rjkarl wrote: Shaka Smart
Steve Alford
Brad Stevens (less likely than the other two)

ImissRandolph wrote: Bad information, Alford is very happy at New Mexico and won't leave after a major renovation to the Pit. Both of his sons will be at NM next year.
Smart would be my top choice, likes smaller schools. I'd also look at Lehigh's coach Brett Reed. Finally, while some won't agree - I'd take Pat Kelsey
back in a heartbeat - his enthusiasm alone would be a huge improvement from the current situation. Wellman really dropped the ball by not pursuing John Groce a few years back. 

The sad thing is the value of the WF job has dropped tremendously over the past 3 years. Wellman's handling of things coupled with conference realignments, and a fractured fanbase does not make this an attractive job at present.

OldBlackAndGold wrote: You guys don't remember the other next coach thread from last week?

RepeatDeac wrote: I think we are still a very attractive job. Wake and the ACC have some great history that I think many coaches still respect and some would love to reconstruct and be a part of. I think legacy is definitely an important factor for coaches. It also isn't that many years ago that Wellman was thought of as a coaches' AD and he has been (still is?) well-respected among NCAA circles. We also have one of the best PF and PG of all time currently playing in the league marketing our brand name. 
So, yeah, I think we are still a very attractive job. 
Reality is that most schools we would compete with for hires have a lot bigger accounts to throw at prospective coaches. So if someone is so great and can't-miss that we should throw the bank at them, there are other bigger banks out there that will also pursue. 

I don't consider Stevens to be a realistic option. He is THE top coach not at a current top job (UNC/DUKE/KU/UK/UCLA/IU). If he can be lured away from Butler by new opportunity or money it will be at a level that Wake can't match, without an inside track that I don't believe that we have. I would love LOVE to have him. So would almost EVERYONE else, including some of those tops jobs above. We are not that special. Sure, make the call, Ron. But if anyone is considering him a realistic option, I think you are only fantasizing. 

I, personally, would love Shaka. I love the whole package for many reasons. I think his sideline demeanor would be a great contrast to reengergize our atmosphere and signal a new chapter. He is a good fit and that contrast will be important to our fan base. Perhaps he is an option. If he is, we should do anything reasonable to get him here. While many will love his sideline intensity and activity, his teams are much more Odomesque than I think many wishful Wake fans realize. It would be interesting to see the comments on his style after the initial honeymoon period if he is not maintaining unprecedented success. 

I don't really want to see any more "well, he is better than Bz" comments justifying coaches. Better than the last 2 years is an irrelevant mark, IMO. I am not looking for someone that is just "not Bz". 

It will be interesting to see what happens this off-season barring a very unexpected turnaround this season.

fusiondad10 wrote: Anthony Grant will be available because he's really not a great coaching prospect.  He was a a media darling, a young African American coach with a lucky run on TV.  The Alabama job was a tough one for many reasons, but other coaches have found a way to win there, and at other SEC schools....Grant hasn't done anything to move the needle there.  So what would he bring to a Wake Forest program headed toward the bottom third of our conference after ND, Syracuse, Louisville and Pitt join the ACC.....not enough.

Alabama gave Grant a raise and an extension in late September. 

Shaka Smart would at least bring the actual experience of winning plus the young black coach cache.  Neither though, is a young coach on the same level as Brad Stevens.  Stevens has already proven that he can take players the big schools pass over, and teach 'em to play winning basketball together.  That's the kind of coach we must have, 'cause we will rarely get the top 50 type players no matter who the coach is.

Agree with those who think Stevens is an impossibility, but a coach of his pedigree must be the goal.

rjkarl wrote: We have the money and we have to spend it. If we don't sign a name coach, Wellman should also be fired.

We have a realistic shot with Shaka if we are will to give him $3M/8-10 years. 

If we don't get Shaka, we should be willing to pay Alford. We might get into a bidding war with UCLA if the Bruins don't make a decent run. 

Stevens is the longest shot. But we should offer.