Oklahoma State removed Mike Boynton as the Head Coach of its basketball program, and it was a surprise, but yet not. It certainly was not a surprise that the University is moving on from him, but, I think it did catch some by surprise how quickly the decision came.
So, who will take over? That’s the question!
Of course, the first name to pop up is Doug Gottlieb. Let’s get one thing out before we move on, and that is, he is NOT and NEVER going to be hired as the Oklahoma State basketball coach. At least it certainly doesn’t appear that way.
And, maybe it’s the baseball brain in me, but that is a shame. After all, our very own Robin Ventura got hired by the White Sox with 0 coaching experience, but wouldn’t have been at OSU if experience is a requirement.
Other MLB Managers that have been hired with 0 experience are Scott Servais, Craig Counsell, Brad Ausmus, Walt Weiss, Mike Matheny, Robin Ventura, A.J. Hinch, Buck Martinez and Larry Dierker. Of that group, those managers have produced 12 Division Titles, 3 World Series appearances and 1 World Series title.
And, those are just the managers I can think of off the top of my head, there may be more.
But, who are some of the candidates that do have experience?
JLIII, IMO, would make the most sense. Lucas, who we all remember, hit the shot that sent OSU to the Final Four, so he is one of us. And, that matters at OSU. He doesn’t have Head Coaching experience, but he does have NBA coaching experience.
Lucas would immediately demand respect from the current players, he would surely be a great recruiter, and he knows how special OSU basketball can be. So, with just a touch of success, or even just a hint of it, OSU fans of the Eddie Sutton era would come back out of the woodwork.
At least, I think they would.
Greg McDermott had a record at Iowa State of 59-68, and then moved to Creighton where he has had success. Much of coaching is finding the right “fit”, and it appears that being at a school where football isn’t the main focus point has fit him like a glove. Plus, Creighton is a smaller school and, although they have been very good, not nearly as high profile as a place like OSU would be with similar success, or failure for that matter.
In other words, if he has a losing record at Creighton, no one will know. If he does that at OSU, that losing record will be much more in the spotlight. Some like that spotlight, others would rather stay in the “underdog” role so to speak.
Danny Sprinkle was born in Washington, went to Montana State, and, prior to Utah State, spent his time coaching on the West Coast. The Washington Job is open, and they would likely be the clear favorites. Unless you can come up with reasons that wouldn’t be the case, there is no real reason to continue on with him.
Dusty May is from Illinois & went to Indiana, so he grew up in B1G country, and the Ohio State job is open. He’s also coached at Murray State and Eastern Michigan, so he is familiar with the B1G territory and landscape, and has basically 0 experience in our neck of the woods. And certainly has no reason to choose the Oklahoma State version of OSU over the Ohio State version of the same initials.
Drew Valentine was Porter Moser’s assistant at Loyola Chicago, and took over for him when he left. He is from Michigan, has coached in Chicago, been a part of a Final Four while coaching for a team in Chicago, and the DePaul job is open. Never say never, but it would be surprising if he took a job like OSU. OSU is in a rural area, as opposed to Chicago, and is an area of the country he has no roots in, and the Big 12 is a murderers row. Never say never, but it would be surprising if, given the 2 options, he didn’t choose to be a Blue Demon.
Will Wade was born in Nashville, went to Clemson, then coached at Clemson, Harvard, VCU, LSU and McNeese State. So, he’s spent most of his time on the East Coast, no time in Big 12 territory, and was fired at LSU for 5 Level 1 Violations. I understand Eddie Sutton had issues as well, but he, also, was a favorite son of OSU, and understood how this place works. Like Gundy, he knew the type of player and roster that could SUSTAIN success at OSU. Heck, he even coached High School in the State of Oklahoma. The same way Gundy IS OSU, Sutton WAS.
Bryce Drew is an interesting name. Maybe it’s because I remember his heroics that happened in OKC, when he hit the buzzer beater in the NCAA Tournament. Or, maybe it’s just because the last name Drew has some appeal, or because he seems like a really good fit.
