It’s coaching search season in college basketball, and the social media chaos has already ensued when it comes to trying to figure which coaches could land in which locations.
In the SEC, there is certainly no shortage of coaching searches right now, as three jobs are currently available.
Alabama, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt are looking for new coaches, and they may not be the only SEC schools doing that this offseason depending on how other situations unfold.
As I mentioned in the potential coaching candidates list for Alabama (read it here) and Vanderbilt (read it here), the expectation is that most of these SEC schools are going to initially aim for coaches with proven success and experience at the power conference level.
However, as is always the case in the coaching carousel, there should be a number of mid-major candidates that are at least on the list of names who could get interviews.
So, should any of these coaches emerge as possible candidates, it’s worth knowing more about them.
A few things worth noting: I’m not including Nevada head coach Eric Musselman on this particular list as I’ve already taken an in-depth look at him in the other two articles.
I’m also not including Buffalo’s Nate Oats since I question him making a move this quickly after signing a five-year extension (3/27 update: sure enough, Oats is the new head coach at Alabama).
And as a reminder, this list is based more on candidates that could seemingly make sense at these particular SEC schools and not a full list of mid-major coaches that be on the radar in other regions and conferences.
Let’s look at some names that may appear on the radar for certain SEC teams.
Matt McMahon (Murray State)
I mentioned McMahon on the Vanderbilt candidates list, as that would likely be a more realistic spot than the Alabama or Texas A&M coaching jobs.
The 40 year old has been at Murray State in some capacity since 2011, where he served as an assistant under Steve Prohm for several years before taking over as head coach in 2015 when Prohm made his move to Iowa State.
McMahon’s first two seasons were somewhat of a struggle, but the past two have been outstanding. The Racers have gone 54-11 overall in that span, including two NCAA Tournament trips which was highlighted by the win over Murray State last week.
What stands out most about McMahon and his staff is the focus on player development, as he certainly helped play a role in Ja Morant’s meteoric rise onto the national stage.
Mike Young (Wofford)
When you lead a SoCon team to a 30-5 record and a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, you’re going to attract some attention.
That’s what Young did this season in helping the Terriers achieve a perfect record in conference play before eventually coming up just short of a Sweet 16 berth in a 62-56 loss to Kentucky.
The question whether he’ll actually entertain another job at this point is a valid one since he’s been either an assistant or head coach at Wofford since 1989.
But there’s no doubt that his stock is higher than ever, and he will likely get interviews at power conference schools if he wants them.
Wes Miller (UNC Greensboro)
We transition from one SoCon coach to another, and it makes sense considering that these were the top two teams in the league this season.
The Spartans were the first team left out of the NCAA Tournament, and after a 29-7 record, Miller is sure to get some looks based on what he’s been able to accomplish at the school.
Another reason he’ll be in demand? He’s only 36 years old, yet already has eight years of head coaching experience.
UNC Greensboro hired him back in 2011 when he was just 29, and the program has won at least 25 games the past three seasons.
Steve Forbes (East Tennessee State)
It should be clear at this point that the SoCon is filled with quality coaches that have proven their ability to build sustainable programs.
Forbes has a 100-38 record as a head coach, and he’s helped lead ETSU to 24 or more wins in his four seasons on the job.
In addition to that, he’s been an assistant at several high-profile jobs, as he served under Bruce Pearl at Tennessee from 2006 to 2011 and was with Gregg Marshall at Wichita State for several years as well.
Honestly, Forbes may be the most underrated of this entire group. He’s a proven winner who has years of coaching experience at the college level, and he also brings the type of energy and enthusiasm that any fanbase would love.
Casey Alexander (Lipscomb)
Alexander played for Rick Byrd at Belmont and spent 16 years there as an assistant, and learning under one of the best coaches in the business is never a bad thing to have on your résumé.
But the Lipscomb coach has way more than that to offer, as he’s transformed the Lipscomb program into one of the most exciting teams in the nation.
However, it’s not just an exciting style that he plays. It’s also a winning style. The Bisons have had three straight 20-win seasons and went dancing a year ago.
He’s only 46, and while his next stop may not be at an SEC school, he’s one of the most well-respected up and coming coaches in the profession right now.
Chris Jans (New Mexico State)
Jans has only been at New Mexico State for two years, and it may be unlikely that he’ll make a move that quickly into his tenure.
But again, this is a list of coaches that have the qualities needed to succeed at a power conference school, and he undoubtedly has that.
The Aggies have won at least 28 games in each of his two seasons, and he’s kept the program in a familiar spot when it comes to reaching the NCAA Tournament.
While did get fired from Bowling Green a few years ago for an off the court incident, he’s made the most of his second chance, and like Forbes, he also has years of experience as an assistant with Marshall.
Earl Grant (Charleston)
Grant was speculated as a possible replacement for Mark Fox at Georgia, and the connection fit since he went to Georgia College and continues to be mentioned in the group of best rising coaches in the nation.
After taking over at Charleston in 2014, Grant has already proven his ability to help the program achieve big things, as the Cougars have three straight seasons of 24 or more victories while earning an NCAA bid a year ago.
He’s another coach that has thrived with player development, and that’s an important aspect at any level.
And yes, if you’re sensing a theme here, Grant is also a member of the Marshall coaching tree having been there for three years.
John Brannen (Northern Kentucky)
Building a program is never an easy task, and that’s especially the case when it’s one that is making the transition to Division I basketball.
But despite the challenges, Brannen has had plenty of success with the Norse. He led them to an NCAA Tournament bid in their first season of eligibility, and they’ve made it two in three years while finishing 26-9 this season.
He served as an assistant at Alabama for several years and was the interim head coach for a few games, so he does have some experience at the SEC level.
Brannen is already mentioned as a possible candidate for lots of jobs around the country, and that should tell you that he’ll likely land at a bigger school sooner than later.
James Jones (Yale)
It seems that Alabama and Texas A&M would have other options ahead of Jones, but given his background at a reputable academic school, he could potentially be on Vanderbilt’s radar as someone that at least gets an interview.
He’s been at Yale since 1999, and while the program went through a rebuilding process for a while, the Bulldogs have secured winning seasons in eight of the past nine years.
That run has included two NCAA Tournament berths over the past four seasons thanks to Jones’ ability to develop players.
Given what he’s accomplished there, he’s going to get his fair share of calls this offseason.
For more SEC basketball coverage, follow me on Twitter @theblakelovell.