Possible Candidates for WVU's Head Coaching Search Next Spring
Wren Baker is rolling with Josh Eilert this season as the interim head coach and will continue his search for a permanent head coach next spring.
A lot of things can change between now and when the search resumes but here's a way-too-early look at some names you'll want to keep an eye on this season that just might end up on Wren Baker's radar.
Josh Eilert, WVU
As Wren Baker has stated numerous times, Eilert will have a chance to prove he's the right man for the job every single day. How he handles roster management, academics, and development on and off the court will all be evaluated on a daily basis. If he's able to check all of those boxes while putting together a successful 2023-24 campaign, he'll be considered for the job.
Bob Huggins
Personally, I don't see Huggins coaching again and I don't believe Wren Baker would be willing to bring him back and risk something going wrong...again. However, there's always a chance. Huggins can take the next year to focus on his health and relax for the first time in well over 40 years before making another run at it. This isn't the way Huggins wanted to go out and if he has the opportunity to return and put the program in a better place for the next permanent head coach, I think he'd do it. Again, I think this comes down to Baker's willingness more than anything.
Andy Kennedy, UAB
There was a lot of momentum gaining between Kennedy and West Virginia in this accelerated search. Assuming he has another strong year at UAB, it'd be hard to imagine that he's not toward the front of Baker's rolodex once again. He has Power Five experience and wouldn't feel pressured essentially following in the footsteps of Huggins, who would be in his corner the whole way.
Steve Forbes, Wake Forest
Wake Forest was in a major rut prior to Forbes' arrival and now, he has the program on the rise. The Demon Deacons have posted a record of 44-24 over the past two seasons and won double-digit conference games in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 1996-97. Another 20+ win season and a NCAA Tournament berth will have him on the radar. Prior to Wake Forest, Forbes compiled a 130-43 record over five years at East Tennessee State.
Brad Underwood, Illinois
Underwood spent a year on Bob Huggins' staff at Kansas State and has eight total years of experience in the Big 12 Conference, seven of which were as an assistant at K-State. Underwood's Stephen F. Austin team upset West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2016, ultimately leading to his first major gig at Oklahoma State. He took the Cowboys to the tournament with a 20-13 record in 2017 and after one year, left for Illinois. In his six seasons at Illinois, Underwood is 114-79 and has won a regular season Big Ten championship and a Big Ten tournament championship.
Eric Musselman, Arkansas
Musselman is becoming one of the best head coaches in all of college basketball, in my opinion. It would take a lot to pry him away from Arkansas but it's worth a shot, right? In his four years leading the Razorbacks, Musselman is 95-42 and has reached the top 10 of the AP poll in three consecutive seasons. More importantly, he's had success in March Madness, reaching the Elite Eight in three straight tournaments.
Pat Kelsey, College of Charleston
It won't be long before Pat Kelsey gets a a big-time coaching job. He racked up 186 wins in nine seasons at Winthrop before moving on to Charleston. After going 17-15 during his first year on the job, Kelsey guided the Cougars to a 31-4 record in which they won both the regular season and conference tournament championship.
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