To separate this from the Mullins thread. I really hope this school goes through a coaching search instead of focusing on one name. I put a list of names together in the locked Mullins thread. This is what I've come up with so far. Add names if you feel fit:
Current head coaches looking for a jump up:
-Alan Huss, High Point (From Decatur, Illinois and was a Creighton assistant from 2017-2023. Also coached HS Basketball in Central Illinois. Has High Point at 24-7 in his first season there and they won the Big South regular season after going 14-17 last year)
-Jerrod Calhoun, Youngstown State (Successful D2 coach, has turned one of the worst jobs in the Horizon into a contender)
-Gerald Gillion, Chicago State (Has gotten elite talent to Chicago State. Has turned a dumpster fire program into a program that goes to Northwestern and gets a win)
-Preston Spradlin, Morehead State (Has turned Morehead State into an elite low-major program in the OVC)
-Ben McCollum, Northwest Missouri State (Has won 4 National Championships at the D2 level. Would be a Josh Schertz-like hire if you're following that model)
Assistant Head Coaches looking for a HC Job:
-Devin Johnson, Texas A&M Associate Head Coach (Been mentioned)
-Chester Frazier, Illinois Assistant Coach (Should be in high demand soon. Spent time at Virginia Tech and was an assistant at Kansas State under Bruce Weber)
-Brandon Brantley, Purdue Assistant Coach (Painter connections, 11 years at Purdue and works with the Bigs there (Edey)
-Terry Johnson, Purdue Assistant Coach (Painter Connections, was an assistant at Ohio State before 3 years at Purdue)
-Ryan Miller, Creighton Assistant (The McDermott coaching tree has turned out well for Drake. Was an associate head coach at TCU and UNLV before taking this job)
-Luke Murray, UConn Assistant (UConn has had a ton of success under Hurley and he's Bill Murray's son! Imagine SIU fan Bill Murray!)
-Jerrance Howard, Southern Illinois Assistant Coach (Was he hired to eventually take over for Mullins?)
Saluki Alums (Don't think I'd go back to this well unless one blows you away):
-Brad Korn, SEMO Head Coach (Made the NCAA Tournament last year but SEMO was a bottom 10 team in the country this year by KenPom. Has connections with Bruce Weber obviously.
-Kyle Smithpeters, Mizzou Assistant (Mizzou was horrid this year but Smithpeters has been able to get talent there. Didn't have postseason success at John A Logan)
-Tyler Smithpeters, John A. Logan (Logan was the JUCO championship last year but we haven't seen if Tyler can sustain the success there yet)
-Bruce Weber, Big Ten Network (I can dream!)
I think that with this search, they are going to stay away from guys who have ties to SIU. And I am not really excited about any former SIU person on that list. That being said, I think that if it's not the guy the Chancellor is pushing, it might be Jerrance Howard. We've always wondered why he decided to come to SIU. Maybe he came here with a wink-wink-nudge-nudge that if Bryan left, he was going to be the heir apparent.
Brandon Brantley
I hope not.
However, it’s possible they go with another Purdue assistant, Terry Johnson. It has been discussed that he’s been looking for a head coach position (and is apparently ready).
https://purduesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/terry-johnson/2395
I'm confused why Smithpeters success has been down played on here. Yes, he had some unexpected losses with some of his great teams, but Tyler won the championship with Kyle's recruits. Also can't ignore Jay Scrubb's year when the tournament got canceled due to COVID. Could've been another championship trophy. Tyler's first year of his own recruits have not been great this year.
I'm confused why Smithpeters success has been down played on here. Yes, he had some unexpected losses with some of his great teams, but Tyler won the championship with Kyle's recruits. Also can't ignore Jay Scrubb's year when the tournament got canceled due to COVID. Could've been another championship trophy. Tyler's first year of his own recruits have not been great this year.
I think if Kyle was brought up last year, people would be more excited. But Mizzou has been horrid this year (0-17 in the SEC) and I'm weary about another alum. But if he's the choice, I think I'd be okay with it. He has great connections and built a great JUCO program at John A. Logan. My big concern is that his teams always seemed to come up flat when it mattered most.
I'm confused why Smithpeters success has been down played on here. Yes, he had some unexpected losses with some of his great teams, but Tyler won the championship with Kyle's recruits. Also can't ignore Jay Scrubb's year when the tournament got canceled due to COVID. Could've been another championship trophy. Tyler's first year of his own recruits have not been great this year.
