Posted by  brian gruber, s Tampa on 03/21  at  12:48 PM

I would like to throw some more names in the hat.  most are pipe dreams but would like to see if there is any interest.
steve lavin
rick majereus
gregg marshal-winthrop
nick lowery S IL
Brad Brownell Wright State
ammaker michigan
reggie Theus
jim less-bradly
Dana Altman-creighton
Stew Morrill-utah st
Mark Fox-nevada
Mark Turgeon wichita st

Posted by  Brett McMurphy,  on 03/19  at  12:03 AM

Perry, thanks for the link. When McCullum was fired, Pelphrey was one of the six leading candidates I listed. Also, as I wrote earlier this week, sources told me Grant is not interested in USF. Shyatt also would be a quality candidate.

Posted by  Perry Lerner, Lake Worth, Florida on 03/18  at  10:59 PM

Apparently <a href=“http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10068385”>CBS Sportsline</a> has there sources about the USF coaching search:

“Sources are telling CBS SportsLine.com that South Florida is taking a hard look at South Alabama’s John Pelphrey.

Other candidates on the USF radar are VCU’s Anthony Grant and Florida assistant Larry Shyatt, although Grant doesn’t reciprocate the Bulls’ interest.”

They all have there Florida ties through the University of Florida.  We shall see I suppose.

Posted by  Chello Webb, Maryland on 03/18  at  04:10 PM

I would like to see Tommy Amaker.  He would probably be affordable and he is somewhat of a “big” name.  This has to be a splash if we are going to compete in the Big East.  Maybe a coach with something to prove and a proven recruiter.  Mike Jarvis is stained but he has coached in the big east and is a proven recruiter.

Posted by  Thomas Jones,  on 03/18  at  03:00 PM

Hey Brett, I agree with you on this one.  USF paying a basketball coach more than it’s football is just not going to happen.  If it did happen Woolard would have to be out of his bloody mind.  Let’s agree on one thing every indivual has his/her price & that coach from Memphis is just out of our price range.

Posted by  Brett McMurphy,  on 03/16  at  09:10 PM

Jim, there’s money and then there’s “serious” money. Calipari would demand serious money - and even that probably wouldn’t be enough. At Memphis, he’s guaranteed the league title, a top 10 ranking every year and a top 3 NCAA Tourney seed. He was linked to jobs at N.C. State and Pittsburgh in the past - N.C. State was a “salary drive” to improve his situation at Memphis and he has ties to the Pittsburgh area, I believe, and that’s why he looked into that. But it would take probably $1.5 million a year, at least for Calipari. You think USF is going to pay its basketball coach more than its football coach??? I don’t.

Posted by  Jim Martin, Tampa on 03/16  at  01:53 PM

Bret:
  I agree with those who have doubted that USF will pay what it takes to get the right coach.  If they would, the best candidate is John Calipari.
  He’d like nothing more than to reestablish his reputation by taking on the big boys coaching in the Big East, rather than be in Conference USA.  He’d love the challenge of basically building the USF program from scratch and what that would do for him.  And, can you imagine how the folks in Tampa would get excited and begin showing up at the Sun Dome!
  Bret, it’s a win-win.  USF, come up with the money!

Posted by  Brett McMurphy,  on 03/16  at  09:25 AM

Gary, you got a deal! Larry, I don’t know why Woolard waited. I asked him that and he said he wanted to be “deliberate.” I know, though, that he already had someone on his behalf out there talking with potential candidates, search firms, etc., in February, so why not fire McCullum immediately? I don’t know why, especially when he knew McCullum would be out on the road recruiting.

Posted by  Larry Goodman, Temple Terrrace on 03/15  at  08:25 PM

Why did Woolard wait to fire Coach Mc and thereby embarrass both USF and McCullum who was already recruiting?

Posted by  Gary Stephen, Omaha, Nebraska on 03/15  at  02:50 PM

Well Brett, with Karl Hobbs’ rumored expression of interest in the job, it looks like you may have been right. We’ll see who interviews and who ultimately gets the job. I’d love to see one of those guys.

As for your wager, I’d be thrilled to lose that bet, since it means a great coaching hire and a CWS bid for the Bulls. I’ll even raise the stakes: if the Bulls make the NCAAs under the new coach, I’ll make it the Paxton Chop House. Furthermore, if through some miracle they get placed in the NCAA Omaha regional next year, I’ll throw a huge party in the Old Market.

Posted by  Perry Lerner, Lake Worth, Florida on 03/14  at  05:36 PM

“multiple sources are telling CBS SportsLine.com the following:

George Washington’s Karl Hobbs is interested in South Florida. “

<a href=“http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10060195”>CBS SportsLine.com</a>

Sorry if the link doesn’t work, but here is the URL http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10060195

Posted by  Brett McMurphy,  on 03/14  at  02:29 PM

Gary, I guess we’ll disagree on “realistic” candidates. I am fairly confident USF’s next coach will have head coaching experience. Since you’re in Nebraska and I know you disagree with me, the loser can buy dinner in Omaha whenever USF makes the College World Series. Deal?

