I agree, we will have to pay the price to bring in a good coach. I think you cited 7 yrs $21M for Chris Mack, and that seems around what we will need to provide for someone of that caliber. Possibly more given the challenging aspects of the job...
But say we don't land the "home run hire." I really think there are other good options. What about someone like Mike Anderson? He has made the tournament ~60% of the time during his career (I think 3/8 at Arkansas though). He's from the Southeast, has coached at multiple schools in the region. Has been to the elite 8. And he probably won't cost as much as someone like Chris Mack. We just have to be willing to explore all of our options. Including how we manage our funds/budget
Mack got that 7 year deal, partially due to the Louisville sanctions looming, but there's additional investment on top of that.
With the caveat that I 100% believe we will and should, for monetary reasons, keep CJP through at least next year, as well as a statement that I'm fine keeping him, if he starts producing Ws at a high clip, here's the current list I'm tracking:
- Earl Grant - College of Charleston
- James Jones - Yale
- Kenny Payne - Kentucky assistant
- Luke Murray - Louisville assistant (admittedly, I want Bill Murray to attend our games)
- Mike Pegues - Louisville assistant
- Mike Rhoades - VCU
- Mike Schrage - Elon (there are reasons here)
- Nathan Davis - Bucknell (credit to @Peacone36 for this)
- Ron Hunter - Tulane
- Shaka Smart - Texas (I have personal bias here)
- Steve Forbes - ETSU
- Steve Prohm - Iowa State
- Wes Miller - UNCG
- Darrell Walker - UALR (credit to Coaching Changes Twitter for this one)
Regardless of who we hire next, break the ****ing bank to bring in Jonas Hayes as an assistant/Associate Head Coach.
Keep BJ Elder on staff in some capacity.
Finally, after the show cause is over, and I know we won't do this, re-hire DLaB. Immediately. Without hesitation.
I would love to go get a proven, high major winner, but get me a proven winner who can recruit that seeks to use us as a stepping stone, comes in and wins, then everyone is happy.