“I’m really happy with this pool (of candidates),” Grant said. “Now our challenge is to pare the list down and keep moving as quickly as possible.”
The WSU job opened when Billy Donlon was fired last week after six seasons. WSU was 22-13 this season, losing to Wisconsin-Green Bay in the Horizon League championship game.
Here are 10 possible candidates to become the next WSU men’s basketball coach. Most are a stretch, but you never know.
10. Brian Gregory: The former Dayton coach finally was dumped by Georgia Tech on Friday after being the target of a lot of heat the last couple seasons. He certainly knows this area and Ohio. It would be like Rick Pitino going from Kentucky to Louisville and would super-charge the UD vs. WSU angle to an unprecedented level.
9. Damon Goodwin: A former Flyer who has done well as the head coach at D-III Capital. A six-time Ohio Athletic Conference coach of the year since starting in 1994-95. He went on IR this entire season following a diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia.
8. Dave Dickerson: An assistant head coach to Thad Matta at Ohio State and former Tulane head coach. Wouldn't be the first Buckeye to become a Raider. That would be Paul Biancardi, who was dumped after being WSU's head coach from 2003-06.
7. Lamont Paris: Wisconsin assistant since 2010 and former Akron and Wooster assistant. Findlay native is thought to have interest in returning to Ohio as a head coach.
6. Chris Briggs: Went 32-4 as the head coach at Georgetown (Ky.) this season, losing the NAIA national championship game to Mid American Christian (Okla.). Led Georgetown to the 2013 NAIA title.
5. Darnell Hoskins: Former Flyer and Chaminade Julienne grad has excelled as the head coach at Thurgood Marshall High School, taking the Cougars to three Division II Final Fours since 2009.
4. Travis Trice: Even more successful at Wayne High School than Hoskins. Built the lowly Warriors program into a D-I power, winning state in 2015 and going 25-1 this season.
3. Anthony Grant: Former Flyer is currently an Oklahoma City Thunder assistant after being Alabama's head coach from 2009-15. Often linked to filling Flyers openings over the years.
2. Ron Hunter: Head coach at Georgia State and former head coach at IUPUI. Dayton native who starred at CJ and played at Miami with Ron Harper. Like Grant, often mentioned when UD has opening.
1. Pat Kelsey: Winthrop (Rock Hill, S.C.) coach last four seasons. Former assistant at Xavier – where he played — and Wake Forest. A Cincinnati Elder grad who reportedly is interested in returning to Ohio. Led Winthrop (23-9) to share of Big South title this season.
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