The list of potential coaches at Tennessee has gotten long and varied. Let's break them down:
Brad Stevens - Butler
Pros - A proven winner who took mid-major Butler to the Championship game last year and has them into the Elite Eight this year. He looks like the most promising young coach in the country. He would also be a dramatic change from Pearl - less showman, more humility. He seems like a solid character guy - what Tennessee needs. The basketball would be more structured on the offensive end and the type of player Stevens would recruit would likely be less athletic and more fundamental.
Cons - Butler's style of play is dull. Their defensive philosophy is Kevin O'Neill-ish - half court, contest all shots, don't try to force turnovers. Stevens would bring 50-point games to Knoxville. He has no recruiting base in the South. He is also a coach on the come - Knoxville would not likely be his dream job or last destination.
Would he take it? - Probably. He has taken Butler to amazing heights and he will never be a hotter name than he is right now. UT ought to be able to offer Stevens a substantial pay raise as well. Stevens might be scared off by potential sanctions and take a job like Georgia Tech or Oklahoma instead.
Lawrence Frank - Boston Celtics
Pros - Former NBA head coach and current Celtics assistant is an X's and O's heavyweight despite looking like, well, me. He is a UT grad, so this could be a dream job for him. He is a high-character guy who might not excite alums initially, but would undoubtedly be an excellent game coach.
Cons - Can he recruit? Will he enjoy coaching college with its distractions (recruiting, class, school restrictions) after coming from the 24/7/365 basketball world of the NBA?
Would he take it? - Yes.
Jay Wright - Villanova
Pros - Terrific, charismatic coach who has been to a Final Four with Villanova and has them consistently in the Top 25. His teams play an exciting style of basketball - very guard-oriented and physical. Looks like a natural recruiter, though his base is New England. Might be ready to leave Villanova after a tough year.
Cons - No southern recruiting base. His sharp-suit, gelled-hair style seems more Big East than SEC.
Would he take it? - I don't think so. Villanova has a great basketball tradition and he has done a terrific job there. I don't see him leaving.
Jamie Dixon - Pittsburgh
Pros - Has done nothing but win at Pitt (in the regular season at least) which isn't an easy place to win in the Big East. Pitt earned a #1 seed this year. He has worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh after too many early exits from the Big Dance, so he is available. This would be a steal of a hire for Tennessee.
Cons - the tournament problems. I don't know what to make of them - is he just a good regular season coach? Is he the anti-Tom Izzo? Does that even exist?
Would he take it? - Maybe. This would be a heck of a hire.
Shaka Smart - Virginia Commonwealth
Pros - Super exciting young coach who is going to parlay his success at VCU this year into a better job. His style of basketball fits the current Vols roster and mimics early-Pearl's style of pressing and up-tempo basketball. He has roots in the South (Clemson & Florida assistant) and exudes charisma. Tennessee could be a dream job for him.
Cons - Could be a flash in the pan (Dennis Felton? Stan Heath? Jeff Lebo?).
Would he take it? - Yes, though I imagine Missouri, NC State and Georgia Tech will also be after him hard.
Mark Turgeon - Texas A&M
Pros - proven winner at Wichita State (remember him now?) and Texas A&M. Fundamental teams who play hard and smart. Can recruit in Texas where the Vols could make a recruiting splash. Good tournament coach and high character guy.
Cons - A little dull in terms of style, but not bad. Lacks Pearl's charisma, but not bad. Strikes me as a really good, not great coach.
Would he take it? - Not sure. I don't know that Tennessee is a substantially better job than Texas A&M these days.
Gregg Marshall - Wichita State
Pros - another proven winner at Winthrop (remember him now?) and now Wichita State who seemed like the Next Big Thing a few years ago, though now he seems more like another good coach. Recruited well at Winthrop. Good tournament coach and seems like a high character guy.
Cons - Gregg Marshall? Feels like Buzz Peterson II, doesn't it?
Would he take it? - Yes.
Anthony Grant - Alabama
Pros - Looked like a good coach at VCU, but proved it at Alabama this year. His teams play an exciting brand of basketball - full-court and up-tempo. Grant can recruit in the South and his soft-spoken manner would be a nice change from Pearl.
Cons - Strange jump from Alabama to Tennessee...not sure he would do this. Other than that, I don't see cons to this hire (I'm a big Grant fan).
Would he take it? - No idea. Tennessee is a better job, but jumping from one SEC team to another is a risky career move and would bring real heat on a guy who seems uber-cool.
Chris Mooney - Richmond
Pros - Solid coach who won five tournament games this year to get the Spiders to the tournament and then the Sweet Sixteen. Fundamental brand of basketball.
Cons - I don't see the Princeton offense happening in Knoxville. I'm not sure Mooney is ready to be an SEC head coach just yet and I'm not sure Tennessee would be the place for him if he was (if we took Stallings from Vandy, he would be a great fit there, but that isn't going to happen).
Would he take it? - Yes, but he won't get the offer unless others say no.
Rick Byrd - Belmont
Pros - Great coach who has over-achieved at Belmont. Born in Knoxville and a UT grad (I think), this would be a dream job for a guy who has earned every coaching thing he has ever gotten. His teams play smart, fundamental basketball. No doubt about his X's and O's ability.
Cons - Can he recruit SEC athletes? Would he brand of half-court offensive basketball (cuts, back doors, sets) work with a line-up of Golden, Tatum, Hopson, Hall and Harris?
Would he take it? - In a heartbeat.
Dark horses (my own list) - Chris Collins (assistant - Duke), Buzz Williams (Marquette), Mark Few (Gonzaga), Lon Kruger (UNLV), Larry Brown (NBA), Pat Knight (just kidding).
My Top 5
1. Anthony Grant
2. Shaka Smart
3. Jay Wright
4. Lawrence Frank
5. Jamie Dixon
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