LSU coaching search: CBS Sports suggests 2 potential candidates from SEC

LSU is looking for a new men’s head basketball coach after Will Wade’s firing. Wade was fired after LSU received its Notice of Allegations from the NCAA, which included 5 Level I violations tied to the head coach.

The Allegations of Level I violations will likely affect the search to find Wade’s full-time replacement. (Assistant coach Kevin Nickelberry has been named the interim head coach for the remainder of LSU’s 2021-22 season, which continues, presumably, in the NCAA Tournament.)

LSU shared an open letter from Director of Athletics Scott Woodward and President William F. Tate IV on Saturday announcing Wade’s firing. The letter states, “We will immediately initiate a national search for a new head coach.”

Where will LSU’s search begin? CBS Sports has a wide-ranging list of possible candidates, including 2 current SEC head coaches.

Kyle Boone of CBS Sports divides the listed candidate pool into “big fish” and “other potential options.” The listed big fish are Brad Underwood (Illinois head coach), Scott Drew (Baylor), Bill Self (Kansas), Buzz Williams (Texas A&M) and Mike White (Florida).

Woodward was the Texas A&M athletic director who hired Williams to coach the Aggies in 2019. As CBS Sports mentions, Williams’ stock figures to be high right now as Texas A&M looks likely to make the NCAA Tournament. Prior to Texas A&M, Williams has coached in 8 NCAA Tournaments at Marquette (5) and Virginia Tech (3).

White is a surprising inclusion considering many Florida fans are hoping UF makes its own coaching change. Florida is expected to miss the 2022 NCAA Tournament after going 19-13. It will be the second time the Gators haven’t made the Big Dance under White, who has been head coach since 2015. Entering this season, White’s Florida program was the only SEC team to reach the last 4 NCAA Tournaments (2017-19; 2021). White also has some Louisiana familiarity, having coached at La Tech from 2011-to-2015, posting a 101-40 record with the Bulldogs.

CBS Sports’ “other potential options” for LSU are Dennis Gates (Cleveland State), Jerome Tang (Baylor), Andy Kennedy (UAB) and Mike Rhoades (VCU).

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.