Top 5 Head Coaching Candidates for Louisville Cardinals

5. Dusty May - Florida Atlantic

Dusty May, the current Florida Atlantic head coach, built the Owls from a basketball doormat to a Final Four participant. FAU is likely heading back to the NCAA Tournament again under May. He is considered one of the best young coaches in the game. May was a manager at Indiana University under Bob Knight and has deep family ties to the Midwest, specifically Southern Indiana. He has a very manageable buyout and has shown he can build a program that plays a fun style. If they come calling, would May be able to say no?

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2. Eric Musselman - Arkansas

Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman has been rumored to be a leading candidate for this position for several months. We are about to find out if those rumors had any truth. Musselman’s buyout is less than one million dollars, and he won more than 20 games in each of his first four seasons in Fayetteville. The bottom fell out during his current campaign with the Razorbacks, which was predictable given Musselman’s tendency to focus nearly exclusively on the transfer portal to build his roster each season. The 59-year-old is considered a quirky individual who can quickly wear out his welcome. Still, he has a history of flipping rosters quickly and finding success with a fun offensive system.

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3. Mick Cronin - UCLA

Mick Cronin is not the flashiest name, but the man wins everywhere he goes. Cronin has been vocal about the issues with UCLA’s NIL shortcomings and how difficult it is to compete at the level UCLA fans expect without the same resources as other top-end programs. Louisville would be a landing spot that makes sense for him if he is genuinely frustrated. Cronin won in the Midwest at Murray State and Cincinnati, and he has been a conference Coach of the Year at each stop. In addition, Cronin was an assistant at Louisville under Rick Pitino. Cronin would not be a first choice for the Cardinals, but would probably be very solid.

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4. Will Wade - McNeese State

If there was an under-the-radar candidate for this job, it might be McNeese State coach Will Wade. The former LSU Tigers head coach won in Baton Rouge and his previous stops at Chattanooga and Virginia Commonwealth. He is heading back to the NCAA Tournament with McNeese State as the champion of the Southland Conference. Wade has a troubled history with the NCAA, but Louisville has never shied away from coaches with controversy. Wade’s past transgressions are now considered part of the NIL game. If the big names turn Louisville down, Wade would likely jump at the opportunity, and if the past is predictive, he would probably win big.

5. Dusty May - Florida Atlantic

Dusty May, the current Florida Atlantic head coach, built the Owls from a basketball doormat to a Final Four participant. FAU is likely heading back to the NCAA Tournament again under May. He is considered one of the best young coaches in the game. May was a manager at Indiana University under Bob Knight and has deep family ties to the Midwest, specifically Southern Indiana. He has a very manageable buyout and has shown he can build a program that plays a fun style. If they come calling, would May be able to say no?

College Basketball Links: March Madness Bracketology | Bubble Watch