CBB Coaching Carousel: High Profile Name Can Be Crossed Off WVU’s List

Soon after the WVU basketball program announced the official start to West Virginia’s coaching search, one high profile name can be crossed off anyone’s list as the college basketball coaching carousel continues.

Chris Beard and Ole Miss have agreed on a contract extension to continue the Rebels’ upward trajectory. Beard led Ole Miss to the school’s first 20-win season in five years this season.

𝑬𝑿𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑫𝑬𝑫 ✍️

Ole Miss and Head Coach Chris Beard Commit to New Contracthttps://t.co/OItYPZKHi9 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/J1dRGOqCNQ

— Ole Miss Men’s Basketball (@OleMissMBB) March 13, 2024

The controversy hiring Beard would have generated made it unlikely WVU would bring him aboard, especially after the drama that led to the end of Hall of Famer Bob Huggins’ tenure. However, Beard’s extension at Ole Miss now means he’s no longer an option to even discuss.

The news of Beard staying at Ole Miss comes a day after a veteran reporter publicized what he’s hearing about the Louisville job, which was then followed by reports the Cardinals are firing Kenny Payne.

Late Monday night, Eric Crawford of WDRB News in Louisville offered what he’s been hearing in relation to one of those other programs West Virginia will be completing with while on the hunt for a coach. According to Crawford, one of the longest tenured reporters on the Louisville beat, his sources are telling him coaches like Scott Drew, Dusty May, Josh Schertz and even a coach WVU fans are very familiar with from his days at Pitt and now in the Big 12 at TCU – Jamie Dixon.

College Basketball Power-5 Coaching Carousel: Rumors About Louisville’s Search Could Impact WVU

WV Sports Now created a list of Power-5 jobs that are opened and could compete with WVU for other coaches. This list will be updated throughout the offseason.

**note: this list incorporates the 2024 conference realignment