Coaching Hot List

Nebraska fired Doc Sadler on March 9. Since then, the search has been on for the next Nebraska head coach. Names have been thrown around, and there has been speculation that the hire will come after the March basketball tournaments end. Here is the short list of coaches on Nebraska’s radar.

Dana Altman, Oregon 

Altman is Nebraska native, and has Nebraska ties. He is the former coach at Creighton, where he spent 16 seasons. He took the Blue Jays to 11 straight post seasons appearances.

He has spent the last two seasons in Eugene, Oregon as the head coach of the Ducks. It is doubtful that he will leave Oregon to come back and turn around a Husker program, but Altman did build the Blue Jays into an NCAA contender every year. He could be interested in coming back to his home state, and turning around the Husker program. The money at Oregon may be to much to leave Eugene, but if he were ever to leave, it would to be to come back home to Nebraska.

He finished with a 327-176 record at Creighton, and has a 44-26 record at Oregon.

Shaka Smart, Virginia Commonwealth 

Smart is 82-27 at VCU, and burst on the scene with a Final Four finish in 2011 with the Rams. In his first season at VCU (09-10) Smart won a CBI Championship, and made the NCAA tournament the following two seasons.

Smart will be pursued by every school looking for a head coach in the nation. He would be  a huge hire for the Huskers. He is 34 years old, and makes $1.2 million a year. If Nebraska is wiling to pay Smart a little more money than that, it could be enough to land Smart in Lincoln.

Bruce Pearl

Pearl is currently unemployed. Most will remember him with his stint at Tennessee. He went 145-61 with the Vols. He went to the NCAA Tournament  in all six seasons he was in Knoxville. His time at Tennessee was caped by an Elite Eight  trip in 09-10.

Pearl was let go by Tennessee after an NCAA investigation found some recruiting violations in the Volunteers program. Getting Pearl would be huge, he was one of the most liked coaches around the nation, but the NCAA could bring some sanctions to Pearl, and whatever program chooses to hire him. This is the type of hire that can turn around a program, but it will be seen if Nebraska, or any school willing to risk it with Pearl, and his possible NCAA sanctions.

Greg Marshall, Wichita State 

Marshall is 109-59 as the Shockers head coach, and  303-142 overall. Marshall coached at Winthrop before going to Wichita State.

He has lead the Shockers to three straight 25 win seasons, and won the NIT Championship in 2011.

Marshall will be targeted by any major school looking for a head coach. Nebraska will need to put up a  high dollar to pull Marshall away from Wichita state.

By Jimmie Allen 

Contact the writer at JAhuskercorner@gmail.com

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