LSU’s Basketball Coach Search: Who Will Be the Next Tiger?

As LSU looks for a new basketball coach there are a few key things that they’ll be looking for in a candidate. Here are some of the must-have qualities that the next Tiger coach will need to have!

LSU’s current basketball coach

LSU’s current basketball coach Johnny Jones, was relieved of his duties on March 27, 2017 after finishing with a 10-21 record and failing to make the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive year.

This now leaves LSU in search of a new Head Coach for their men’s basketball team Some of the names that have been mentioned as potential candidates are Texas Tech’s Coach Chris Beard, Dayton’s Coach Anthony Grant and Louisiana-Lafayette’s coach Bob Marlin.

It is unknown at this time who will be the next head coach of LSU’s men’s Basketball team but whoever it is will have big shoes to fill.

The coaching search process

The search for a new basketball coach at LSU is underway, and there are a few key factors that will play into who is ultimately hired.

First and foremost, LSU athletic director Joe Alleva wants to find a coach who can win immediately and restore the Tigers to their place among the SEC’s elite. That means finding someone with a proven track record of success, whether that’s at the collegiate or professional level.

Secondly, Alleva wants to find a coach who fits the culture of LSU and Baton Rouge He wants someone who understands the unique passion of Tiger fans and can connect with them on a personal level.

Finally, Alleva wants to find a coach who is committed to building a long-term successful program at LSU. He doesn’t want someone who is going to use the Tigers as a stepping stone to another job; he wants someone who will be at LSU for the long haul.

Whoever is ultimately hired will have their work cut out for them, but if they can meet all three of Alleva’s criteria, they’ll have a good chance of being successful in Baton Rouge

The top candidates for the job

Since Will Wade was suspended indefinitely by LSU on March 8th, the search for a new head basketball coach has been underway. Here are the top candidates for the job, according to various sources:

--Eric Musselman The current Head Coach of the Nevada Wolf Pack Musselman led Nevada to a 29-5 record this season and is considered one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the country. He has also previously coached in the NBA, including a stint as Head coach of the Golden State Warriors

--Tony Bennett The current head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers Bennett has led Virginia to two ACC regular season titles and two ACC tournament titles in his six seasons at the helm. He has also been named acc coach of the Year three times.

--Jay Wright The current head coach of the Villanova Wildcats Wright has led Villanova to two NCAA National Championships in the last three years. He is also a two-time recipient of the Naismith College Coach of the Year Award

Why LSU needs a new basketball coach

Why LSU needs a new basketball coach
In the wake of Will Wade’s firing, LSU is on the hunt for a new head men’s basketball coach The search is expected to be narrowed down to a select few candidates in the coming weeks, and there is no shortage of potential replacements.

LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward said the school will be seeking someone with “integrity and class” and who will fit in well with the university. Specific coaching experience is not required, as Woodward said he would be open to candidates from different backgrounds.

The Tigers are coming off a disappointing 18-19 season in which they finished with a 16-16 record, including 8-10 in SEC play. They failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015 and were left out of the NIT as well.

The expectations for the new basketball coach

As Louisiana State University (LSU) looks for a new head basketball coach to replace the recently fired Will Wade, fans and pundits have weighed in on what they expect from the program’s next leader. Wade was fired amid an ongoing FBI investigation into college Basketball Recruiting practices, and while the school has not been implicated in any wrong-doing, many feel that a clean break is needed.

In terms of on-court success, LSU has not been to the NCAA tournament since 2015 and has not won an SEC regular season or tournament title since 2009. The Tigers are also coming off a disappointing 2018-19 campaign in which they finished just 16-17 overall and 6-12 in SEC play. Given all of this, it’s clear that expectations will not be especially high for the new head coach

At the same time, LSU does have some appealing pieces in place for the next coach to work with. The Tigers return leading scorer Tremont Waters and promising young big man Naz Reid, and they also add five-star recruit Trendon Watford to the mix. With a few key additions, LSU could easily become a contender in the SEC once again.

Ultimately, whoever is hired as LSU’s next head Basketball Coach will have their work cut out for them. The Tigers have not been to the NCAA tournament in four years and have not won an SEC title in ten years, so expectations are certainly not sky-high at this point. That said, there is some talent on hand, and if the new coach can get things turned around quickly, LSU could be back in contention before long.

