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SMU Basketball Coaching Search: Hot Board 1.0
SMU Basketball has an opening at the head coach position and the Mustangs are on the hunt for a new leader.
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Jay Wright – Former Villanova Head Coach: Currently retired, Wright coached Villanova from 2001 to 2022. Under his watch the Wildcats made four Final Four appearances and won National Championships in 2016 and 2018. As far as home run opportunities go, this would be just that. After two years away, could the itch be there for him? He’s been doing studio work for a while now and appears happily retired, but could a private school like SMU aiming to make a splash land him? That’d be something…
Will Wade – McNeese State Head Coach: An excellent recruiter, Wade would engage with the student body (dressed up as General Wade when LSU students coined that nickname). A dynamic personality, Wade has won a regular season championship at every single head coaching stop. He brings an exciting offensive system that players enjoy. He’s a former SEC coach that won the first SEC Championship for LSU in a decade. If Wade came to SMU, there’d certainly be a legitimate boost of energy with a proven head coach. While the questions around his past NCAA issues will come up, his issues are in the past and NIL is now legal, putting any of that concern on the backburner. The Clemson grad even has ACC experience as he started his career with the Tigers.
Chris Jans – Mississippi State Head Coach: After winning at New Mexico State and now Mississippi State, Jans deserves to be in the conversation for some of college basketball’s best gigs. SMU would have to swing with one heavy stick here, but maybe it’s doable. In only two years, he’s led the Bulldogs to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. His salary is now $3.2 million, but in the ACC, the best coaches are paid above that. He led State to an SEC Tournament Championship game appearance on Sunday as well. He’s cemented himself as one of the nation’s top coaches. Could upgrading scenery from Starkville to Dallas be something that catches his eye enough to leap into the ACC? Longshot, but he should be on the list.
KT Turner – UT-Arlington Head Coach: A former SMU assistant who delivered some of SMU’s best players — Shake Milton and Kendric Davis. Turner turned around UT-Arlington in his first year as the Mavericks played for a WAC Tournament Championship on Saturday. He’s well-versed in how to balance NIL with strong recruiting efforts. He knows the Texas landscape, but more importantly, knows the blueprint at SMU and for engaging the community. He branched out as a respected assistant at Texas and Kentucky. Turner loves SMU and will engage the fanbase as well as bring back former players. Now, he has head coaching experience with quick success. It wouldn’t be a hard sell to land him, either.
Kellen Sampson – Houston Head Coach in Waiting: One of the top rising coaches in college basketball, Sampsin is head coach in waiting at one of the top programs in America right now. You can argue Houston has achieved was SMU was trending toward last decade. He has built the roster through leading the Cougars’ recruiting efforts. He develops guards at an elite level, knows the Texas landscape and would energize the fan base. Would listen very closely for the right situation at SMU, even if that meant leaving his father, Kelvin Sampson.
Bucky McMillan – Samford Head Coach: McMillan just wrapped up a second straight SoCon regular season championship. He started at Samford in COVID, which was a rough year, but now has won over 20 games in three straight years. He’s going to the NCAA Tournament after winning his league’s tournament. McMillan made the jump to Samford from Mountain Brook High School in Birmingham, Ala., where he led one of the top programs in the nation for over a decade. Knows AAU circuit well. As far as quality coaches, McMillan would bring a high-floor to Dallas.
Jai Lucas – Duke Associate Head Coach: One of the top, young coaches in college basketball. Lucas is the son of basketball legend John Lucas. Coached at Texas and Kentucky before landing at Duke, where he was quickly promoted. Led impressive recruiting efforts at all his stops and is now the ringleader for Duke’s impressive defense. Lucas is tabbed as one of the “next up” college basketball coaches. He’s another option that knows what SMU can be and would jump at the job.
Bobby Hurley – Arizona State Head Coach: Arizona State doesn’t have resources, but Bobby Hurley can flat-out coach. With resources, his career could truly take off. A well-known name in ACC circles, the former Duke guard knows the league and what it takes to be successful. Give him more opportunities to truly be successful and SMU might find something in the Sun Devils’ coach. He’s won over 20 games multiple times and advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times. With SMU’s resources, things could be bright.
Andy Kennedy – UAB Head Coach: A two-time SEC Coach of the Year and the winningest coach in Ole Miss history, Kennedy has won at a high level. He also has UAB trending well despite a lack of resources. When it comes to a well-known name, Kennedy is that in coaching circles.
