Basketball coaching search

[UTVolCountry]

Sources: Tennessee Reaches Out to Shaka Smart, Donnie Jones - Yardbarker

Tennessee is moving quickly to find a replacement for Bruce Pearl.

CBSSports.com’s Gary Parrish reported that Xavier’s Chris Mack spurned the Vols lucrative offer.

Tennessee, according to multiple sources, has also reached out to VCU head coach Shaka Smart and Central Florida’s Donnie Jones.

Smart is a hot, young coach who has won three games in the NCAA tournament and is in just his second season with the Rams.

Jones was a long-time assistant for Billy Donovan at Florida. He spent three years and turned around the program at Marshall and won 21 games this past season – his first at UCF.

Sources also told FOXSports.com that Boston Celtics assistant and ex-Vols assistant Lawrence Frank is not among the Vols top candidates.

The Tennessee opening may not bring a high-profile name due to the circumstances. The NCAA is finishing up its investigation into Pearl and the Vols program, the school has already lost multiple recruits and star freshman Tobias Harris will test the NBA waters and isn’t expected to return to school next season.

 

[UTVolCountry]

Rick Byrd interviews; UT never talked to Chris Mack GoVolsXtra

* Belmont coach Rick Byrd has interviewed for the job;

* There is mutual interest between UT and Boston Celtics assistant coach Lawrence Frank;

* Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall is interested in interviewing for the position;

* The Vols’ interest in Richmond coach Chris Mooney cooled after learning of violations committed by a Mooney assistant at Richmond in 2007, and;

* There has been no direct contact between Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon and UT.

The sources each requested anonymity because details of UT’s search haven’t been made public.

CBSsports.com reported Saturday that Xavier coach Chris Mack turned down an eight-year contract worth nearly $2 million a year after being contacted by Parker Executive Search on behalf of the Vols.

According to a UT official with direct knowledge of the search, the school is using the search firm but has not met with Mack.

Byrd has led Belmont to the NCAA tournament four of the past six seasons and was named this year’s Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year. He’s a Knoxville native who attended UT and served as a student assistant coach under former Vols coach Ray Mears.

The mutual interest between Frank and UT has been mitigated by the timetable of the hire, as Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics executive director of basketball operations, told the Boston Herald on Wednesday: “All I know is that Lawrence is under contract with us for the rest of the season . . . ’’

Frank, 40, served as the New Jersey Nets coach (2004-09) prior to his job with the Celtics and was an assistant coach at UT under Kevin O’Neill from 1995-97.

Vols athletic director Mike Hamilton contacted former UT offensive coordinator and current Bowling Green football coach Dave Clawson to discuss Mooney, with whom Clawson coached at Richmond.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, in August 2007, one of Mooney’s assistants sent text messages to recruits after the practice was forbidden. Mooney, 38, acknowledged the violation and the assistant was fired.

Marshall, 48, has put the word out he has interest in the Vols’ opening, but his focus right now is on Wichita State’s NIT run.

A source in the Pitt athletic department said there has been no official correspondence between Dixon, 45, and UT. It is Pitt’s policy not to comment on coaching searches.

Villanova coach Jay Wright, 49, Alabama coach Anthony Grant, 44, and Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon, 46, joined Dixon and Marshall on the Vols’ immediate list of top candidates after Pearl, 51, was fired.

UT, according to a source within the program, would like to have a new coach in place by April 4.

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Shaka Smart will either stay at VCU or go to the best job possible.

I'm not surprised Chris Mack turned you guys down, He says Xavier is his dream job, if I recall correctly Mack graduated from there.

 

[UTVolCountry]

Vols hire Missouri State's coach.

 

[UTVolCountry]

Tennessee has hired its new basketball coach. Cuonzo Martin will be introduced Monday afternoon at a press conference as the Vols 18th head coach.

"Cuonzo is among the most promising young coaches in the game, and we are excited about the coaching ability, toughness and energy that he brings to our program," said Tennessee Director of Athletics Mike Hamilton. "He has a proven track record of success as a head coach at Missouri State and an assistant at Purdue as well as an outstanding career as a college basketball player. His Missouri State program improved from 11 wins to 26 in just two seasons, and they won the regular season conference championship this year.

Tennessee has hired its new basketball coach. Cuonzo Martin will be introduced Monday afternoon at a press conference as the Vols 18th head coach. | wbir.com

 

[UTVolCountry]

ESPN - Conversations: Tennessee hires Cuonzo Martin

 

[UTVolCountry]

I know Missouri State usually has a competitive team, but I've never really heard of their coach or know much about him. So I'm not really sure what to think of the hire right now. Just have to wait and see I guess.

Welcome to Tennessee, Martin!

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

not a bad hire sir

 

[UTVolCountry]

Hopefully he can bring some stability.