This article is part of our Draft Kit series.
In addition to the two major chains of coaching changes this offseason, there are a number of "name" coaches who have found their way to colleges. As is the custom in the coaching profession, there were plenty of retreads. Many of the coaches on this list have downsized from the major college programs and there a few first-timers who have plenty of experience from the NBA. You may not see these teams in March, but each situation should be interesting to watch.
Mike Dunleavy Sr., Tulane Green Wave
Let me state my bias from the outset: Dunleavey was my least favorite NBA coach for a long time because he led my Milwaukee Bucks to an average of 26.8 wins over four seasons when my fandom was at its highest in the mid-90s. His biggest decision was to take Glenn Robinson over Grant Hill and Jason Kidd in the 1994 draft, which was defensible at the time. Now, he takes over Tulane in his first foray as a college coach. Expectations for the Green Wave are limited, but senior guard Malik Morgan (12.2 points, 5.5 rebounds) could be in for a nice season.
Terry Porter, Portland Pilots
Porter is another former Buck coach who has taken the long and winding road to the college ranks. He led the Bucks to 71 wins over two seasons from 2003-05 and tried to replace Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix. Porter spent 10 years in Portland as a player and was a two-time All Star with
In addition to the two major chains of coaching changes this offseason, there are a number of "name" coaches who have found their way to colleges. As is the custom in the coaching profession, there were plenty of retreads. Many of the coaches on this list have downsized from the major college programs and there a few first-timers who have plenty of experience from the NBA. You may not see these teams in March, but each situation should be interesting to watch.
Mike Dunleavy Sr., Tulane Green Wave
Let me state my bias from the outset: Dunleavey was my least favorite NBA coach for a long time because he led my Milwaukee Bucks to an average of 26.8 wins over four seasons when my fandom was at its highest in the mid-90s. His biggest decision was to take Glenn Robinson over Grant Hill and Jason Kidd in the 1994 draft, which was defensible at the time. Now, he takes over Tulane in his first foray as a college coach. Expectations for the Green Wave are limited, but senior guard Malik Morgan (12.2 points, 5.5 rebounds) could be in for a nice season.
Terry Porter, Portland Pilots
Porter is another former Buck coach who has taken the long and winding road to the college ranks. He led the Bucks to 71 wins over two seasons from 2003-05 and tried to replace Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix. Porter spent 10 years in Portland as a player and was a two-time All Star with the Blazers. After 12 years on NBA benches, he is going to try to fly the Pilots. The team has not topped 17 wins over the last five seasons and has not made the NCAA tournament since 1996. Portland should be all set at point guard with Alec Wintering (18.3 points, 4.9 assists), but the team has plenty of questions in the frontcourt.
Rick Stansbury, West Kentucky Hilltoppers
We know that Stansbury has a knack for recruiting from his time at Mississippi State. He spent 15 seasons as the Bulldogs coach and brought in players such as Dee Bost, Renardo Sidney, Jarvis Varnado, and Jamont Gordon. Stansbury retired after the 2012 season, but joined the Texas A&M staff in 2014. It looks like he has retained his recruiting ways because the 56 year old has brought in a variety of transfers – Panacke Thomas (Hartford), Junior Lomomba (Providence), Que Johnson (Washington State), and Willie Carmichael (Tennessee). Things could get interesting quickly in Bowling Green.
Johnny Dawkins, UCF Knights
Dawkins had eight seasons to turn Stanford into Duke West. It didn't happen. While the Cardinal won the NIT tournament twice, the squad only made the NCAA tournament once under the former Duke guard. After being fired by Stanford and replaced by former UAB coach Jerod Haase, he has popped up in the American Athletic with the Knights. Previous coach Donnie Jones left Dawkins with former A.J. Davis (12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds) and 7-6 sophomore center Tacko Fall (7.4 points, 5.9 rebounds). Guard B.J. Taylor will return after missing the majority of last season with a deep bone bruise in his right foot.
Travis Ford, Saint Louis Billikens
Like Dawkins, Ford spent eight seasons with his previous team, Oklahoma State, but only won one NCAA tournament game. The Cowboys did make the NCAA tournament five times and had players like Marcus Smart and James Anderson. He was replaced by Brad Underwood and went to Saint Louis where he will take over for Jim Crews. The Billikens had a very successful run that ended two years ago and the team had only won a combined 22 games in the last two seasons. Ford will again look to push the pace and he has an experienced backcourt - senior Mike Crawford (10.3 points), junior Davell Roby (6.3 points), and sophomore Jermaine Bishop (8.9 points) – to set up the press and fast break.
Herb Sendek, Santa Clara Broncs
We head back to the West Coast Conference for the last two new coaches. Sendek took the last season off after 19 years at major schools (10 at North Carolina State, nine at Arizona State). He led the Wolfpack to five straight NCAA tournaments before heading to the desert where the Sun Devils only advanced to the Big Dance twice. The Broncs have the conference's leading returning scorer in guard Jared Browridge (20.6 points). The proponent of the Princeton offense led the team to a 2-1 trip of Italy in August.
Damon Stoudamire, Pacific Tigers
After winning just 20 games over the two previous seasons, the Tigers looked in a new direction. One might think they looked down for the diminutive Stoudamire. The 1996 NBA Rookie of the Year has been learning the college coaching ropes as an assistant at Memphis (twice) and Arizona over the last five years. Now, he gets his own team and Pacific has a lot of returning talent. Guard T.J. Wallace and guard/forward Ray Bowles both provided double-digit scoring. Keep an eye on freshman guard T.J. Smith, the son of Kenny Smith, who Stouamire could mold in his image.
