IS OUT AS THE HILLTOPPERS’ COACH.
SPECULATION ABOUT HIS SUCCESSOR FIGURES TO GO INTO OVERDRIVE … QUICKLY
It certainly came as no surprise, but seventh-year Western Kentucky University men’s basketball coach Rick Stansbury has stepped down, the university announced in a news release.
Stansbury, the longtime coach at Mississippi State, compiled a 139-89 record in his seven years on The Hill, not counting his time away from the program this season when he was being treated for an undisclosed illness.
Longtime Stansbury assistant Phil Cunningham, the Hilltoppers’ associate head coach, filled in for Stansbury during that nine-game absence, going 3-6, before Stansbury returned to the team about five weeks ago.
“After giving this much thought, I have made the decision that I need to step away as head coach at Western Kentucky,” Stansbury said in a statement released by WKU. “This past season has been a challenging one, and I need some time to step away from things and focus on my health and my family.
“This is a very difficult decision but the right one.”
BUT THE TOPS FAILED TO REACH THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.
Speculation about Stansbury’s successor started within a few minutes after the news release was issued at lunchtime Saturday.
Respected sports columnist Rick Bozich of WDRB-TV in Louisville indicated that he had spoken to WKU athletics director Todd Stewart, who told Bozich he had no timetable set for hiring Stansbury’s successor, and that his phone had been “buzzing” since the word of the university’s decision was released.
Attempts to contact Stansbury, Cunningham and longtime Mississippi State/WKU assistant coach Marcus Grant for comment were unsuccessful.
FROM THE TRANSFER PORTAL
BROUGHT OPTIMISM TO WKU.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS AT WKU
FOR THE 2022-23 SEASON.
Expectations for the 2022-23 season at WKU were sky-high, particularly after the return of standout guard Dayvion McKnight and 7-foot-5 junior center Jamarion Sharp, who both briefly entered the transfer portal after the 2021-22 season.
Stansbury and his staff also added former University of Kentucky swingman Dontaie Allen, who missed eight games early in the season over an eligibility issue.
Role players such as two-year starter Luke Frampton, a rugged defender and capable 3-point shooter, 6-foot-8 guard/forward Emmanuel Akot and small forward Jarius Hamilton were also returning, and the Hilltoppers got off to a promising start before things went south in a hurry.
JAMARION SHARP, WAS THE
NATION’s LEADER IN BLOCKED SHOTS.
In November, Stansbury told the media he had big things in mind for the 2022-23 team, saying:
“I don’t like this team, I love this team.”
Stansbury had plenty of regular-season success at Mi89ssissippi State, and he also won the SEC Tournament in 2002 and ’09, the 2009 title when the Bulldogs had to win four games in as many days to get to the NCAA Tournament.
Stansbury was also former MSU head coach Richard Williams’ lead assistant when the Bulldogs won the SEC Tournament and reached the 1996 Final Four, losing to Syracuse in the semifinals. Rick Pitino’s Kentucky Wildcats won the national championship that year in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
FOR STANSBURY DURING HIS
NINE-GAME ABSENCE
BECAUSE OF HEALTH CONCERNS.
In the postseason, however, Stansbury’s record left something to be desired.
Mississippi State never got out of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, even as a No. 2 seed in 2003-04. The Bulldogs were upset by No. 7 seed Xavier (Ohio) in second-round play, 89-74.
Western Kentucky hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since the 2012-13 season, under the direction of Stansbury’s predecessor, Ray Harper. The Hilltoppers were a member of the Sun Belt Conference that season, and they’ve never reached the NCAA Tournament in their present league, Conference USA.
Stansbury took Western Kentucky to the NIT semifinals in 2018, and the NIT quarterfinals in 2021. The Hilltoppers were 20-10 overall, and 13-5 in Conference USA, when the conference tournament was cancelled at the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the names mentioned as possible successors, mostly from my sources and other media outlets, include:
**** Former Ole Miss head coach Kermit Davis, who enjoyed a successful run at WKU’s arch-rival, Middle Tennessee State;
**** Former Marquette and Indiana coach Tom Crean;
**** Former LSU coach Will Wade;
**** Michigan State assistant coach Dane Fife, a former star at the University of Indiana;
**** Morehead State coach Preston Spradlin, who previously served as an assistant to University of Kentucky coach John Calipari for five seasons;
**** and Nebraska assistant coach Adam Howard, who played on WKU’s 2008 squad that reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
AS THE HEAD COACH AT MISSISSIPPI STATE.
WKU athletic director Todd Stewart told sports columnist Rick Bozich of WDRB-TV in Louisville that he had five primary qualities in mind in the search for Stansbury’s successor.
They included a proven track record in recruiting, player development, commitment to academics, community involvement, and, of course, winning.
Of course I’ll have a lot more in this story over the next 24-48 hours. Thanks for reading.
HAS ONE YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY REMAINING.
OF 138-89 AS WKU’s HEAD COACH.