Shaka Smart and Five Other NCAA Tournament Coaches Whose Stock is Rising
VCU wasn’t even supposed to be in the field of 68 in last year’s NCAA Tournament, but apparently Shaka Smart and the Rams didn’t get the memo. They ripped off five straight victories on their way to a Final Four, and Shaka Smart joined the likes of Butler head coach Brad Stevens as the nation’s most coveted coaching prospect.
Smart elected to stay at Virginia Commonwealth, but after upsetting Wichita State in their opening round match-up, Shaka Smart is sure to be a household name in coaching searches across the country. However, he’s not the only coach at a mid-major school, or even at a less traditional high-major school, that the power conferences schools will be interested in.
Here is a list of five coaches not named Shaka Smart who could be in play for a big-time coaching position.
Gregg Marshall, Wichita State:
Wichita State’s stock is down after losing to Shaka Smart’s VCU Rams, but Gregg Marshall is a name that will be bantered about for several power conference openings this offseason, which is nothing new for Marshall. The question is, would Marshall be interested in leaving. Multiple schools have come calling during his five years in Wichita, but Marshall hasn’t seriously entertained any offers. In 14 years as a head coach, Marshall has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances and also captured an NIT title.
Steve Prohm, Murray State:
Murray State rode an undefeated start that lasted into February to a wave of national attention, and first-year head coach Steve Prohm could potentially capitalize. The obvious question will be whether or not his lack of experience hinders his chances of getting a bigger job. Murray State has certainly had a great run, but larger schools may want to see a larger body of work. The 37-year old may not be in the market for another job this offseason, but a strong tournament run would certainly have his stock on the rise.
Tommy Amaker, Harvard:
Tommy Amaker is no stranger to power conference basketball, having been the head coach at both Seton Hall (Big East) and Michigan (Big Ten). He failed to take the Wolverines to the tournament during six years in Ann Arbor, but he landed on his feet in Harvard and has built a program in the Ivy League that has earned a reputation for giving the majors trouble. Last year, the Harvard Crimson lost a one-game playoff that would have put them in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1946, but they rebounded in 2012 and won the Ivy League outright to make it into the field. The Crimson lost their opening round game to Vanderbilt, but both Amaker and Harvard’s stock is clearly on the rise.
Tad Boyle, Colorado:
Tad Boyle is in just his second season of competitive high-major basketball with Colorado, albeit in the lowly Pac-12, but he has already popped up on the radar for a few more lucrative jobs. In his first season in Boulder, Boyle was able to lead the Buffs to a school-record 24 wins and a semifinal birth in the NIT, and he followed that up in 2011-12 with an NCAA Tournament berth and a first round (“second round”) upset victory over UNLV. Prior to heading to Colorado, Boyle also led Northern Colorado from a four-win team during their first season in the Big Sky to a 25-win team just four years later, so Tad Boyle knows how to build a program. Don’t be surprised if Boyle receives serious consideration around the country.
Dan Monson, Long Beach State:
LBSU couldn’t pull off the upset of New Mexico yesterday, but Monson is still riding the high of an amazing season in the Big West Conference. That being said, high-majors may want to see sustained success in Long Beach before he’s offered the chance to get back into a coaching position at a power conference. Prior to eight seasons coaching at Minnesota, Monson had led Gonzaga to an Elite Eight berth in just his second season before he immediately jumped ship. The results in Minnesota were mediocre, so you could imagine that schools will want to see him win consistently at Long Beach State before he is considered for a big job, although a tournament bid is certainly a step in the right direction.
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