Kentucky's search for a new head coach isn't going well

The Game Room
1

The Big Blue Nation who claims that their basketball head coaching position is the most enviable position in college basketball, have struck out on 4 premier coaching candidates at this time.

Nate Oats - Alabama
Jay Wright - former HC Villanova
Danny Hurley - Uconn
Scott Drew - Baylor

They supposedly still have the following coaches in their sites:

Billy Donovan - Bulls
Bruce Pearl - Auburn
and drumroll…
Rick Pitino - St. Johns

If you listen to Kentucky fans, they can get anyone they want. They have the resources, the facilities, the boosters, the $$$.

So what’s happened?

2

WAG but top coaches can get paid big $$$ anywhere. Why go someplace like Kentucky where the expectations and pressure is so high immediately? No matter who they hire, there will probably be calls for their resignation before they even unpack their office.

3

I’m surprised Kelvin Sampson isn’t on the short list. Maybe his age is a hindrance, and UK is looking for youth.

4

Yeah, Kelvin is 68. But Pitino is 71.

I’m guessing it will be Pearl. Long shot candidate might be Jerome Tang of Kansas State.

5

Please hire Billy Donovan.

Sincerely, Bulls fans.

6

Thanks, Kentucky. You’re making me agree with Omniscient about Chicago sports.

7

Pearl would be a fool to take that job. He has all he needs at Auburn.

I don’t think Tang is jumping ship and UK has to think they can hit higher.

8

Yes, he would. That fact, however, might not stop him from moving to a blueblood.

That’s why I said it’s a long shot.

9

It is now being reported that Mark Pope, current BYU coach, will take the Kentucky job.

10

ESPN is reporting it’ll be a 5-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed in the ESPN article.

11

I was guardedly optimistic when Pope was hired, and after seeing what he’s accomplished since then, I’m actually quite happy. He’s done a damn fine job of restocking the roster with transfers while also keeping the only Calipari recruit that he had a real chance of keeping, Kentucky Mr. Basketball Travis Perry. I did hold out hope that he could talk Reed Sheppard into sticking around. But that was obviously unlikely.