Gilbert Search Firm: Replacing Tony Barbee

I waited patiently by the phone the last month. After the deluge of last year, no calls came to the Gilbert Search Firm. It looked it was going to be a quiet season. Then the April surprise. Central Michigan University decided to move on from head coach Tony Barbee. While the move isn’t shocking. Barbee’s four year run was rather nondescript. The timing is indeed curious. The late in the process move makes me think AD Amy Folan already has someone lined up.

Nevertheless, as usual I will provide my recommendations free of charge. Starting with an analysis of the job. Followed by categories of candidates.

The Job

Is it a good job? On its surface, not really. It is not located in a metropolitan area. Nor is the Mid Michigan region known as a hotbed of corporate dollars. However digging below the surface. Plenty of coaches have shown that you can win in Mount Pleasant.

While they are mostly confined to the gridiron (Brian Kelly, Butch Jones etc) There is also a s storied hardwood history as well. The legendary and late Charlie Coles along with Jay Smith have shown you can make the NCAA tournament and send high profile players to the NBA.

Speaking of those players. In the new NIL climate. The “buy-in” of former players like Dan Majerle and Chris Kaman are important. The quotes are intentional. If the power brokers can raise the appropriate NIL funds, the Chippewas can compete with anyone in the MAC. An easy way to stir passions of boosters is to get a big name. Especially a local name. Hence the first category…

The Local White Whales

Dan Majerle: Outside of the unimpeachable playing resume. Majerle does have a successful seven year run at Grand Canyon on his resume. Transitioning GCU into the Division I ranks. His son was on the roster for the two season preceding this campaign. That being said, I just lived through this Michigan winter. It would take a serious alma mater tug to get me out of a comfortable retirement in Phoenix. I can’t see Majerle pulling the trigger and leaving the Valley of the Sun.

Tom Crean: While Majerle is the biggest name. It’s doesn’t get more local than Crean. The Mount Pleasant native is also a CMU alum. If you don’t know the resume, this probably isn’t the column for you. It’s long and no one will match it. However he is soon to be 60 years old. Coaches from his generation are quickly leaving the game. He has a pretty good gig talking on TV right now. He hasn’t coached at the mid major level in over 30 years. Like Majerle, the hometown pull would be the only reason he would come at this point in his career.

Realistic Local Options

I am going to keep the search local for this reason. Central’s last two hires were national names with no ties to the area. The Keno Davis and Barbee eras were largely unsuccessful. As the aforementioned Charlie Coles and Jay Smith showed. If you can connect in Mitten recruiting circles, you can win. Heck, Detroit’s Ernie Zeigler won two division championships in his mediocre six year run. So we going to keep the search Michigan centric.

Jon Borovich (Assistant Coach Michigan St) Checks a lot of boxes. Alum who was on a 2001 MAC championship team. Would presumably come with the Tom Izzo seal of approval. Has eight years of MAC experience as an assistant at Northern Illinois. His extensive resume also includes stops at Oakland, Dayton, and Northwestern. That covers the Midwest pretty well. The only knock is the lack of head coaching experience.

Marlon Williamson (Assistant Coach Rutgers) If you view recruiting Detroit as a prerequisite for the job. There is not a better candidate than Williamson. Began his college coaching career after a nine year run with The Family. The famed Detroit AAU program. The Detroit Cass Tech alum also has a recent stint as an assistant in Mount Pleasant. Serving on Tony Barbee’s staff in his first two years. Is recruiting at a high clip at Rutgers right now. Like Borovich, the lack of head coaching experience would be a demerit. Does his association with the previous regime help or hurt? A lot of questions to answer here. But few would be more connected in terms of recruiting.

Shane Heirman (Head Coach Incarnate Word) Not necessarily a “local” option. However, if you want head coaching experience and ties to Mount Pleasant. This might be the guy. Like Williamson, ties to the prior regime could help or hurt him. Also isn’t setting the world on fire at a small Texas D1 school at the moment. However, won a lot of games at prep power powerhouse La Lumiere (IN) to start his career. Also has assistant coaching experience at DePaul. Is only 36 years old and already has a geographically diverse resume. This would be a roll of the dice.

Preston Murphy (Alabama Assistant Coach) If you really want to roll the dice. The Saginaw native might be the home run hire. On paper there are no issues. Is part of an Alabama staff that is now a pipeline for mid major jobs. Has ties to Dan Hurley and Nate Oats. Also is extremely connected in Michigan, New England, and beyond. So what’s the rub? Got caught up in the FBI coaching scandal and slapped with a two year “show cause” penalty. In short a show cause penalty is— not good. However you know who else is a distinguished show cause alum? How about half of the current Final Four coaching field (Bruce Pearl and Kelvin Sampson) That’s pretty good company if Central wants to deal with NCAA scrutiny.

Other Names to watch DeAndre Haynes (Assistant Coach Marquette) Detroit native, former Kent St guard, extensive Midwest resume. Eric Haut (Assistant Coach Utah St) Lansing native, also a Kent St guard with a very extensive resume.

The Ben McCollom Category

Named after the new Iowa head coach. Ben McCollom is blazing the trail to show that success at the Division II level can translate to Division I. Fortunately Michigan has a stable of successful Division II head coaches to choose from.

Andy Bronkema (Head Coach Ferris St) The head man in Big Rapids is the closest facsimile to McCollom. Is still relatively young, has won a ton of games, and has a national championship on his resume. Due to his age and standing. Can afford to be picky. If the NIL or administrative setup isn’t conducive, he can pass. Has a small town upbringing that would play well in Mount Pleasant. If he wants to leave, this would be a nice hire.

Steve Hettinga (Head Coach Lake Superior St) Similar resume to Bronkema, sans the national championship. Has won a lot of games at a difficult locale. Coming off an Elite 8 appearance. Like Bronkema, has built his program with mainly Michigan players. Is a known commodity in recruiting circles. Has been a head coach for a long time. Starting his career at nearby Division III Olivet.

Cornell Mann (Head Coach Grand Valley St) While Mann has not had the success of the other two above him on this list. He does have features the other candidates can’t match. Chiefly a long resume of high level Division I experience as an assistant. Including stops at both Central and Western Michigan. Consequently knows the MAC very well. Played at Akron in addition to the coaching experience. Like Williamson is also extremely connected in Detroit recruiting circles (and beyond)

Recommendation

Few schools at this level have names like Marjerle, Kaman, and Crean on the Rolodex. Call and at least get them involved in the process. Either as advisors or some other capacity. After they pass on the job, I would call Preston Murphy.

The FBI “scandal” was a miscarriage of justice. Nearly all involved have gone through career rehabilitation at this point. Let the Saginaw Nouvel great come home and continue that process. That’s my recommendation, but frankly I think every name on this list could win in Mount Pleasant. If the Chippewa’s keep it local and gin up the NIL support, they can build a winner.