ACC mainstay Jamie Dixon has departed his long time post as head coach at the University of Pittsburgh for the same position at his alma mater, Texas Christian University. Dixon coached the Panthers for 17 seasons total, the final 13 of which came as a head coach. He leaves the only school he has ever coached with a record of 328-123 (.727), which included 11 trips to the NCAA Tournament, two trips to the Sweet Sixteen, and one Elite Eight appearance.
With the Panthers now actively searching for a new coach of their men’s basketball program, I couldn’t help but add to the speculation regarding some possible names to head to Pittsburgh to replace the long time head coach. Without further ado, let’s get to the list.
The Logical Candidate: Sean Miller, Head Coach–University of Arizona
There are plenty of questions that come with a coaching search, but whether or not Pittsburgh athletic director Scott Barnes requests an interview with Arizona head coach Sean Miller will not be one of them.
Miller has long been rumored as a potential fit with the Panthers, due to his deep roots in the Pittsburgh area, coupled with the fact that he starred as point guard at the school from 1987-1992. As a coach, his track record is unquestioned. Although Miller has never made a Final Four as a head coach, he has taken his teams to six Sweet Sixteens and four Elite Eights in his 12 years of coaching at Xavier and Arizona. Additionally, Miller has proven himself to be an excellent recruiter, as the Wildcats have had six straight recruiting classes ranked in the top five nationally.
It is likely that there would be some level of mutual interest, as coaching at one’s alma mater is a unique opportunity. However, would Miller be interested in leaving what he’s built at Arizona for what would be considered a lateral move or maybe even a step down? That is the million dollar question at this point, as it will all depend on Miller’s readiness to head back east to Pittsburgh.
No matter what happens, the list starts, and could ultimately go no further, than Sean Miller.
The Staff Candidate: Brandin Knight, Assistant Coach–University of Pittsburgh
Just like Jamie Dixon succeeded Ben Howland at Pitt in 2003 as head coach, so could lead assistant Brandin Knight replace Jamie Dixon in 2016. At a high level, the move for the Panthers makes some modicum of sense. In Knight, the team would have a young, energetic replacement for Dixon who is regarded as one of the top assistant coaches not only in the ACC, but in the entire country.
At 34 years of age, he provides a voice that is familiar enough with the players that they will know what is expected, while additionally bridging the gap on the recruiting trail with a familiar face still in the fold. He was once a star point guard for the Panthers from 1999-2003, and his #20 jersey is retired by the school.
While he brings plenty of experience of both playing and coaching at the collegiate level, he has never held a job other than as an assistant, which could be a sticking point depending on what direction the athletic department chooses to go when picking their new head coach.
The Consolation Prize: Archie Miller, Head Coach–University of Dayton
If Scott Barnes strikes out with the first name on the list, maybe he could try for another member of the family. Archie Miller, the 37-year-old kid brother of Sean Miller, has quickly emerged as one of the top young coaches in the game today. He has just finished his fifth season as the head coach at the University of Dayton, where he holds an overall record of 115-54 (.680), with three straight NCAA Tournament appearances that includes a trip to the Elite Eight in 2013-2014.
Miller’s style of coaching is very similar to his older brother Sean, as his teams pride themselves on up-tempo, relentless defensive pressure and prolific outside shooting. Archie has been courted by a number of larger schools over the past couple of seasons, but has yet to find good reason to leave his position at Dayton.
Perhaps the native of Pennsylvania will see this as the right time to make a move to a bigger coaching job, should the Panthers come calling for his services.
The Stretch: Andy Enfield, Head Coach– University of Southern California
Andy Enfield burst onto the head coaching scene due in large part to his “Dunk City” squad (see above) at Florida Gulf Coast making an unlikely run to the Sweet 16 in 2012-2013 as a 15-seed. Enfield parlayed his team’s tournament success that season into a Power Five coaching gig at the University of Southern California, where in just his third year, he has turned the program around in leading them to their first tournament appearance since 2010. Enfield’s teams have consistently over-achieved with him at the helm, as he has now led a small school to NCAA Tournament prominence, while also showing the versatility to revitalize a down program in a major college basketball conference at USC.
At just 46 years of age, the Shippensburg, Pennsylvania native will have plenty of options if he expresses interest to move on quickly from his rebuilding project at Southern Cal. Pittsburgh has the rich history and tradition, plus the intangibles of being near home that could make the position particularly intriguing for a coach like Enfield, who has not shown a hesitation to make a change should he find a spot that would make sense and be the right fit. Only time will tell if Pittsburgh is one of those places that would spurn a move for one of the best young coaches in college basketball.
The Hire That Nobody Sees Coming: Gregg Marshall, Head Coach–Wichita State University
For years now, Gregg Marshall has been rumored as a potential candidate in nearly every open Power Five coaching job across the country due to his sustained success at Wichita State. The Shockers have made their presence felt in the NCAA Tournament over the years, as this season marked the fifth straight time Marshall’s squad has made the field of 68.
Marshall is known as a relentless recruiter, and has gained much-garnered respect out of his coaching peers due to his ability to get the most out of his players, no matter what the talent level is from year-to-year on the roster. With a Final Four appearance in 2012-2013, and multiple tournament appearances since, he has undoubtedly proven that he can coach at the highest level of college basketball.
This season, after a second round exit against the Miami Hurricanes ended the careers of Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker, Marshall’s most decorated senior class since he’s been at Wichita, the time may finally be right for Marshall to make his move to a big-time head coaching job of his choice. Will Pittsburgh have enough appeal to lure him away from the program that he has built at Wichita? It seems unlikely, but a fit as a head coach at a proven basketball institution in the best hoops conference in the land may be enough for Marshall to finally take the leap this spring.
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