WVU Basketball Head Coach Watch List 2.0

West Virginia AD Wren Baker announced last week that the men’s WVU basketball program will be moving on from interim HC Josh Eilert. Baker and his committee are currently searching for a new leader of Mountaineer basketball. Let’s take an updated look at who Baker could be looking at.

Darian DeVries / Drake

The Usual Names

Mark Byington, James Madison

Age: 47

Current record: 31-3 (15-3 Sun Belt)

Career timeline: Georgia Southern (2013-20), James Madison (2020-)

NCAAT appearances: 1 (2024)

Darian DeVries, Drake

Age: 48

Current record: 28-6 (16-4 MVC)

Career timeline: Drake (2018-)

NCAAT appearances: 3 (2021, 2023-24)

Niko Medved, Colorado State

Age: 50

Current record: 25-10 (10-8 Mountain West)

Career timeline: Furman (2013-17), Drake (2017-18), Colorado State (2018-)

NCAAT appearances: 2 (2022, 2024)

Pat Kelsey / CofC Athletics

Could Gain Momentum

Dustin Kerns, App State

Age: 44

Current record: 27-6 (16-2 Sun Belt)

Career timeline: Presbyterian (2017-19), App State (2019-)

NCAAT appearances: 2 (2021, 2024)

Chris Jans, Mississippi State

Age: 54

Current record: 21-13 (8-10 SEC)

Career timeline: Bowling Green State (2014-15), New Mexico State (2017-22), Mississippi State (2022-)

NCAAT appearances: 4 (2018-19, 2022-24)

Pat Kelsey, College of Charleston

Age: 48

Current record: 27-7 (15-3 CAA)

Career timeline: Winthrop (2012-21), College of Charleston (2021-)

NCAAT appearances: 3 (2017, 2021, 2023-24)

Dusty May / FAU Athletics

Unlikely

Dusty May, FAU

Age: 47

Current record: 25-8 (14-4 AAC)

Career timeline: Florida Atlantic (2018-)

NCAAT appearances: 2 (2023-24)

Kyle Smith, Washington State

Age: 54

Current record: 24-9 (14-6 Pac-12)

Career timeline: Columbia (2010-16), San Francisco (2016-19), Washington State (2019-)

NCAAT appearances: 1 (2024)

Will Wade, McNeese State

Age: 41

Current record: 30-3 (17-1 Southland)

Career timeline: Chattanooga (2013-15), VCU (2015-17), LSU (2017-22), McNeese State (2023-)

NCAAT appearances: 6 (2016-17, 2019, 2021-22, 2024)

Bucky McMillan / Samford Athletics

Zero Chance But, Hey, Nice Season!

Bucky McMillan, Samford

Age: 40

Current record: 29-5 (15-3 SoCon)

Career timeline: Samford (2020-)

NCAAT appearances: 1 (2024)

Watch Baker’s press conference to discuss the future of the WVU basketball program below.

Click here for the WVSN college basketball coaching carousel job tracker.

College Basketball Power-5 Coaching Carousel Job Tracker