Realistic Candidates for HC

[DownwardDawg]

My bet is Butch.

[Todd4State]

Dan Fitzgerald is a very interesting name.

He is. Winning at Kansas isn't easy. He has done it with mostly JUCO players and guys out of the portal.

[Santiago]

The fact that he is only 53 is shocking. But you are right, Kendall Rodgers is going to do what he usually does in these searches, get coaches raises because he spouts exactly what these agents tell him to say.

Only if Grisham is in the package deal ***

[bulldogcountry1]

Butch has a good resume, but he has missed the postseason 2 of the previous 4 seasons. He meets my main qualification of having experience with high pressure baseball programs, but his inconsistency in the portal era is a bit concerning.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Butch has a good resume, but he has missed the postseason 2 of the previous 4 seasons. He meets my main qualification of having experience with high pressure baseball programs, but his inconsistency in the portal era is a bit concerning.

Well you will not have to worry because it will not be Butch. We are not going to be willing to up his salary and we are not paying that buyout.

[Cooterpoot]

My bet is Butch.

You're going to lose your bet

[Quaoarsking]

If O'Connor really is the guy, we can probably announce him before the Regionals even start, getting a head start on the recruiting/portal process.

[StarkVegasSteve]

If O'Connor really is the guy, we can probably announce him before the Regionals even start, getting a head start on the recruiting/portal process.

It will not be Brian O’Conner. Would be a good to great hire but it will not be him.

[Bothrops]

No way it's Butch unless they don't want to search for a coach.

[bulldogcountry1]

Kind of hope we go after someone younger than Butch or O'Conner. I'd like to see us appraoch this as the hire that could stay here for the next 10-15 years.

[Really Clark?]

Kind of hope we go after someone younger than Butch or O'Conner. I'd like to see us appraoch this as the hire that could stay here for the next 10-15 years.

They would only be in their mid 60's if they stay 10+ years. It's not like they are already 67

[CaptainObvious]

Tyler Gillum is the guy WE want!!!

[StarkVegasSteve]

They would only be in their mid 60's if they stay 10+ years. It's not like they are already 67

We're not paying the money it would cost to 1. get them to leave where they are and 2. pay the buyouts.

[Really Clark?]

We're not paying the money it would cost to 1. get them to leave where they are and 2. pay the buyouts.

Not saying we would just referencing the OP's age comment.

[Cooterpoot]

I don't have a problem with O'Connor at all. He's got to be near the top of the interest is real. I talked to my VA peeps and they said hes definitely not happy with the AD there but they stopped short of saying he wanted out. Said it's definitely something to watch.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I don't have a problem with O'Connor at all. He's got to be near the top of the interest is real. I talked to my VA peeps and they said hes definitely not happy with the AD there but they stopped short of saying he wanted out. Said it's definitely something to watch.

He was unhappy in 2019 and turned us down so I doubt much has changed.

[StarkVegasSteve]

So we are about 24 hrs removed from the announcement and I will try to handicap some of the names I have heard and some I have heard tossed out.


Erik Bakich-35/1. He is unhappy at Clemson and has made that known but he is making north of 1.2 and his contract had 5 years left on it. I imagine the buyout would be too steep for us to pay plus he would probably command a 1.3-1.4 salary.

Brian O’Conner-45/1. Makes 1.4 and his contract runs through 2031. You run into the same problems you do with Bakich. Big buyout and would command a salary that is well over what we are seemingly willing to pay.

Chris Pollard-12/1. If I had to handicap it at this point he would probably be the sitting HC favorite this early. Obviously do not know what his contract is due to Duke being private but I cannot imagine he is making north of 750K.

Mark Wasikowski-18/1. If we strike out with Pollard, my guess is this is where we would turn. Making around 700K so contract nor buyout would be an issue.

Skylar Meade-30/1. He is behind the previous two but his stuff is the same as theirs. Contract nor buyout would be an issue.

Josh Elander or Will Coggin-30/1. If we miss on the two P4 HCs they have just as good of a chance at it as the G5 HCs.

Butch Thompson-60/1. He is not coming. He is happy at Auburn, making about 1.3 with a contract that would at least run through 29. Cohen would also do whatever it takes to keep him.

Nick Mingione-70/1. His buyout is the issue over salary. His buyout is strong and Kentucky would probably force us to overpay if we went that Mingione route.


UPDATE: with Brian O'Conner now only rumored to have a 500K buyout, I would lower his odds to 20/1. Still not the favorite but definitely more in play.

[Coursesuper]

He was unhappy in 2019 and turned us down so I doubt much has changed.

A lot changed, John Cohen is gone. But it won’t be O’Conner.

[Todd4State]

He was unhappy in 2019 and turned us down so I doubt much has changed.

NIL has changed since then. I have heard that is a big issue at Virginia. He knows that if he can't get that they're dead.

[SPDawgs]

I'm Just wondering why people aren't giving Meade a serious look. A young guy with a lot of fire and knows how to use the portal in modern day college ball. 62% WP at Troy and that is with them going on the road to play powerhouses in the non-Conference. I think he would be a good grab with a smaller buyout