I think if Kyle was brought up last year, people would be more excited. But Mizzou has been horrid this year (0-17 in the SEC) and I'm weary about another alum. But if he's the choice, I think I'd be okay with it. He has great connections and built a great JUCO program at John A. Logan. My big concern is that his teams always seemed to come up flat when it mattered most.
Oh I definitely agree people would be more excited if this was before he went to Mizzou. Just confused about the downplaying of success while he was at Logan. And I know comparing SIU to Logan is apples to oranges but still...
I'm confused why Smithpeters success has been down played on here. Yes, he had some unexpected losses with some of his great teams, but Tyler won the championship with Kyle's recruits. Also can't ignore Jay Scrubb's year when the tournament got canceled due to COVID. Could've been another championship trophy. Tyler's first year of his own recruits have not been great this year.
I think if Kyle was brought up last year, people would be more excited. But Mizzou has been horrid this year (0-17 in the SEC) and I'm weary about another alum. But if he's the choice, I think I'd be okay with it. He has great connections and built a great JUCO program at John A. Logan. My big concern is that his teams always seemed to come up flat when it mattered most.
Oh I definitely agree people would be more excited if this was before he went to Mizzou. Just confused about the downplaying of success while he was at Logan. And I know comparing SIU to Logan is apples to oranges but still...
his team probably would have beaten our team with jones and domask lol
https://twitter.com/Bballscoop1/status/1766195284042830260
Tim Leonard connection. No NCAA Tournaments in 13 years as a head coach
@salukifan32 Brandon Brantley probably makes more as an assistant than we're going to pay
Another name to add- Jerrod Calhoun from Youngstown State.
220-134 there, including 46-20 over last 2 years. Horizon League Champs a year ago. Elevated a forlorn program.
Was also a highly successful D2 coach prior to YSU (124-38 and 4 NCAA's in 5 years)
5 years as an assistant at WVU under Huggins.
Rumored to be looking to move up.
Bring ouR University Champisonship Expections
With Expections Brings Expected Results
Saluki Insider? I barely know her!
Just moved this from the Mullins thread.
I'd rank my preferences for a new coach in this order:
1. (tie) Successful head coach at a mid-major school that competes at a lower level than SIU who is ready to move up, preferably with a postseason berth or two; or assistant coach at an elite Power 5 program (although we probably can't afford a guy like that).
2. Assistant at a not-quite-elite but successful Power 5 program who has been to the postseason and has some experience recruiting the transfer portal (although not completely sold on Devin Johnson from Texas A&M, I'd be OK with him or someone like him; not sure about Smithpeters).
3. Head coach who was successful (NCAA or NIT bids) at a mid-major but, for whatever reason, didn't work out in a Power 5 job.
4. (and last by a wide margin) Mid-major retread whose body of work indicates a limited upside. Of course, I'm thinking Hinson here, but when someone I know (fortunately he's not a member of this board) suggested Dan Muller, I nearly had a heart attack -- a mediocre track record like Hinson and former Redfeces as well.
Obviously, no BS artists, snake-oil salesmen or purveyors of BBQ sauce need apply. I'm also in agreement with those who have posted who advocate for cutting the SIU/Southern Illinois pipeline.
My problem with Howard is, if he has these great connections why did we not sign one player in the fall signing period? I don't buy the argument that he was waiting for the portal to sign players. There should have been someone we could have gotten in the fall.I think that with this search, they are going to stay away from guys who have ties to SIU. And I am not really excited about any former SIU person on that list. That being said, I think that if it's not the guy the Chancellor is pushing, it might be Jerrance Howard. We've always wondered why he decided to come to SIU. Maybe he came here with a wink-wink-nudge-nudge that if Bryan left, he was going to be the heir apparent.
My problem with Howard is, if he has these great connections why did we not sign one player in the fall signing period? I don't buy the argument that he was waiting for the portal to sign players. There should have been someone we could have gotten in the fall.I think that with this search, they are going to stay away from guys who have ties to SIU. And I am not really excited about any former SIU person on that list. That being said, I think that if it's not the guy the Chancellor is pushing, it might be Jerrance Howard. We've always wondered why he decided to come to SIU. Maybe he came here with a wink-wink-nudge-nudge that if Bryan left, he was going to be the heir apparent.
Personally, I don't think Howard ever planned to be at SIU long. This was the chance for him to get back into the coaching cycle before leaving for a bigger job.
