Top Coaching Candidates for West Virginia Basketball

5. Ben McCollum - Drake Bulldogs

Before the Hoosiers hired Darian DeVries from West Virginia, Ben McCollum was a candidate for the Indiana University job. He is the No. 1 name on the board for the Iowa Hawkeyes. McCollum is a native of Storm Lake, Iowa, and if the Hawkeyes offer him the job, it is difficult to see him turning it down. However, the Hawkeyes are strapped for cash and would not be able to provide the same NIL resources that West Virginia could tempt him with. WVU athletic director Wren Baker was McCollum's AD at Northwest Missouri State, and WVU pulled DeVries from Drake one year ago. McCollum’s Drake plays a methodical pace, but they knocked off Missouri in the NCAA Tournament, and all he does is win. It would be stunning if he did not take the Iowa job, but WVU is an option if he turns down the Hawkeyes.

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2. Ross Hodge - North Texas Mean Green

North Texas head coach Ross Hodge has a relationship with WVU athletic director Wren Baker. Grant McCasland brought Hodge in as an assistant coach, and when he left for Texas Tech, Hodge was named the permanent head coach in Denton. Hodge has moved to the AAC with North Texas and is 24-12 in the league during his two seasons with the Mean Green.

3. Richard Pitino - New Mexico Lobos

Richard Pitino is an interesting candidate. He is only 42 years old, but he already has a lot of head coaching experience. Beyond the cache of the family name, Richard was decent at Minnesota before being let go, and he's done a nice job building New Mexico. The Lobos made the NCAA Tournament this season after winning the Mountain West Conference. 

4. Alan Huss - High Point Panthers

All aboard the Huss Bus! Alan Huss was a coach at a prep school in Indiana before becoming a longtime assistant coach at Creighton (where he played for Dana Altman). Huss took the High Point job and has built the Panthers into the best program in the Big South. He recently signed an extension, but the buyout would not be problematic. Huss is 27-5 in conference play in the past two seasons, and his teams run a fast-paced and modern offense. He’s an energetic coach who will be at a high-major school sooner rather than later.

5. Ben McCollum - Drake Bulldogs

Before the Hoosiers hired Darian DeVries from West Virginia, Ben McCollum was a candidate for the Indiana University job. He is the No. 1 name on the board for the Iowa Hawkeyes. McCollum is a native of Storm Lake, Iowa, and if the Hawkeyes offer him the job, it is difficult to see him turning it down. However, the Hawkeyes are strapped for cash and would not be able to provide the same NIL resources that West Virginia could tempt him with. WVU athletic director Wren Baker was McCollum's AD at Northwest Missouri State, and WVU pulled DeVries from Drake one year ago. McCollum’s Drake plays a methodical pace, but they knocked off Missouri in the NCAA Tournament, and all he does is win. It would be stunning if he did not take the Iowa job, but WVU is an option if he turns down the Hawkeyes.

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