List of viable replacements.

[JonathanW]

My calls in this order.

Nate Oats. A jerk yes. But the style is good and they do play defense. He’d do great here. This is the guy imo.

Bruce Pearl. He’s 63 but would kill it here for 5-10 years.

Dusty May. Yes I’d be willing to take a chance.

If the above say no, which is a possibility then Lamont Paris. Idk if he’s ready but he looks ready.

Paris. Way too soon. Last year replace his name with the Missouri coach Gates, who has yet to win an SEC game this year. Need sustained success, not 1-2 years.

 

[CatPhight]

Couple of thoughts on this.
1. Cal isn’t going anywhere unfortunately. He isn’t walking away from $9 million a year. Cap loves him and brain dead Mitch screwed us with the contract. It’s sad as hell.
2. On the off chance lightning strikes and he does leave, I think UK should consider Pearl although Mr. Christian Mitch would never do it. At one point, I despised Pearl- but there is absolutely no doubt the man can coach and he has been respectful of the UK program. And his teams play with an edge. He has also proved on several levels he can win games in March.
3. Not sure I want Oats- great coach but not sold on his ability to make a run in March. Maybe this is the year.
4. I simply don’t trust Mitch to make the right choice. He has been a complete moron with decisions for a while throughout the athletic department.

Removing Cal and not Mitch is like removing only part of a tumor and hope it doesn't metastasize.

 

[sefleming]

With rumors about Arkansas situation musselman might pay UK to coach here just to get out of that situation lol.. not saying want him according to rumors he is looking for quick exit

 

[liveblue92]

My calls in this order.

Nate Oats. A jerk yes. But the style is good and they do play defense. He’d do great here. This is the guy imo.

Bruce Pearl. He’s 63 but would kill it here for 5-10 years.

Dusty May. Yes I’d be willing to take a chance.

If the above say no, which is a possibility then Lamont Paris. Idk if he’s ready but he looks ready.

I like Lamont Paris a lot. It’ll be interesting to see how he finishes the season.

 

[kyboy1998]

Bruce Pearl. Give him a brand and he will kill it. He’d also embrace the job and fans. He’d be a home run, even to the naysayers if he was hired.

 

[Zissou87]

What about Few? If Cal sticks around another year or so, and the Zags have another non-stellar season, Few may possibly be an option. He may feel that the Gonzaga run has run its course. And he may want to try the big seat. Who knows. He's 61 now. Not old, not young. He would be a safe bet to not screw it up. It's smalls odds, I know, but in another year, it may be more of a possibility than we thought before this season started.

If he can talk Tommy Lloyd into being his assistant again.

 

[USARMYWILDCAT]

Everyone love to laugh when you say this but I think your first phone call has to be to test the waters on Donovan. Then you go from there.

 

[sambowieshin]

P.I.T.I.N.O. 5 year run and head to retirement. I know it won't happen, but I would love it.

No thanks.

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/sports/ncaabasketball/12pitino.html

Ex-coach Rick Pitino, linked to stripper scandal, denies naming horse Party Dancer

Former University of Louisville men’s basketball head coach Rick Pitino -- fired over a scandal involving strippers hired to entertain the team's players -- claims he had nothing to do with choosing "Party Dancer" as the name for a racehorse he co-owns.

www.foxnews.com

Rick Pitino is Coach 2 in FBI 'pay for play' investigation, law enforcement official says

The Hall of Fame basketball coach has been identified as a major figure in the FBI's pay for play scandal, according to a law enforcement official.

www.courier-journal.com

 

[jedwar]

Removing Cal and not Mitch is like removing only part of a tumor and hope it doesn't metastasize.

Agree. It’s time for both.

 

[Jakerz]

It’s been the same name it should have been 8 years ago when we should have found someone new. Brad Stevens. And there’s not a close second.
And get off my nuts about “hEs NoT lEaVinG wHaT hEs GoT”

Make him say no. Kentucky could pay the man over double what he makes. At least he would earn it.

 

[Zissou87]

Hire Pitino. Bring him home for the last years of his career and let him lead us to a title

I don't think Pitino feels at home in the Bluegrass.

 

[rivercatinfl]

1. Frank Vogel
2. Jodi Fernandez
3. Nick Nurse
4. Dan Hurley
5. Scott Drew
6. Mike Brown
7. JB Bickerstaff
8. Bob Richey

Throw Mark Pope in the mix imo

 

[CatPhight]

I don't think Pitino feels at home in the Bluegrass.

Not saying Pitino's the answer, but I think he would love to shove Cal face first into a pile of shit.

 

[Zissou87]

Throw Mark Pope in the mix imo

Why?

 

[Zissou87]

Not saying Pitino's the answer, but I think he would love to shove Cal face first into a pile of shit.

I don't doubt that at all.

 

[Pelosigalore]

Right now I would take anyone

I’d take Clyde back at this point

 

[jedwar]

I’d take Clyde back at this point

I’d take Bonnie as coach over what we have.

 

[rivercatinfl]

Why?

