Louisville Men's Basketball Head Coach Hot Board 1.0
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kenny Payne has officially coached his last game for the Louisville men's basketball program.
On Wednesday, the University of Louisville informed Payne that "he will not return next season" as head coach. A national search for the next head coach will begin immediately.
Louisville recently concluded a disastrous 8-24 campaign in what was Payne's second year at the helm. Payne ends his tenure at his alma mater with a 12-52 overall record.
Below are the names for several individuals that are very likely candidates to be the next head coach of the Cardinals. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name:
Mick Cronin
Record at UCLA: 114-52
Overall head coaching record: 478-223
Summary: Whether it was Murray State, Cincinnati or UCLA, Cronin has had success everywhere he has gone. Not only has he made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances at each stop, but has been named conference Coach of the Year at least once with each program. Not to mention that he has Louisville ties, serving as an assistant under Rick Pitino for two seasons.
One caveat is that, while Cronin gets to the NCAA Tournament, he hasn't taken his team far. Out of his 14 trips to the Big Dance, he made it past the first weekend just four times. While he has done so in every one of his non-COVID seasons with the Bruins, including a Final Four in 2021, UCLA is primed to miss out on the NCAA Tournament entirely this season.
Scott Drew
Record at Baylor: 444-241
Overall head coaching record: 464-252
Summary: If anyone can help a program get out of the mud, it's Drew. He inherited a Baylor program that was rocked by one of the worst scandals in collegiate athletics history, and one that was historically one of the worst high-major programs in the sport, and turned them into a national champion. Plus, he is also an elite recruiter - both in high school and the portal - on top of an elite coach.
While Drew would be an absolute home run hire for the Cardinals, there's no question. But while there were reports saying he was interested in the Louisville gig last time, and he is reported to be the Cardinals' No. 1 target this time around, it's hard to envision him actually leaving Baylor. On top of that, while his buyout amount is unknown, it's sure to be among the priciest among the current candidates.
Dusty May
Record at Florida Atlantic: 125-67
Overall head coaching record: 125-67
Summary: May is one of the hottest young names in college basketball coaching, and for good reason. In what was just FAU's second NCAA Tournament berth since making the jump to Division I in the mid-1990's, he helped guide the Owls to a 35-4 record and a remarkable run to the Final Four last season. FAU also looks poised to make some noise in the year's Big Dance as well, with eight wins against KenPom top-75 competition, including a win over then-AP No. 6 Arizona.
The main knock against May is his relative inexperience, especially at a high level. Prior to FAU's miracle run to the Final Four, he was just 66-56 in his first four years with the Owls. Plus, he's not a proven recruiter up to this point, but that could also be a product of coaching a team outside of a power conference. Additionally, you might have to worry about his alma mater, Indiana, trying to poach him at some point.
Eric Musselman
Record at Arkansas: 110-58
Overall college head coaching record: 220-92
Ranging from the college ranks to the NBA, Musselman has an extensive background in coaching the game of basketball. Prior to Arkansas, he was the head coach at Nevada, has been an assistant at LSU and Arizona State, as well as the head man at the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.
While his fifth year with the Razorbacks has been a big disappointment at 15-16, he has already long shown he is an elite college coach. He has led Arkansas to a pair of Elite Eights and a Sweet 16, and has signed three top-15 recruiting classes - including the No. 2 class in 2022. Though he does have a bit of a reputation with assistants as being hard to work with, and there is the worry that me might not be in it for the long haul considering he has not stayed at one place for more than a few seasons.
Nate Oats
Record at Alabama: 113-52
Overall head coaching record: 209-95
Summary: For Louisville fans wanting a high octane and up-tempo offense, Nate Oats is your guy. Between his current run at Alabama and his four-year tenure at Buffalo, Oats' offenses have been top 30 in tempo all but one season, with the overall efficiency finishing in the top 40 in every one of the past six seasons, including the No. 2 so far this year.
Every one of his recruiting classes with the Crimson Tide has ranked in the top 25, including a No. 4 class in 2022. Oats has also led the Tide to a pair of Sweet 16 appearances in two of the last three seasons. If there's any knock against Oats, it's his teams' inconsistent defenses. He's had a pair of top-five defenses in his first four years in Tuscaloosa, but also a 92nd and 114th ranked unit.
Josh Schertz
Record at Indiana State: 62-39
Overall head coaching record: 399-108
Summary: Like how May (and the next candidate) was last year's breakout name in the college basketball coaching sphere, Schertz is one of this season's. He has shown progress in each of his three seasons at Indiana State, and has guided the Sycamores to their best season since Larry Bird was on campus. Not to mention that he made three Final Fours and was a national runner-up during his 13 seasons at D2 Lincoln Memorial.
Of course, the main question mark with Schertz is that - while he has been successful at both his head coaching stops - he has zero high major coaching experience, whether that be head or assistant. Could he be able to make that transition to a place like Louisville? If he makes a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, perhaps. But first ISU has to clinch an at-large bid after falling in the MVC Championship to Drake.
Jerome Tang
Record at Kansas State: 43-23
Overall head coaching record: 43-23
Summary: Along with May, Tang is also up there as one of the hottest young names in college basketball coaching. In just his first year at Kansas State last season, he guided the Wildcats to a 26-10 mark for their most wins since 2013, and led them all the way to the Elite Eight. In just a short amount of time, Tang has shown he has some recruiting chops, and also has the personality required for a big time job like Louisville.
But like May, Tang also does not have a ton of head coaching experience, as K-State was his first head coaching gig. Not to mention that the Wildcats have looked shaky at times in his second season at the helm, both against top-50 competition and sub-150 squads. Could year one have been a one hit wonder? We might be able to tell when the NCAA Tournament rolls around.
(Photo of Scott Drew: Chris Jones - USA TODAY Sports)
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