Ben McCollum – Northwest Missouri State Head Coach: After 14 seasons of high-level success in DII, maybe it’s time for a bigger opportunity. McCollum is an intriguing option recommended by multiple industry sources. He has been named Coach of the Year in DII five times while winning his league’s Coach of the Year honor seven times. Would be up for a move up after years of proving himself at a lower level, but SMU needs a good coach and McCollum is recognized as one.
Will Wade – McNeese State Head Coach: An excellent recruiter, Wade would engage with the student body (dressed up as General Wade when LSU students coined that nickname). A dynamic personality, Wade has won a regular season championship at every single head coaching stop. He brings an exciting offensive system that players enjoy. He’s a former SEC coach that won the first SEC Championship for LSU in a decade. If Wade came to SMU, there’d certainly be a legitimate boost of energy with a proven head coach. While the questions around his past NCAA issues will come up, his issues are in the past and NIL is now legal, putting any of that concern on the backburner. The Clemson grad even has ACC experience as he started his career with the Tigers.
Chris Jans – Mississippi State Head Coach: After winning at New Mexico State and now Mississippi State, Jans deserves to be in the conversation for some of college basketball’s best gigs. SMU would have to swing with one heavy stick here, but maybe it’s doable. In only two years, he’s led the Bulldogs to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. His salary is now $3.2 million, but in the ACC, the best coaches are paid above that. He led State to an SEC Tournament Championship game appearance on Sunday as well. He’s cemented himself as one of the nation’s top coaches. Could upgrading scenery from Starkville to Dallas be something that catches his eye enough to leap into the ACC? Longshot, but he should be on the list.
KT Turner – UT-Arlington Head Coach: A former SMU assistant who delivered some of SMU’s best players — Shake Milton and Kendric Davis. Turner turned around UT-Arlington in his first year as the Mavericks played for a WAC Tournament Championship on Saturday. He’s well-versed in how to balance NIL with strong recruiting efforts. He knows the Texas landscape, but more importantly, knows the blueprint at SMU and for engaging the community. He branched out as a respected assistant at Texas and Kentucky. Turner loves SMU and will engage the fanbase as well as bring back former players. Now, he has head coaching experience with quick success. It wouldn’t be a hard sell to land him, either.
Kellen Sampson – Houston Head Coach in Waiting: One of the top rising coaches in college basketball, Sampsin is head coach in waiting at one of the top programs in America right now. You can argue Houston has achieved was SMU was trending toward last decade. He has built the roster through leading the Cougars’ recruiting efforts. He develops guards at an elite level, knows the Texas landscape and would energize the fan base. Would listen very closely for the right situation at SMU, even if that meant leaving his father, Kelvin Sampson.
Bucky McMillan – Samford Head Coach: McMillan just wrapped up a second straight SoCon regular season championship. He started at Samford in COVID, which was a rough year, but now has won over 20 games in three straight years. He’s going to the NCAA Tournament after winning his league’s tournament. McMillan made the jump to Samford from Mountain Brook High School in Birmingham, Ala., where he led one of the top programs in the nation for over a decade. Knows AAU circuit well. As far as quality coaches, McMillan would bring a high-floor to Dallas.
Jai Lucas – Duke Associate Head Coach: One of the top, young coaches in college basketball. Lucas is the son of basketball legend John Lucas. Coached at Texas and Kentucky before landing at Duke, where he was quickly promoted. Led impressive recruiting efforts at all his stops and is now the ringleader for Duke’s impressive defense. Lucas is tabbed as one of the “next up” college basketball coaches. He’s another option that knows what SMU can be and would jump at the job.
Bobby Hurley – Arizona State Head Coach: Arizona State doesn’t have resources, but Bobby Hurley can flat-out coach. With resources, his career could truly take off. A well-known name in ACC circles, the former Duke guard knows the league and what it takes to be successful. Give him more opportunities to truly be successful and SMU might find something in the Sun Devils’ coach. He’s won over 20 games multiple times and advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times. With SMU’s resources, things could be bright.
Andy Kennedy – UAB Head Coach: A two-time SEC Coach of the Year and the winningest coach in Ole Miss history, Kennedy has won at a high level. He also has UAB trending well despite a lack of resources. When it comes to a well-known name, Kennedy is that in coaching circles.
Ben McCollum – Northwest Missouri State Head Coach: After 14 seasons of high-level success in DII, maybe it’s time for a bigger opportunity. McCollum is an intriguing option recommended by multiple industry sources. He has been named Coach of the Year in DII five times while winning his league’s Coach of the Year honor seven times. Would be up for a move up after years of proving himself at a lower level, but SMU needs a good coach and McCollum is recognized as one.