SEATTLE — The last time Troy Dannen went looking for a head coach, the Washington Huskies athletic director moved with incredible pace to fill the void in the football program.
It took him just two days to lure Jedd Fisch away from Arizona and replace Kalen DeBoer, who left for Alabama.
Two months later, Dannen, who began his tenure at Montlake in October, is now tasked to fill the soon-to-be head coaching vacancy with the UW men’s basketball team after announcing Friday that Mike Hopkins will not return next season.
“As we transition to the Big Ten Conference this August, we do so with tremendous momentum, passionate fans and supporters, as well as a proud basketball tradition,” Dannen said in a statement released by UW. “I am confident we will identify a phenomenal leader for our men’s basketball program who will embrace our institution’s high expectations for academic, social and competitive success.”
Just don’t expect Dannen to move as quickly as he did before.
For starters, most of the reported top candidates are in the midst of leading their programs to conference tournaments followed by the NCAA tournament.
Technically, there’s no NCAA rule that prevents Dannen from starting the coaching search now while the season winds down.
When Hopkins was hired in 2017, he was the top Syracuse assistant and interviewed with former UW athletic director Jen Cohen the day before the Orange lost in the second round of the NIT.
However, it’s believed Dannen has his sights set on a candidate with current head-coaching experience and it’s extremely uncommon for a head coach to take another job while his team is in the postseason.
Still, the transfer portal might play a role in UW’s hiring timeline considering Monday begins a 45-day window for players to enter the portal.
Here’s a look at a few early candidates (in alphabetical order).
Randy Bennett, Saint Mary’s
Almost every time there’s a coaching vacancy with a West Coast Power Five team, his name is thrown in the mix. Last year, he reportedly rebuffed overtures from California. During his 23-year tenure at Saint Mary’s, Bennett has built a basketball powerhouse and the Gaels (24-7) are poised to make their 10th appearance in the NCAA tournament in the past 20 years.
Darian DeVries, Drake
The 48-year-old DeVries has never won fewer than 20 games in a season during his six years with the Bulldogs. This season, Drake is 26-6 and on the verge of its third NCAA tournament under DeVries. Son Tucker, a 6-foot-7 junior guard, is the two-time Missouri Valley Conference player of the year.
Dusty May, Florida Atlantic
Arguably the hottest name among mid-major coaches, who is reportedly one of the top two candidates for the Ohio State job along with Xavier’s Sean Miller. May is 124-67 over six seasons at Florida Atlantic and surprisingly he returned to the Owls for this year after guiding them to a 35-win season and the Final Four.
Niko Medved, Colorado State
Much like May, Medved has been a rising star among mid-major coaches since guiding the Rams to four 20-win seasons in the past five years. However, since making his only trip to the NCAA tournament in 2022, the Ram have finished eighth and seventh in the Mountain West.
Kyle Smith, Washington State
Smith is beloved in Pullman after guiding the Cougars to a 23-8 record, second-place Pac-12 finish and an expected NCAA tournament appearance, which would snap their 16-year postseason drought. But Washington would be foolish not to explore his interest. Besides, the last coach who left WSU for UW turned out pretty good for the Huskies: the legendary Marv Harshman.
Danny Sprinkle, Utah State
Several college basketball pundits believe it’s his job if he wants it. Sprinkle led Montana State to consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and during his first year at Utah State, the 22nd-ranked Aggies are 22-5 and headed to the Big Dance. Sprinkle is a Pullman native whose father played football at UW.