Former player and national champion @ Uk which doesn't necessarily translate to a great coach I get that. But I like the fact that he knows our traditions.
He played for Pitino and know that run and press style of play I enjoy.
He was a pretty good inside outside player for us and maybe he can teach our bigs like Bradshaw how to play both the offense wing/ 5 and to play defense.
Pope is a smart guy and I think a better X&O's coach than Cal (which isn't that hard)
I believe with our resources he could bring in really good players and win at a high level.

Lastly, I like the guys who have won here.
He gets what it means to be a Ky basketball player.

Just my opinion.....

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

P.I.T.I.N.O. 5 year run and head to retirement. I know it won't happen, but I would love it.

He’s washed up.

 

[Pelosigalore]

He’s washed up.

And old

 

[rivercatinfl]

Former player and national champion @ Uk which doesn't necessarily translate to a great coach I get that. But I like the fact that he knows our traditions.
He played for Pitino and know that run and press style of play I enjoy.
He was a pretty good inside outside player for us and maybe he can teach our bigs like Bradshaw how to play both the offense wing/ 5 and to play defense.
Pope is a smart guy and I think a better X&O's coach than Cal (which isn't that hard)
I believe with our resources he could bring in really good players and win at a high level.

Lastly, I like the guys who have won here.
He gets what it means to be a Ky basketball player.

Just my opinion.....

Here are some other reasons;

Career Highlights​

• Pope is 87-41 including a 50-10 record at the Marriott Center during his four-year tenure at BYU
• Won 10 or more home games in all four seasons in Provo
• Fourth head coach in program history to win 20-plus games in first three seasons
• In 2021-22, he led BYU to a 24-11 record and No. 2 seed in the NIT, advancing to the quarterfinals
• Became the fastest coach in program history to win 60 games
• Led Cougars to a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2020-21, their first trip to the Big Dance since 2015
• Only second head coach in program history to have his team ranked in his first season and the first to finish the season ranked
• Led BYU to a record of 24-8 in his first season as head coach, the most wins for a first-year coach in program history
• Named the USBWA District VIII Coach of the Year
• Named the best hire in 2019-20 by Matt Norlander from CBS Sports
• A semifinalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year
• Led BYU back into the top 25 for the first time since 2010-11 with a No. 23 ranking on Feb. 17 and the Cougars jumped to as high as No. 14 and finished No. 18/16 in the AP/USA Today Coaches Polls
• Is only the second coach in program history to lead the Cougars into the top 25 in his first season and the first to finish his first season ranked in the top 25
• Coached three All-WCC First Team honorees in Yoeli Childs, TJ Haws and Jake Toolson in 2019-20
• Guided BYU to national rankings of No. 1 in 3-point field goal percentage, No. 2 in assist/turnover ratio, No. 3 in field goal percentage, No. 4 in 3-point field goals per game and No. 5 in assists per game
• Led BYU to a win over No. 2 Gonzaga in the Marriott Center, the highest ranked team the Cougars have defeated in the Marriott Center's history
• As head coach of Utah Valley from 2015-19, led the Wolverines to a record of 77-56
• Led Utah Valley to three-straight bids to the College Basketball Invitational (2017, 2018, 2019), including a trip to the semifinals in 2017
• Coached the Wolverines to 23 and 25 wins in 2017-18 and 2018-19, the first back-to-back 20-win seasons in Utah Valley history
• Utah Valley's 25 wins in 2018-19 are a school record
• Coached the 2019 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year
• Utah Valley was 30-2 at home from 2017-19
• Led the Wolverines to 22-straight home wins from 2017-19, the nation's second-longest active home win streak at the time and the longest home win streak in school history
• In 2018-19 led Utah Valley to its first-ever preseason tournament title as the Wolverines won the MGM Main Event Middleweight Championship in Las Vegas
• Helped create and organize the #Toughest24 as Utah Valley opened the 2017-18 season playing at No. 4 Kentucky and at No. 1 Duke on back-to-back nights
• As an assistant to Dave Rose at BYU from 2011-15, helped BYU to at record of 98-43, three NCAA tournament appearances and a trip to the semifinals of the NIT

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

Nate oats, Tommy Lloyd, or Dusty May
And please no on Scott Drew, that would not be a good hire.

Absolutely not to May. He’s had 1 final four and 4 near .500 seasons.

 

[Fox2monk]

I think we make Hurley an offer he can’t refuse. That would be at the top, Oats, Pearl, May I would consider. Tommy Lloyd would be ok but he hasn’t proven anything yet.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

Here are some other reasons;

