It’s a strange time of year for college basketball coaches’ carousel as a topic. But with Villanova manager Jay Wright reportedly a target for the 76ers coaching seat, there’s at least a small chance he could take the risky leap from NCAA to NBA.
It’s a move that has worked well for some. Former Butler manager Brad Stevens, now of the Celtics, and former Florida manager Billy Donovan, now of the Thunder, have regularly led their teams to the playoffs since leaving the college game. But the leap backfires, with the transfer of John Beilein from Michigan to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers after last season serving as an example. Beilein resigned after a 14-40 start that wreaked havoc in the locker room.
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Will Beilein’s failed NBA stint scare off other college coaches who might be interested in jumping to pro play? Or will it give NBA executives a break to seek out a college manager to lead a team in this NBA attack-obsessed era? Maybe. But even if it’s not this year, you can bet that at least one current college manager will have a shot in the NBA.
So who will it be? Our experts attended this week’s edition of the Dribble Handoff.
The next college coach to jump to the NBA could obviously be Villanova’s Jay Wright, who is reportedly a candidate right now for the 76ers job. Will it be offered to him? I’m not sure. And would he take it if offered? Again, I’m not sure. But for these purposes, for one reason or another, I assume Wright stays in Villanova. So my guess for the next college manager moving to the NBA is … Bill Self of Kansas.
Do I think this is a likely scenario?
Not exactly.
But I think Self coaching in the NBA one day is a more likely scenario than any other current college coach who will one day coach in the NBA, and for two reasons: 1) He is clearly qualified and good enough to do it. 2) Who knows what impact the current Kansas NCAA case might have on your career?
It should be noted that Self has denied all allegations of the NCAA and is ready to fight, fight, fight. And maybe he will be successful in that fight. But if he’s not, the NCAA could hit him with a show penalty that could propel him to the NBA, a place where, don’t forget, he’s already been offered a job. – Gary Parrish
I look around college basketball and, really, I don’t see many coaches who seem on the trajectory right now to get an NBA boss gig in the next 2-4 years. I think Bill Self would make sense if the NCAA punishments eventually pushed him that way, but they’re not there yet.
The one coach I think is young enough, experienced enough already, clearly has the temper and, just as importantly, has some experience as an NBA player: Virginia’s Tony Bennett. Bennett is similar to Jay Wright in this respect, only younger. He won a national title. Runs a top-10 program. Now he regularly produces NBA picks. He is not an egotist. Almost everything you’d want from an NBA-level coach, Bennett boasts, but it costs in humility. – Matt Norlander
Juwan Howard, Michigan
Just this week, Michigan manager Juwan Howard’s name was mentioned as a potential NBA manager candidate. And while he quickly dismissed all speculation, saying he is “not exploring, seeking or listening” to those potential opportunities, who to say won’t make it in time?
The truth is, Howard’s name will keep coming up when NBA coaching gigs open. He also acknowledged this in his statement earlier this week in which he announced he will stay. He has experience as an NBA manager and cut his teeth at that level. Before accepting the job in Michigan, he too was a candidate for vacant positions as head coach of the Cavs and Lakers.
The big sticking point of his NBA prospects before was the lack of experience he had as a manager. Now that he has it in Michigan, along with his six years on the bench as Erik Spoelstra’s assistant, the NBA front offices will likely continue to see him as an intriguing manager candidate who may be willing to make the leap for the right occasion. . – Kyle Boone
Anthony Grant, Dayton
Perhaps Dayton manager Anthony Grant will be delighted with his alma mater for the rest of his career and will ride the momentum of Dayton’s magical 29-2 season to unspeakable glory. Or maybe, after a few more successful years, he’ll get a call from an NBA franchise realizing the following: Grant is a Naismith Coach of the Year winner with NBA experience.
He spent the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons on the Thunder staff while OKC made a couple of playoff appearances. In that role, he worked for Billy Donovan, who certainly provided a lot of information on how to progress from college to NBA.
Opponents will point to the fact that Grant was fired after six seasons in Alabama. But he took the Crimson Tide to a respectable 117-85 (54-48 SEC) record without a lot of talent in his time there. His other two college coaching assignments were hugely successful.
First, it took VCU to a record of 76-25 from 2006 to 2009. More recently, it completely revamped the Dayton roster and positioned the Flyers to compete for a national title before the NCAA tournament was canceled in 2020. That Dayton’s team was a model of offensive efficiency and a prime example of the manager’s sense that Grant could bring as the NBA’s head coach. – David Cobb
