March 31, 2015
Over the weekend, the University of Texas fired head basketball coach Rick Barnes, which should've been a fairly easy decision. While not one of college hoops' blue bloods, the school has more resources than pretty much everyone else and Barnes had lost double-digit games in six of the past seven years while also generally inspiring very little confidence. Texas AD Steve Patterson wanted to keep Barnes on the condition that he fired some members of his coaching staff, which Barnes refused to do, therefore turning himself into the good guy.
Now Patterson has to find a new coach (Barnes quickly landed on his feet at the University of Tennessee), and he has a lot of dough to offer his entice some big fish. The rumored wishlist is headed by some major names: VCU's Shaka Smart, Wichita State's Gregg Marshall, and according to Sports Illustrated's Seth Davis, Jay Wright. The main difference between the Villanova head coach and the first two gentleman is that Wright isn't interested in living in the Austin area:
I've learned that Texas' search firm reached out to representatives of Jay Wright to gauge his interest. Was told thanks but no thanks.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 31, 2015
Wright is already very well paid (according to USA Today, he made $2.5 million), has things rolling at Villanova again (early tourney exits aside, the program is in terrific shape), is firmly entrenched in his hometown, and building the legacy of a place where he served as an assistant under Rollie Massimino in the 1980's. For 'Nova fans, it's nice little ego boost to know that a school the size of Texas kicked the tires on their program's coach and he turned them down.
Jay Wright in the Lone Star State? It just wouldn't feel right.
