In the past couple of days the college basketball coaching carousel has been the story around the country. John Calipari dragged out his decision just long enough to get people excited about, but not too long that people felt bogged down by it.
His decision to go to Kentucky from Memphis was probably the biggest coaching impact move we've seen in some time. Not only does Calipari become the highest paid coach in college basketball history, but he has the chance to snare his own recruits away from Memphis and turn the Wildcats into immediate contenders.
Calipari's move likely started the domino effect that happens every basketball season, usually just before the Final Four, AKA the biggest college basketball coaching job fair in the world. This time of the year also triggers thoughts of another coach perhaps jumping ship. Nevada's Mark Fox is the subject of coaching rumors nearly every year and probably rightfully so. This year, the talk has been slow to come around. The only recent Google hit involving his name and another coaching position is on the Arizona Daily Star Web site. Sports columnist Greg Hansen said, "That's why we are so worried that Nevada's Mark Fox will show up at a McKale Center press conference in a day or two," regarding the opening at Arizona. The Wildcats have an opening after Lute Olson announced his retirement at the beginning of the season.
It is highly unlikely that Fox would be in line for a job of this stature, but another position in the Pac-10 could be more his level.
Washington State is hoping to find a new coach by the end of the week, according to its athletic director Jim Sterk, and Fox would provide the Cougars with a higher level of recruiting in their own backyard. Fox has been known to tap the Washington area for talent, remember Marcelus Kemp?
Seattle Times sports columnist Bud Withers called for Portland State coach Ken Bone because of his ability to recruit the area, well Fox is up a rung on the ladder compared to Bone. Besides Kemp, Fox has grabbed Lyndale Burleson, Richie Phillips and most recently Mark McLaughlin and Steven Bjornstad from the state and continues to pull well from the area.
Now, is the position the right fit for Fox? No.
If Fox stays at Nevada for 2-3 more years, odds are he would put himself in position for a bigger program. With Luke Babbitt, Armon Johnson and the addition of McLaughlin, the Wolf Pack could be a top 25 team next season. Fox will get his name back on the list of athletic directors and prime himself for a decent position in 2011.
So if Fox is still here by the end of next week, then he'll probably be here by the end of next year. Which gives us at least one more chance to wonder when Fox is going to leave.
- Contact Justin Lawson at jlawson@nevadaappeal.com.