Top 5 Head Coaching Candidates for the Washington Huskies

5. Randy Bennett - Saint Mary's

If the Washington Huskies want a coach nearly guaranteed to win and get them to the NCAA Tournament, they should call Saint Mary’s Randy Bennett and at least make him say no. Bennett has won 70% of his games at the tiny private college in Moraga. He is probably content to stay with the Gaels until he retires (which won’t be long). Still, if he wanted a new challenge for the final stage of his career, Washington would immediately become an exciting part of the Big Ten under him. Pope and Bennett are probably unrealistic, but the Huskies need to ask.

2. Kyle Smith - Washington State

It is difficult to imagine the Washington Huskies hiring the current head coach of rival Washington State. Still, Kyle Smith won at San Francisco and is taking the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament (their first bid since Tony Bennett’s tenure). WSU has outperformed its recruiting rankings and talent level, and Smith has gotten the most out of the roster. Smith’s teams play slowly and will never be associated with the fast-paced modern style fans crave, but winning trumps all. He has won at each stop and has connections in the Seattle area.

3. Leon Rice - Boise State

Leon Rice is the head coach for the Boise State Broncos, and his 13-year run has been mostly successful. The Broncos have made five NCAA Tournaments during his tenure, and his best teams have come in the past few seasons. Rice is a native of Washington and has experience in the area as an assistant at Gonzaga for 11 seasons. Granted, he has coached in more rural areas for the entirety of his career, and Seattle would be a much more urban setting for him. Adding the transition to the Big Ten and Rice’s experience could become a deterrent. This hire would seem like a “high-floor, low-ceiling” move.

4. Mark Pope - BYU

Current BYU head coach Mark Pope led the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament and a successful first season in the Big 12. This came after some regression with BYU in the past few seasons. He has embraced a modern style as his team plays quickly and fires from deep as much as nearly anyone in the country. For his career, Pope has a winning percentage of 64 and might be ready for a step up pay-wise, something Washington could now offer in the Big Ten. Pope is an LDS church member and likely says no, but this is a name Washington should at least contact.

5. Randy Bennett - Saint Mary's

If the Washington Huskies want a coach nearly guaranteed to win and get them to the NCAA Tournament, they should call Saint Mary’s Randy Bennett and at least make him say no. Bennett has won 70% of his games at the tiny private college in Moraga. He is probably content to stay with the Gaels until he retires (which won’t be long). Still, if he wanted a new challenge for the final stage of his career, Washington would immediately become an exciting part of the Big Ten under him. Pope and Bennett are probably unrealistic, but the Huskies need to ask.