The timeline for the coaching search

The search for a new basketball coach at Louisiana State University has been a roller coaster ride for fans, with a number of high-profile candidates being linked to the job at various points.

Here is a timeline of how the search has unfolded so far:

April 9, 2018: LSU announces that head coach Johnny Jones will not be returning for the 2018-19 season.

April 11, 2018: Rumors start to circulate that Will Wade, Head Coach at Virginia Commonwealth University is the leading candidate for the LSU job.

April 12, 2018: Wade denies any interest in the LSU job, saying he is “happy” at VCU.

April 13, 2018: LSU interim chancellor William Jenkins appoints a seven-person search committee to find Jones’ replacement. The committee is chaired by athletic director Joe Alleva and includes two members of the LSU Board of Supervisors, two former LSU basketball players and two other LSU administrators.

April 23, 2018: Wade again denies any interest in the LSU job, saying he has not been contacted by anyone from LSU.

May 3, 2018: Reports surface that Temple head coach Fran Dunphy is also being considered for the LSU job.

May 5, 2018: Dunphy says he is “flattered” to be mentioned as a candidate but denies any interest in leaving Temple.

May 8, 2018: after meeting with the search committee, Alleva narrows down the list of candidates and recommends Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard to Jenkins.
On May 9th Coach Beard declined the offer from LSUs Athletic Director Joe Alleva to become the next Head Basketball Coach

The impact of the coaching search on the team

As LSU’s basketball team continues its search for a new head coach the players are struggling to maintain focus and unity. The coaching search has been a roller coaster for the team, with a number of potential candidates coming and going over the past few weeks.

The team has been through a lot in the past year, with former head coach Will Wade being suspended and then fired amid an FBI investigation into college basketball corruption. Now, the team is in limbo, waiting for a new head coach to be hired.

The coaching search has taken its toll on the team, with some players considering transferring to other schools. It remains to be seen how the team will respond when a new Head Coach is finally hired.

The reaction of the fans to the coaching search

As the search for a new Basketball Coach at LSU continues, many fans are wondering who will be the next Tiger. Some are hopeful that a big name will be hired, while others are content with whomever the school can get. There remains a divided opinion among the fan base.

Some fans are hopeful that LSU will make a splash with its hire and bring in a big-name coach. Others are content with whoever the school can get, as long as they are qualified and can do the job. There remains a divided opinion among the fan base.

The potential candidates for the job

As LSU looks for a new head basketball coach there are a few potential candidates that stand out.

Johnny Jones, the current head coach at Texas Southern University is a former LSU player and Assistant Coach He is familiar with the program and the fan base, and would be a popular choice among fans.

Another potential candidate is Will Wade, the current head coach at Chattanooga. Wade is a rising star in the coaching world, and has already turned around one program. He could be a good choice to lead LSU back to prominence.

Another name that has been mentioned is Jay Wright the head coach at Villanova. Wright is one of the best coaches in the country, and has won multiple national championships. He would be a home run hire for LSU, but it remains to be seen if he would be interested in the job.

Whoever is ultimately chosen as the next head Basketball coach at LSU, they will have their work cut out for them. The program is in need of a turnaround, and it will take a special coach to do it.

The final decision on the new basketball coach

It’s been a long search, but LSU finally has its new Basketball Coach Will Wade, who was most recently the Head Coach at Virginia Commonwealth University has been hired to lead the Tigers.

The hiring comes after a months-long search that saw dozens of candidates interviewed. LSU athletic director Joe Alleva said in a statement that Wade “emerged as the clear leader” after an “exhaustive” process.

Wade, who is 34 years old, has only been a head coach for two seasons. But he has already made a name for himself as one of the brightest young minds in the game. VCU went 41-20 under his watch, winning the Atlantic 10 conference tournament and reaching the NCAA tournament’s second round.

Before VCU, Wade was an assistant coach at Clemson, Chattanooga, and Florida. He also spent time on staff with USA Basketball’s Under-19 team in 2013.

Wade inherits an LSU team that went 10-21 last season and finished last in the SEC. But the Tigers do have some talent on the roster, including freshman guard Benjaminhart Hartmann and sophomore forward Naz Reid.

It will be interesting to see how Wade fares in his first season at LSU. He will have his work cut out for him as he tries to turn around a struggling program. But if anyone is up to the task, it is Will Wade.