Posted by  Gary Stephen, Omaha, Nebraska on 03/14  at  01:00 PM

Brett, I realize you didn’t mention Lowery, but the points raised could be said of Ford, Grant and maybe Pelphrey. These guys are positioned to move to much bigger schools than USF.

Let’s be realistic: compared to other schools in the “big six” conferences, USF has a decided lack of tradition, resources, and fan support. I really think they need to consider a mid-major approach. If USF wants a hot young coach, they will have to give him his first head coaching job.

Look at Anthony Grant. USF could have hired him in 2003. After four years in the Colonial Athletic Conference, they can’t. And the CAA isn’t is good as the Atlantic 10, which is where most of your candidates come from.

Posted by  Brett McMurphy,  on 03/14  at  09:53 AM

Hector, Doug said he wanted to fill the position as quickly as possible, but with USF expected to pursue coaches playing in the NCAA or NIT tournaments it would have to wait until they were eliminated. Most of the basketball coaching vacancies usually get filled by the first week of April.

Posted by  Hector Jimenez, Weston on 03/14  at  05:48 AM

Brett, here is a question that I have not seen addressed yet.  Is there a deadline or particular time frame when Woolard would want to have a new coach in place, due to possible recruiting, BE bball meetings, etc?

Posted by  Conner Rose Paschal, Tarpon Springs, FL on 03/14  at  12:11 AM

In regards to the story elsewhere in this section on Tic Price ... I can’t help but think of a prominent Republican’s reaction when Chester A. Arthur became President: “Chet Arthur?  Good God!”  Try the Sunshine State Conference, Tic.  And if USF hires any of these has-been retreads, prepare for five more years of the program running in place.

Posted by  David Weber, USF on 03/13  at  09:25 PM

Well, Grant would have us winning games, and I get the impression that DW and the school don’t really want that. Since cost is prohibitive, I think I am leaning towards an established assistant- the type of guy who has waited for his shot at the big time for a while. The K-State assistant seems to fit that profile.

Posted by  Brett McMurphy,  on 03/13  at  09:11 PM

Greg and Dr. Rob, Gregg Marshall is getting a lot of love on here from several folks. However, I haven’t heard his name bantered around much from the people I’m talking to - perhaps I’m talking to the wrong people??? No question he’s a quality coach. If he pulls off a first-round NCAA upset, his stock will continue to rise. Gary, I never mentioned SIU’s Chris Lowery, others have. I’ve been told he’s a “Midwest” guy - SIU alum, born in Indiana, who has only coached in Illinois and Missouri. As far as following the football coach formula, USF football began as a I-AA school; hoops team is in another galaxy competition wise in the Big East.

Posted by  Dr. Rob Ritter,  on 03/13  at  06:51 PM

Coach Gregg Marshall is a hot coaching prospect. He loves Rock Hill, so does his wife. To be frank, he is exactly the right type of coach for our situation. I know others want other coaches listed above though. He will leave Winthrop only after the tournament is over and the right amount of cash is in play. If USF does not want to pay, forget him as a possibility. I know USf has the money due to an increase in Bowl payouts. The question is will out AD pay for the coach and help build USF into a basketball school that will comptete with the other big time programs in our conference?

Posted by  Gary Stephen, Omaha, Nebraska on 03/13  at  01:05 PM

Brett, your “realistic” candidates are anything but. The last two coaches who left Southern Illinois (Chris Lowery’s current school) got jobs at Illinois and Purdue. The last two coaches who left Xavier (Sean Miller’s current job) went to Wake Forest and Ohio State. Gregg Marshall is a hot candidate every year, but doesn’t seem in any hurry to leave Winthrop. If these guys want to change schools, they can get much better jobs than USF.

If USF wants an Anthony Grant, they need to hire him in 2003, not 2007. Doug Woolard needs to find a major-conference assistant with the right skills, and give him his first head coaching job. That worked pretty well when we needed a football coach.

Posted by  Greg Budzban, Carbondale, IL on 03/13  at  07:29 AM

Hey Brett,

Why don’t you ever mention the Winthorp coach, Marshall, as a possibility?

Clearly the guy can coach.  Do you know something about his availability that would preclude his being considered?

Posted by  Thomas Kenyon, Sarasota on 03/13  at  07:15 AM

How about Lowrey at Southern Illinois?

Posted by  Claudel Olivier, Tampa on 03/13  at  06:24 AM

Give me someone more established any way.  Whoever he is we can get him.

Posted by  Hector Jimenez, Weston on 03/13  at  05:15 AM

“Small world” is right Brett and if there is a coaching connection between the two then Ellis should automatically be taken off the list.  If he gave Mc his first job than Mc learned from him and that means that we will get nothing but the same should he be our coach.  NO on ELLIS!