FWIW, going with the assumption that GT is unable to hire a home run (Marshall, Howland) or a stand up triple (Smart), after giving it alot of Fantasy GT AD thought here is my current top 5 (I of course reserve the right to change this on a whim just like any message board poster)
1. Chris Mack - He's my #1 because he has already had to prove himself as a recruiter and coach at the highest level of the ones on my list. In 6 years he has recruited 1 five star and 11 4-star players to Xavier - including 11 Top 100 players. After having a large class last year he has only 1 commit this year, but ironically it is Kaiser Gates from St. Francis HS in Atlanta. He also signed kids from FL, NC and VA, so he already his contacts in this area. He is the only coach with multiple visits to the second weekend of the NCAA Tourney. He's had 2 regular season 1st place finishes in his first 5 years. He would be the most expensive coach on the list, i'm thinking probably $2.2M or so per year. Would he leave his alma mater and home town, and a good basketball job for GT? Would his experience with MBob give GT a better chance? To me he is at worst a standup double and maybe a sliding triple.
2. Steve Prohm - He's moved up my list fast after not knowing much about him. He's likely going to reach his 100th win in just 4 seasons. That is strong. He's been to the NCAA and also has a CBI Championship - suggesting when playing against teams of similar talent he does well. He's finished first in his league all 3 yrs and currently has one of 4 league unbeaten teams left this year. Grew up in Dalton and went to Emory. No SE coaching experience but I bet he would do well coming home. Has signed kids from NC and FL and recruited kids in GA so he isn't cold in recruiting in the SE. I just look at his record and his accomplishments and start wondering if he could be one of the young coaches that develop into a Greg Marshall type career.
3. Archie Miller - His ACC ties are a big draw for me as is his coaching background (asst to Herb Sendek, Thad Matta and Sean Miller). Has the deepest NCAA run of the coaches in my top 5 - Elight Eight. He's been ticketed as a power conference HC since his early asst days. His first 2 years at Dayton were ok - a 5th place and 11th place and year 3 was a little of getting hot at the end of the season (team finished 5th in the A10 and was no lock for the Tourney), but this season has convinced me of his chops - taking a team with 6 players none over 6-6 and heading for 20+ wins and a likely 2nd NCAA Tourney appearance for him.
4. Mike White - I see him as a slightly lesser version of Prohm. Already has alot of SE experience as an asst and HC. Another with a strong first 4 years as he is also closing in on 100 wins. He has finished 1st in his conference twice in his first 3 years and could make it 3 of 4. Probably only downside is no NCAA experience yet. I could see an SEC program grabbing him soon.
5. This has been my hardest spot, i've vacillated with Brad Underwood and Ben Jacobson and ultimately decided to go outside the box with Underwood. He does have SE experience as HC as Daytona CC and asst at SC. But ultimately, looking at what he has done his first 2 season at Stephen F Austin - a school he had no ties to, is really impressive. So far 52-7 as a Div 1 HC and an NCAA appearance with a win over VCU. If you want to take a little bit of a flyer - or a less expensive option, I think this is the one. My only concern here is recruiting,
