Seven Potential Candidates to Replace Mark Adams at Texas Tech
Now that Texas Tech men’s basketball coach Mark Adams is out for the Red Raiders, here are several coaches that Tech could call upon to replace him.
Pat Kelsey, College of Charleston head coach
After 10 seasons at Winthrop and two at College of Charleston, the moment may finally be here for one of the game’s best young coaches to get a high-major job. He led the Cougars to 30 wins and a national ranking this season, but he took Winthrop to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances before his arrival. He played his college ball at Xavier in the 1990s, so his path crossed with then-Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins.
Mark Madsen, Utah Valley head coach
He was the guy that coached Fardaws Aimaq before he arrived in Lubbock. Without Aimaq, the Wolverines got better, winning 23 games and the outright WAC regular-season title. The Wolverines finished six spots better in the league than a year ago. Before arriving in Orem, he was a Stanford and Los Angeles Lakers assistant. He’s a California native, and maybe he’s hoping for a West Coast gig. But he could be ready to take on a bigger challenge.
Ulric Maligi, Kansas State associate head coach
At some point, Maligi will get a head-coaching job. He’s one of 12 associate head coaches under the age of 40 at the major college level and he moved to K-State from Texas, where he followed Chris Beard from Texas Tech. So, can Tech fans get over the fact that he ‘got on the plane?’ If so, they would get a coach with deep Texas roots (he was born in Arlington) and who worked for three different Big 12 programs.
Dusty May, Florida Atlantic head coach
The Owls are one of the big stories of college basketball season, and May is having an ascendant season career-wise. The Owls won 28 games in the regular season and the C-USA regular season title. He’s nearing 100 games at FAU in five seasons and worked under Mike White at Florida. He could be ready for a major-conference job.
Grant McCasland, North Texas head coach
Part of the Scott Drew coaching tree, McCasland has had success in Denton, Texas. He’s won more than 100 games at UNT in five years, leading the Mean Green to an NCAA Tournament appearance and an NIT appearance. This season the Mean Green finished second in Conference USA. He also has West Texas roots. His first head-coaching gig was at Midland College in Midland, Texas, and he was director of operations at Texas Tech for two seasons.
Paul Mills, Oral Roberts head coach
Mills is due a promotion, so to speak. He’s led ORU for six seasons and this year is the high-water mark, as the Golden Eagles have 27 wins and appear primed for the NCAA Tournament once again. He led them to the Sweet 16 in 2021, with Tech forward Kevin Obanor on the roster. He was a long-time assistant for Drew at Baylor, so he gets the Big 12. He’s a Houston native who went to Texas A&M.
Ryan Odom, Utah State head coach
He’s worked his way through the ranks for 25 years, but you know him best as the head coach at UMBC the season it upset No. 1 Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He took the job at Utah State two seasons ago and he has the Aggies poised for a trip to the NCAA Tournament after 23 regular-season wins.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
