...arting-ways-men-basketball-coach-reggie-theus

Go Gophers!!

He should have never left Hang Time.
 

Speaking of a coach that should have never left (Vandy)...former Gopher commit Kevin Stallings is out after two seasons at Pitt.

Pittsburgh dismissing coach Kevin Stallings after two seasons

Pittsburgh is severing ties with basketball coach Kevin Stallings after just two seasons, sources told ESPN.

Sources said Stallings has been informed he is out, but the two sides are working on buyout details.

Stallings was hired in 2016 by former athletic director Scott Barnes and signed a six-year deal after Jamie Dixon left for TCU. The Panthers went 16-17 (4-14 ACC) in Stallings' first season and were 8-24 this season -- including 0-19 in ACC games.

He previously spent 17 seasons as the coach at Vanderbilt, where he was 332-220 with seven NCAA tournament appearances.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...ittsburgh-panthers-fire-coach-kevin-stallings

Go Gophers!!
 

ESPN: San Diego's Lamont Smith resigns from basketball post

University of San Diego basketball coach Lamont Smith resigned Wednesday night, just hours after potential charges of domestic violence were dropped.

"We appreciate Coach Smith's contributions to Torero Athletics and to the men's basketball program since he joined us three years ago," the school released in a statement. "Coach Smith elevated the level of competitiveness of our program, recruited an outstanding group of student-athletes and established a strong foundation for future success."

"This situation has been difficult for all concerned, and our prayers continue to remain with everyone," the statement said.

Smith was arrested at Oakland International Airport on Feb. 25 after a woman alleged that Smith had abused her the previous night. The Toreros were in San Francisco playing their regular-season finale.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...-hours-domestic-violence-charges-were-dropped

Go Gophers!!
 

UConn fires Kevin Ollie. Didn't see that coming.

UConn has parted ways with Kevin Ollie, as the school announced it has "initiated disciplinary procedures" to fire the head coach.

Two days after the Huskies' season ended with an opening-round loss to SMU in the AAC tournament, the school announced Ollie's contract is being terminated "for just cause."

"It is unfortunate that this decision became necessary," athletic director David Benedict said in a statement. "As with all of our programs, we hold men's basketball to the highest standards. We will begin a national search immediately to identify our next head coach."

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22712868/uconn-huskies-parts-ways-head-coach-kevin-ollie-citing-just-cause
 


As someone tweeted, a strange three-year resume. A national championship but never finished in the top three of the conference, if I read that right.


Yes, definitely a "What have you done for me lately?" move. He was there 6 years and won 20 or more games in each of his first four seasons including the national championship and his first year when the team was subject to sanctions and ineligible for postseason. His last two years were losing seasons, though, so he's gone. I guess when your school wins three national championships and has four final four appearances in the last 14 years expectations are kind of high.
 

Yes, definitely a "What have you done for me lately?" move. He was there 6 years and won 20 or more games in each of his first four seasons including the national championship and his first year when the team was subject to sanctions and ineligible for postseason. His last two years were losing seasons, though, so he's gone. I guess when your school wins three national championships and has four final four appearances in the last 14 years expectations are kind of high.

I think it has more to do with what's also going on behind the scenes. They are under NCAA investigation, again.
 



ESPN: Georgia Bulldogs fire coach Mark Fox after nine seasons

Georgia coach Mark Fox was fired on Saturday following a disappointing regular season and a loss to Kentucky in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament.

Athletic director Greg McGarity announced the decision in a statement released by the school. McGarity moved quickly on Fox, the ninth-year coach, only one day after the Bulldogs' exit from the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22714343/georgia-bulldogs-part-ways-mark-fox

Go Gophers!!
 

ESPN: Former NC State coach Mark Gottfried to join CSU Northridge, sources say

Cal State Northridge is expected to hire former NC State coach Mark Gottfried, sources told ESPN.

Gottfried, 54, spent six seasons at NC State before being fired after the 2016-17 campaign. He has been working as a scout for the Dallas Mavericks this season, but had expressed a desire to get back into college basketball coaching.

Cal State Northridge recently fired Reggie Theus and athletic director Brandon Martin. Sources told ESPN that president Diane F. Harrison was instrumental in hiring Gottfried.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...northridge-expected-hire-coach-mark-gottfried

Go Gophers!!
 






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