Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne decided to make a move with Coach Avery Johnson after a disappointing season in which a talented Crimson Tide team didn’t get into the NCAA Tournament. Johnson, who wasn’t hired by Byrne four years ago, went to just one NCAA Tournament in his four seasons in Tuscaloosa.

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

Alabama is obviously football-crazed but the program has had its share of success on the hardwood. Alabama has gone to the Sweet 16 eight times in its history and it went to the Elite Eight once.

 

THE DECISION-MAKER

Greg Byrne – He’s considered a football guy but Byrne does his homework when it comes to hoops. He’s been an athletic director since 2008 – he’s now at his third stop – but this will be his first hoops hire. He inherited Rick Stansbury at Mississippi State and Sean Miller was already at Arizona when he got there. The same was the case for Johnson when Byrnes arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2017.

Men’s Basketball Hires: None

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TAKE A SWING

Chris Beard, Texas Tech – I’d be surprised if Beard leaves Texas Tech for Alabama but it’s worth a shot. I’d throw everything I could at him to try and lure him to Tuscaloosa. Beard has turned Texas Tech into a nationally relevant program and should be the frontrunner to win National Coach of the Year.

SECOND CALL

Kelvin Sampson, Houston – There’s a thought that Sampson would go to Arkansas if it opened but maybe Byrne could convince him to come to Tuscaloosa for the right package. Sampson has done a tremendous job turning around the Cougars program the last couple of years.

WORTH A SHOT

Steve Prohm, Iowa State – Prohm seems to be the ideal candidate, largely because he was a manager at Alabama way back when. But there’s a case to be made that Prohm has a better job now in Ames – and I fully expect Prohm to stay with the Cyclones. On Tuesday, it was announced that he signed an extension with Iowa State through 2025.

Mick Cronin, Cincinnati – I’m not sure he’d make the move but Cronin has done one heck of a job rebuilding and sustaining success with the Bearcats. It’s worth calling a guy that has nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

OTHER CANDIDATES

Nate Oats, Buffalo – He doesn’t fit geographically but Oats has gone to the NCAA Tournament in three of his four seasons since being elevated from his assistant spot after Bobby Hurley left for Arizona State. Byrne could opt to go this route, especially after watching Oats and the Bulls destroy his former coach, Sean Miller, and Arizona last year in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Thad Matta – He was fired at Ohio State a couple years ago and the big question is whether he truly has any interest in coming back. He said no to Georgia last year so it’s difficult to imagine he’d take the ‘Bama job – unless he’s got the itch now that he didn’t have a year ago.

Mike Young, Wofford – He’s shown the ability to coach, evaluate and develop guys. Young has gone to the NCAA Tournament five times, including earning a No. 7 seed this season and nearly knocking off Kentucky in the second round.

John Brannen, Northern Kentucky – The good? He’s a former Alabama assistant. The bad? He was on a Crimson Tide staff that was let go after six years and just one NCAA Tournament appearance. He’s done a heck of a job at Northern Kentucky, taking the Nurse to the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three years.

Matt McMahon, Murray State – He has taken the Racers to the NCAA Tournament each of the past two seasons and he also recruited a kid named Ja Morant. It’s just a matter of time before McMahon gets a power conference gig.

Wes Miller, UNC Greensboro – The former UNC guard turned around the program and he took the program to the NCAA Tournament last year and almost got them there again this season.

Ryan Odom, UMBC – The Retrievers pulled the ultimate upset a year ago, becoming the first No. 16 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed. Odom has southern ties so that could help.

MY PICK: Chris Beard – Alabama has money. I’d make Beard an offer that he can’t refuse. He’s one of top up-and-coming coaches in the country.

 

WHO I THINK THEY WILL WIND UP HIRING: Thad Matta – Here’s what I know: Matta is feeling better. He doesn’t love attention, and he would be happy in the shadow of Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa. There’s also the fact that Byrne is close with Sean Miller from his days in Arizona, and Miller is extremely close with Matta. Just a hunch.

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