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The college basketball offseason has officially begun. The UConn Huskies were crowned National Champions on Monday, completing their repeat title quest which had not been done since 2006-07.
Hundreds of players have already thrown their names in the portal and most head coaching vacancies have been filled to get a head-start on roster building.
However, one of the top jobs in the sport remains open. It was announced that after fifteen years as the showrunner in Kentucky, John Calipari has left the university to accept the job at Arkansas, which was made available after Eric Musselman departed for USC. Here are some of the top candidates to replace the legendary coach.
Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls
Collegiate Head Coaching Record: 502 - 206 (.709)
Accomplishments: 2x National Champion (2006, 2007), 4x Final Four, 4x SEC Tournament Champion, 6x SEC Regular Season Champion, 3x SEC Coach of the Year
Donovan is by far the most decorated coach on this list, having built a powerhouse program down in Gainesville that peaked when the Gators won back-to-back national titles in 2006-07. The former Providence star has been the Chicago Bulls head coach since 2020, and actually signed a four-year, $24M extension prior to the 2023-23 season. The Bulls have already locked up a play-in game for the 2024 NBA playoffs, so if Donovan were to jump ship now it would have to be for a large pay increase in the realm of $9 or more.
It's also worth noting that Kentucky has tried to hire Donovan previously. Twice, in fact. Once after the consecutive national titles and then again in '09. The former Florida coach also hasn't led a college program since 2015, and the new NIL/transfer portal era of college basketball may be unappealing to someone like Donovan who has not been entrenched in the sport's new landscape for quite some time.
Billy Donovan said Kentucky had not contacted him about the head coach position.
Spoke highly of UK and said he’s flattered, but brushed the last 48 hours off as speculation.
“My total commitment and focus is here.”
Quipped later: “Has John even left yet?.” pic.twitter.com/5UH9aQy0K6
— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) April 9, 2024
Nate Oats, Alabama
Collegiate Head Coaching Record: 214-98 (.686)
Accomplishments: 2x SEC Regular Season Champion and Tournament Champion, 2021 SEC Coach of the Year, 2024 Final Four
Oats might be the hottest name in college basketball not named Dan Hurley after taking the Crimson Tide to their first-ever Final Four this season and keeping the program at a top-10 level over the past few years. The former Buffalo head coach is one of the best recruiters/navigators of the portal in the country and seems like a good culture fit for the Wildcats. However, like Donovan, Oats recently said he is firmly committed to his current team.
— Nate Oats (@nate_oats) April 9, 2024
Brad Underwood, Illinois
Collegiate Head Coaching Record: 252-115 (.687)
Accomplishments: 2x Big Ten Tournament Champion, 2022 Big Ten Regular Season Champion, 3x Southland Regular Season and Tournament Champion
Underwood has had a respectable head-coaching career that started with building an under-the-radar dynasty at Stephen F. Austin, going 53-1 in the Southland over three seasons. Now the coach at Illinois, Underwood just took the program to their first Elite Eight since 2005, bowing out to eventual National Champion, UConn. Kentucky fans might look down upon this hire, but Underwood could be the steadying presence they need to get them back to tournament relevance.
ILLINOIS TO THE ELITE 8= Brad Underwood shirtless with water guns and goggles.🤣🔫💦
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 29, 2024
Dan Hurley, UConn
Collegiate Head Coaching Record: 292-163 (.642)
Accomplishments: 2x National Champion, 2024 Big East Regular Season and Tournament Champion, 2024 Big East Coach of the Year, A-10 Regular Season and Tournament Champion
This one is most likely a pipe dream for Kentucky fans, but there's no question Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart will try to throw a massive bag at the hottest name in the sport right now. Hurley took over a UConn program that was nearly at an all-time low with the messy Kevin Ollie ousting and has built them into the undisputed top program in college basketball at the moment. The former Rhode Island head coach has led the Huskies to back-to-back National Championships, both in utterly dominant fashion by winning all 12 tournament games by 13+ points.
Hurley was asked about the Kentucky job in the post-game presser and several other times on various talk shows but has laughed off any rumors of him leaving. While it's maybe the biggest longshot on the list, there still exists a universe in which Hurley does jump ship for the Kentucky gig, and it would be a no-brainer home run hire for a Kentucky program that has not been able to figure out the tournament in recent years.
Dan Hurley on Kentucky:
“My phone broke on Saturday so I couldn't receive any calls or text messages..
I had no idea what was going on with Kentucky and then I got those questions after the game…
UConn is my only mindset.”pic.twitter.com/qi0fyK3FiM
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) April 9, 2024
Scott Drew, Baylor
Collegiate Head Coaching Record: 466-255 (.646)
Accomplishments: 2021 National Champion, 2x Big 12 Regular Season Champion, 3x Big 12 Coach of the Year
Perhaps the name that has been thrown around as the most likely candidate or at the top of Kentucky's realistic list, Drew would also be a slam-dunk hire for the Wildcats. The question is whether or not he is willing to leave Waco, a place he has lived for the past 21 years as the head coach of the Baylor Bears. Drew is a proven commodity, having achieved great success from the portal while still recruiting at an extremely high level, which is crucial in this new age of college basketball. It was also reported that Kentucky will meet with Drew about their head coaching position, so we could have our answer here soon.
Sources: Kentucky plans to officially meet with Baylor's Scott Drew regarding its head coaching vacancy in the near future.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 10, 2024
TJ Otzelberger, Iowa State
Collegiate Head Coaching Record: 169-98 (.633)
Accomplishments: 2x Sweet Sixteen, Big 12 Tournament Champion, 2x Summit League Regular Season and Tournament Champion
Known as one of the top player's coaches in the sport, Otzelberger has rapidly ascended the collegiate head coaching ranks over the past few years. Three seasons ago he was head man of a .500 UNLV team, but then completed one of the greatest turnarounds in college basketball history after taking over at Iowa State. Otzelberger took a 2-22 (0-18) Cyclone team to the Sweet Sixteen the very next year. He's clearly a great program builder who is also very well respected in the industry, but Kentucky is likely looking for someone more proven at this point in their career.
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