Career Highlights​

• Pope is 87-41 including a 50-10 record at the Marriott Center during his four-year tenure at BYU
• Won 10 or more home games in all four seasons in Provo
• Fourth head coach in program history to win 20-plus games in first three seasons
• In 2021-22, he led BYU to a 24-11 record and No. 2 seed in the NIT, advancing to the quarterfinals
• Became the fastest coach in program history to win 60 games
• Led Cougars to a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2020-21, their first trip to the Big Dance since 2015
• Only second head coach in program history to have his team ranked in his first season and the first to finish the season ranked
• Led BYU to a record of 24-8 in his first season as head coach, the most wins for a first-year coach in program history
• Named the USBWA District VIII Coach of the Year
• Named the best hire in 2019-20 by Matt Norlander from CBS Sports
• A semifinalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year
• Led BYU back into the top 25 for the first time since 2010-11 with a No. 23 ranking on Feb. 17 and the Cougars jumped to as high as No. 14 and finished No. 18/16 in the AP/USA Today Coaches Polls
• Is only the second coach in program history to lead the Cougars into the top 25 in his first season and the first to finish his first season ranked in the top 25
• Coached three All-WCC First Team honorees in Yoeli Childs, TJ Haws and Jake Toolson in 2019-20
• Guided BYU to national rankings of No. 1 in 3-point field goal percentage, No. 2 in assist/turnover ratio, No. 3 in field goal percentage, No. 4 in 3-point field goals per game and No. 5 in assists per game
• Led BYU to a win over No. 2 Gonzaga in the Marriott Center, the highest ranked team the Cougars have defeated in the Marriott Center's history
• As head coach of Utah Valley from 2015-19, led the Wolverines to a record of 77-56
• Led Utah Valley to three-straight bids to the College Basketball Invitational (2017, 2018, 2019), including a trip to the semifinals in 2017
• Coached the Wolverines to 23 and 25 wins in 2017-18 and 2018-19, the first back-to-back 20-win seasons in Utah Valley history
• Utah Valley's 25 wins in 2018-19 are a school record
• Coached the 2019 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year
• Utah Valley was 30-2 at home from 2017-19
• Led the Wolverines to 22-straight home wins from 2017-19, the nation's second-longest active home win streak at the time and the longest home win streak in school history
• In 2018-19 led Utah Valley to its first-ever preseason tournament title as the Wolverines won the MGM Main Event Middleweight Championship in Las Vegas
• Helped create and organize the #Toughest24 as Utah Valley opened the 2017-18 season playing at No. 4 Kentucky and at No. 1 Duke on back-to-back nights
• As an assistant to Dave Rose at BYU from 2011-15, helped BYU to at record of 98-43, three NCAA tournament appearances and a trip to the semifinals of the NIT

Has he been past the elite eight?

 

[Fox2monk]

Nobody is doing more with less talent than Lamont Paris at South Carolina.

Not sure he’d be a good fit at UK, since his system is modeled after Bo Ryan’s at Wisconsin, a system folks here long lambasted as boring. But his teams are very well coached and he does look like a future star on the rise.

Wisconsin is still chugging along. They have a down year here or there but they keep winning. Imagine if they had that system where they could plug in high level transfers and a 5 star here and there to plug holes.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

Dusty May is Shaka 2.0

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

For me it's Oats and it's always been Oats. When he's down, everybody jumps off the ban wagon, I liked him at Buffalo I think he could do big things here and has the personality to hold up with the job.

 

[Zissou87]

Has he been past the elite eight?

One tournament appearance (first round exit)

 

[bigbluedon]

Oats or Pearl.

No to Oats. He is a low class POS

 

[bigbluedon]

I wasn’t very excited but I heard last year from some former players that are still connected to the program that Sean Miller would be our next coach.

Please, no. He ran a more boring offense than Cal.

 

[KYCAT78]

Oats or Pearl.

You got to be kidding, Oats? I do not want anybody with the ethics of Oats.

 

[cats#1again]

This ain’t rocket science

Drew
Oats
Pearl

I doubt all three would say no at 10M per year and the ability to attract/NIL players at Ky that isn’t the same at Baylor/Bama/auburn

They probably have better nil than UK.
Mitch put us in a hole at the start

Those names are avg at best. You will have the same problem with them. Pearl could make it happen but he's sleezy

 

[rivercatinfl]

Has he been past the elite eight?

Well yeah. He won a natty with us.

BYU ain't U.K. but, he's done pretty well there. He's only 51 and would have all the resources to build us back to the level we are looking for.

 

[TriCountyCat]

He has a punchable face but give me Will Wade and call it a day. The guy is an awesome coach, is hungry and has more experience with NIL because he was doing it before it was legal.

 

[Rockfly78]

This ain’t rocket science

Drew
Oats
Pearl

I doubt all three would say no at 10M per year and the ability to attract/NIL players at Ky that isn’t the same at Baylor/Bama/auburn

You gotta make Donavan say no first. But yes this is the list

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

Well yeah. He won a natty with us.

BYU ain't U.K. but, he's done pretty well there. He's only 51 and would have all the resources to build us back to the level we are looking for.

Eh ex-players doesn’t mean much to me; look at Woodson, Howard, Ewing

 

[rivercatinfl]

Eh ex-players doesn’t mean much to me; look at Woodson, Howard, Ewing

You mean like Joe B Hall

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

One tournament appearance (first round exit)

That is a hard no from me

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

You mean like Joe B Hall

For every one Hall you have ten Woodson, Howard’s, Ewings.

 

[UK90]

You gotta make Donavan say no first. But yes this is the list

Good lord, stop with the Donovan nonsense. This board has always had a weird obsession with that guy.

He’s already rejected us twice and he’s clearly happy in the NBA. The only thing pursuing him again would accomplish is to make UK perhaps the only school ever to be rejected by the same coach in three different job searches.