But, again, like McDermott, his experience at the P5 level as a Head Coach wasn’t good. At Vanderbilt he went 40-59 in his 3 years in Nashville before being fired. And then, just last year, his Antelopes team finished 5th in the WAC after being pre season #1, before winning the WAC tournament and salvaging what was, otherwise, a disappointing season.
Mark Byington is the Head Coach of James Madison, who made the NCAA tournament, so there’s that. He’s coached at the College of Charleston, Georgia Southern, and James Madison, so he has 0 ties to this region, and 0 reason to choose OSU over any other school.
Again, consider the fact that OSU is in a rural area, we are fighting the NIL battle, we drew terrible crowds, and we are in the toughest Conference in America. Now, imagine being from the East Coast in a job that you can have similar success, in a much more Urban region, and one you’re more familiar with.
Now, consider whether that person would a) take the OSU job to begin with 2) stay if they had any success. All of that for a Coach that has coached in 1 NCAA tournament game, and one in which his team lost.
Darian DeVries has been the coach at Drake since 2018, and has racked up an impressive record of 150-54. He’s also led the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament on 3 different occasions, and made it to the Round of 64 twice.
DeVries would be a good hire, no doubt, but he will also be on everyone’s list.
Mike Young was born in Virginia, and is the Head Coach at Virginia Tech. Not sure what the lure would be for him to leave a P5 job, in the state he went to College, for another P5 school in an area that he has 0 experience with.
But, I thought I’d include him anyways, just because he has popped up on some lists.
Dustin Kerns led App. State to a 26-5 record last year, but that’s on the heels of seasons of 18-15, 17-12, 19-15, then 16-16. And, just one first four appearance in the NCAA tournament. If, after 4 years, he was 16-16, OSU fans’ heads would explode. Actually, they wouldn’t, because NO ONE would be going to games or paying attention.
He has 0 experience in this area of the world, his overall record as a Head Coach is 127-100, and he is 0-1 in the NCAA tournament.
Pat Kelsey is from Cincinnati, and finished his College career at Xavier. He’s coached at Winthrop, Wake Forest, Xavier, and Charleston, so 100% of his experience is from either the East Coast, or, at least, the Eastern part of the United States. He has coached in 3 tournament games, none of which his teams have won.
Andy Kennedy went to NC State, and has coached at UAB, Cincinnati, Ole Miss and UAB. He has an overall Head coaching record of 364-205. He did take Ole Miss to the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament, then followed that up with just 1 more NCAA appearance in the next 6, before he and Ole Miss agreed to part ways.
Ben McCollum played College basketball at Northwest Missouri State, and then, he also coached at Emporia State, so he knows the area. OSU would be plucking from the Division II ranks to hire him, and Cowboy fans have a hard time when Coordinators have been hired from that level, nonetheless a Head Coach.
Niko Medved is currently the Head Coach at Colorado State, but has also headed up Furman and Drake. He left Drake with 5 players and absolutely 0 Coaching Staff. One would have to hope that, unlike what happened at Drake, if he had success here, he wouldn’t jump at the 1st “better” offer, and take every player and all the coaches.
Medved is from Minnesota, and the Golden Gophers are his Alma Mater. He WOULD leave OSU in the dust, like he did Drake to go back there, or, likely anything close or similar.
Josh Schertz is the Head Coach at Indiana State and has never coached a game in the NCAA Tournament. Not saying he’s not a good coach, but he’s coached at the DII level, and Indiana State, and has 0 tournament appearances, so it would be a chance. Maybe he would energize the OSU fans, likely it would be a 100% wait and see if he can do something he’s never done before.
Also, he is being targeted by Louisville, so there’s that.
Russell Turner wouldn’t be a bad pick, although he has absolutely 0 ties to this area, and has spent his entire life in populated areas both on the East Coast and then, as a Coach on the West Coast.
Maybe someone like that could come in and develop ties, but he would be moving from Irvine, California. I know we love Stillwater, but I can definitely understand why someone wouldn’t want to move here from Irvine, California. Well, and then stay for any substantial amount of time.
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