The Coaching Carousel
The Season Approaches:
The college season really kicks off on November 18th (WITH 23 HOURS OF COVERAGE ON ESPN LEADING UP TO KANSAS VS. UNC) so it's time to look at the coaching changes this off-season from around the NCAA and some guys who are expected to make an impact in their second year.
First, the big move this off-season is the retirement of Lute Olson. After 25 years at Arizona Lute has called it quits and retired. When he retired, Olson had the second most wins of any active coach in NCAA basketball, 23 wins behind only Mike Krzyzewski.
Olson has been the face of Wildcat basketball for a long time and Arizona is now looking nationally for a replacement. In the mean time, Russ Pennell, an assistant coach with the team, will be the interim head coach. It appeared that Mike Dunlap would be the
First, Cal's new head-coach is the legend from Stanford, Mike Montgomery. After 18 years of NCAA basketball at Stanford, Montgomery is now at their bitter rival, Cal. Montgomery managed to take Stanford and turn it into an elite NCAA basketball program. In 18 years, he went to the NCAA basketball tournament 16 times, won a national NCAA basketball championship, and got his Stanford team a number one ranking.
After an unsuccessful run with the Golden State Warriors, Montgomery came back to college basketball coaching, being humbled by the experience of failing at the NBA level. He is trying to make Cal a contender in NCAA basketball and the difficult PAC-10 conference, and it all starts this season.
There are also some big time NCAA basketball coaches in their second seasons at their new digs. These coaches aren't expected to make a strong run at an NCAA basketball Final Four and their jobs aren't in trouble, but they want to win. They are winners and have the pride of winners.
John Beilein at Michigan is only a few years removed from being oh so close to the Final Four. He had tremendous success at West Virginia and is hoping to continue at Michigan.
The other I want to mention is Todd Lickliter at Iowa. He's been very successful in the past and Hawkeye fans will be looking at him to lead Iowa to NCAA Basketball prominence eventually, and at least competence this year.