Potential Otzelberger replacements as UNLV eyes another coaching search

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Thursday, March 18, 2021 | 2 a.m.

Though there have been no reports of T.J. Otzelberger being offered and accepting the Iowa State job, the momentum toward a deal seems unstoppable at this point.

If he does depart, Otzelberger will be leaving UNLV sooner than anyone expected, but athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois is unlikely to be caught off guard in launching the school’s next coaching search.

Reed-Francois maintains a list of coaches (in all sports) who catch her attention and show potential in some way or another. A few years ago, Otzelberger was on that list because Reed-Francois caught one of South Dakota State’s games on television and liked the way his Jackrabbits played. So there’s a good chance Otzelberger’s replacement is already on her list, too.

That doesn’t mean UNLV’s coaching search would be as quick as Iowa State’s, which lasted less than 24 hours before the Cyclones began zeroing in on Otzelberger. Reed-Francois seems likely to go the “official” route, which includes hiring a search firm, vetting multiple candidates and interviewing finalists before making the choice.

But there’s a decent chance that when that process plays out to the end, UNLV’s next head basketball coach will be someone Reed-Francois already has on her list.

Since I don’t have access to her actual list, here’s a guesstimate of potential candidates:

Todd Simon, Southern Utah head coach

Simon has emerged as one of the early favorites of the fan base. He is well known locally, both from his time as the head coach at Findlay Prep and from his three years as an assistant at UNLV under head coach Dave Rice, and when Rice was fired midseason in 2015-16 it was Simon who got the nod as interim head coach.

Simon was regarded as an ace recruiter during his time at UNLV, and he has certainly proved his Division I coaching chops over the past five years as he led Southern Utah from a 6-24 record the season before he arrived to a 20-4 mark this year and a regular-season Big Sky championship. The Thunderbirds have posted a better record each season under his watch.

Is Simon ready for a step up to the Mountain West? He’s a young, ascending coach and he’s got a good résumé, so even if UNLV doesn’t come calling it seems his next opportunity isn’t far off.

Kevin Kruger, UNLV assistant

Is continuity allowed at UNLV? If so, it might be worth handing the reins to Kruger, who has spent the last two years as an assistant under Otzelberger. Kruger is also a bona fide scarlet and gray hero for leading the 2006-07 squad to the Mountain West title and the Sweet 16.

Kruger is only 37 and does not have any head coaching experience, but his dad, Lon Kruger, was the best coach the program has had since Jerry Tarkanian. Might Kevin Kruger be able to recapture some of that magic?

Rick Pitino, Iona head coach

Pitino was not considered by UNLV the last time around, and though he might be the overwhelming preference of the fans, it seems unlikely that Reed-Francois would have changed her opinion on Pitino that much in two years.

He can flat-out coach, obviously, and would have UNLV back in the NCAA Tournament in a flash (like he did in taking Iona to the dance in his first season there). But there’s also the matter of his reported $10 million buyout. UNLV is getting $3 million for Otzelberger’s buyout, but making up the rest of the gap is probably a bridge too far.

Mike Rhoades, VCU head coach

Rhoades was a very intriguing candidate for UNLV two years ago and the things that made him a strong contender at that time are still applicable: He plays up-tempo, utilizes a hellacious fullcourt press and gets to the NCAA Tournament. VCU went 19-7 this season while boasting the 12^th-best defense in the country and made the dance again for the second time in four years under Rhoades.

Rhoades also did a very good job at his first stop, taking Rice from a 7-23 record the year before he was hired to a 23-12 mark in his third season. UNLV could use that kind of turnaround, but it won’t be cheap—Rhoades makes $1.5 million at VCU and his buyout is $1 million. UNLV would have to offer a substantial raise, maybe above the $2.5 million range, and pony up to get him out of his contract. This is where the $3 million they’re getting from Otzelberger’s buyout could come in handy.

Stacey Augmon, Sacramento Kings assistant

Augmon’s history with UNLV speaks for itself. He was an All-America player and a national champion and remains a legend in Las Vegas for his role in authoring the glory days of the program. He served as an assistant under Dave Rice and has held several assistant jobs in the NBA, including his current gig as a player development coach for the Sacramento Kings.

Augmon’s ties to the program could actually work against him, however. If Reed-Francois wants full credit for the hire, she may feel she’ll have to go outside the UNLV family like she did when hiring Otzelberger two years ago.

Archie Miller, former Indiana head coach

Miller was just fired by Indiana after failing to make the NCAA Tournament in his four years there, but if you’re looking for a proven mid-major coach, the résumés don’t come much better than his.

Prior to Indiana, Miller spent six years at Dayton and had that program humming by the time he left, making four straight NCAA Tournaments, including a trip to the Elite 8 in 2013-14 and a Sweet 16 run in 2014-15. Geographically he’s more of a heartland coach, so there’s no guarantee he can win in the Mountain West like he did in the Atlantic 10. But he’s still only 42 years old and would bring major tourney cred to Las Vegas.

Leon Rice, Boise State head coach

If you want someone who could come in and turn UNLV into a perennial Mountain West contender, Rice might be the surest thing. He has spent the last 11 years at Boise State and seems to win 20 games every season, despite the fact that Boise does not put a lot of resources into the basketball program (if you haven’t noticed, it’s kind of a football school).

So maybe UNLV’s much larger operating budget and a substantial raise (Rice is reportedly due 725,000 over each of the next four years, a fraction of Otzelberger’s $1.2 million salary) would entice Rice to stay in the Mountain West and see what he could accomplish at a real hoops school. His buyout is a relatively inexpensive $240,000.

Matt Langel, Colgate head coach

This is simply a case of going to KenPom.com, sorting teams by offensive efficiency and looking for the most impressive low-major outlier—a highly scientific process that would have revealed Otzelberger as a viable candidate the last time around. This year it’s Colgate and ninth-year coach Langel, as the Raiders ranked 43^rd in adjusted offense and 25^th in adjusted tempo while going 14-1 and winning the Patriot League.

It’s not a fluke, as Langel has gone 82-34 over the last four seasons, including a 50-16 mark in conference play. Does any of that mean Langel, 43, can recruit and coach at a Mountain West level? Not really; the Patriot League is so different than the rest of college basketball that it’s tough to judge the coaches. But he plays fast, scores points, and wins.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.