My gut still tells me that Karen won't be renewed/extended.
Here were some coaching candidates on my wishlist which I listed a couple of months ago:
Adia Barnes at Arizona is a great young coach who coaches in a very tough conference, and holding her own against some very experienced coaches in the PAC; her team would have been a Top 16 seed in this year's NCAA tourney. She is a great recruiter, including internationally as she made many connections during her playing days overseas. She is an Arizona alum, but UofA does not pay its women's sports coaches very well. UofA fans have really started to embrace her program; they drew over 7,000 fans for a recent game against Stanford. She just landed another transfer from Indiana University, and is in on several other transfers (like Destiny Pittman from Minnesota). Her husband is an assistant coach on her staff; does Texas have a nepotism rule? She is my first choice.
Adia Barnes - Women's Basketball Coach - University of Arizona Athletics
Cori Close at UCLA continues to get her team close to reaching a Final Four. Her team would have been a Top 8 national seed again in this year's NCAA tourney, I believe. Fabulous recruiter; not sure she is a great X's and O's coach yet. Recruits extremely well, especially in Texas. Now she is getting some fabulous players from Australia, as well. I think she only makes like $500k (which can't go far considering LA's high cost of living, and state income taxes). She graduated from UC-Santa Barbara, but may have been an assistant at UCLA early in her career. Believe she grew up in California.
Cori Close - Women's Basketball Coach - UCLA
Quentin Hillsman at Syracuse led his squad to a national runner-up finish a few seasons ago. Despite not likely qualifying for this year's tournament, I think his squad stiil beat Top 5 Louisville. He is recruiting lights out. But, he may already be making like $900k.
Quentin Hillsman - Women's Basketball Coach - Syracuse University Athletics
Coaches who I believe would not leave their program for Texas (for many reasons) include those at Louisville, Miss. State, Oregon, South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Oregon State. If CDC believes a new head coach needs to be hired, I'd bet he/she comes from the PAC, as they just don't pay their coaches well compared to other conferences, and more money could be a driving reason for them to come to Texas.
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