Assessing the SEC Coaching Hot Seat
Posted by David Changas on October 29th, 2014As the college basketball season approaches, it’s time to assess how much pressure, or lack thereof, is on each of the SEC’s 14 coaches.
The Seat is ICE COLD
- Billy Donovan (Florida) and John Calipari (Kentucky). It is hard to imagine two seats being any cooler than these two. The only way either leaves his current post is voluntarily for a high-profile and higher-paying job in the NBA. While that may still be a threat for both, Calipari would appear to be the more likely option to eventually take that route. Donovan, who remarkably is now entering his 19th season at Florida, does not appear to be headed anywhere, although he has flirted with — and once even took the Orlando Magic gig — several times in his tenure. For now, though, the two kings of the SEC are firmly entrenched at their respective schools and appear to be primed to dominate the league for the foreseeable future.
- Bruce Pearl (Auburn). The Auburn administration did what many thought was unthinkable in March: It made Auburn basketball relevant again. The school’s hiring of Pearl was not just a home run; it was a grand slam, as the former Tennessee coach will have the Tigers playing at a high level within two to three years. He has already started recruiting well – his 2015 class is currently No. 10 in Rivals.com‘s most recent ratings — and once his system is in place with the right parts, the rest of the SEC will be on notice.
Auburn is happy to have Bruce Pearl back in the SEC. (athlonsports.com)
- Donnie Tyndall (Tennessee). Tyndall takes over a program that went to the Sweet Sixteen last season and was one controversial call away from having a chance to play for a Final Four berth. However, it is no secret that former head coach Cuonzo Martin was not beloved in Knoxville, and Tyndall’s engaging personality seems to be a better fit for the school. The Vols will certainly struggle this year and maybe a couple more after that, but Tyndall will get a pass in the short term to bring in players who fit his more frenetic system.
- Kim Anderson (Missouri). Anderson has already proven that he can win, as he is coming off a Division II national championship at Central Missouri. However, there is no guarantee that his success there will translate to the high-major level in Division I. A Missouri alumnus, Anderson is proud to have the job and will not have to do much in Columbia to be more well-received than his predecessor, Frank Haith. The Tigers will be young this season, having lost their dynamic trio of Jordan Clarkson, Jabari Brown and Earnest Ross, but Anderson will be given time to get things going in the right direction.
The Seat is COMFORTABLE
- Johnny Jones (LSU). Jones just received a raise and contract extension through the 2017-18 season, and he has a commitment pending from the nation’s top-ranked high school senior, Ben Simmons. While the timing of the extension seems a bit odd, the reality is that Jones isn’t going anywhere. The Tigers lost Johnny O’Bryant and the enigmatic Anthony Hickey from last year’s squad, but they are expected to finish in the top half of the conference regardless.
- Billy Kennedy (Texas A&M). While there was some surprise that Kennedy was given another season in College Station, he appears to have turned things around on the recruiting trail by getting commitments from four top-100 players in the senior class. While he has had very little on-court success coaching the Aggies, there is still reason for optimism in the conference’s westernmost outpost. With such a great class on the way, Kennedy’s job is safe for now. Still, he needs to show signs of improvement this year so that his program builds some momentum heading into the more anticipated 2015-16 season.
- Andy Kennedy (Ole Miss). Kennedy has done a solid job during his tenure in Oxford. While he has only led the Rebels to the NCAA Tournament once in his eight seasons, he also has never had a losing record and is 70 games over .500. He brings back first-team all-SEC performer Jarvis Summers, who some have tabbed as the preseason SEC Player of the Year, and he should have another competitive squad on campus. It is more likely that Kennedy would move on to another job than his current gig would be in jeopardy.
The Seat is GETTING WARMER
- Frank Martin (South Carolina). When Martin bolted Kansas State for South Carolina, it was an obvious move of desperation to get away from Wildcats athletic director John Currie. Martin likely would have been able to find a better job elsewhere had he tried, but he so badly wanted out of Manhattan that he took the gig coaching the hapless Gamecocks. As he enters his third year, expectations are a bit elevated here, although it does not appear that the Gamecocks are yet ready to challenge in the SEC. If South Carolina turns in another disappointing campaign, however, expect the heat to be turned up a bit more on Martin. That said, he is in no danger of losing his job after this season.
- Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt). Most observers of college basketball hold Stallings’ coaching ability in high regard. As he enters his 17th season at Vanderbilt, he has been a bit scarred by the departures of several key contributors over the past couple of seasons. The last two to leave the program are Kedren Johnson — who was suspended for the entire 2013-14 campaign — and Dai-jon Parker, who would have been the team’s second-leading returning scorer. The year prior, Sheldon Jeter and Kevin Bright departed, and Eric McClellan was dismissed early in the season. While Stallings brings back the very promising Damian Jones and signed a promising recruiting class, a third consecutive season that does not result in an NCAA Tournament bid may result in some louder grumbling from a frustrated fan base.
- Mike Anderson (Arkansas). Anderson and Arkansas appeared to be a perfect fit when the hire was made three years ago, but things have not gone according to plan, though, in Fayetteville. His teams have failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in any of his first three seasons, and while the Razorbacks are expected to be much improved this year, an NCAA Tournament bid is anything but a sure thing. While Anderson certainly will not face termination barring something completely unforeseen, Razorbacks fans need to see improvement and are ready to get to the point where Arkansas basketball is once again nationally relevant.
- Mark Fox (Georgia). Fox appears to be safe at the moment, but a disappointing season this year could spell trouble for the Bulldogs’ head coach. After several frustrating seasons, the Bulldogs finished third in the SEC last season and bring virtually everyone back. Fox is generally regarded as a sound coach who has had trouble bringing talent to Athens, but that may be changing. If he can improve the quality of players in his program by becoming more effective recruiting Atlanta, it will go a long way towards keeping his job safe.
The Seat is HOT
- Rick Ray (Mississippi State). The hire of Ray was a curious one when the former Clemson assistant was tabbed to replace Rick Stansbury following the 2011-12 season. So far, those questioning the move have been justified, as there is nothing to indicate that the program is remotely close to being ready to succeed. Ray’s record in SEC play is 7-29 through two seasons, and the Bulldogs are picked to finish at the very bottom of the league once again. They also will be without their best player, Craig Sword, for several weeks, and have lost junior college transfer Johnny Zuppardo for the entire season. A slow start could turn up the heat significantly on Ray, and despite the fact that he’s only entering his third season in Starkville, there is no guarantee that he will be around for a fourth.
The Seat is ON FIRE
Anthony Grant is in trouble at Alabama. (Bamahoops.com)
- Anthony Grant (Alabama). No one’s seat in the SEC is hotter than Grant’s. What appeared to be a can’t-miss hire when it was made five years ago has turned into a disappointing mess. Grant must win now, and given what he has on the roster this season, that outcome is not likely as it will take a minor miracle for him to get a sixth season in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide were picked to finish 10th in the league by the media during the preseason, and there is no reason to believe they will contend for an NCAA Tournament bid. That likely spells doom for Grant.
