It’s not easy being a men’s basketball coach in the ACC. Night and night out you might be facing a coach that’s in or headed to the Hall of Fame, has been to a Sweet 16 or a Final 4. Maybe they have an ACC Title.
For the last few years, a mediocre head could hide a bit behind perennial bottom dwelling coaches Wake Forest’s Danny Manning or Boston College Jim Christian.
Well Danny Manning was fired last year, and Monday Boston College Jim Christian was given walking papers.
Suddenly coaches in trouble isn’t so clear, but like in any list somebody is at the top and somebody at the bottom.
Let’s be clear who definitely doesn’t have to worry.
Current Untouchables
National Title winners like Roy Williams, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, and Tony Bennett.
Chris Mack just in his 3rd season at Louisville and hugely successful at Xavier isn’t going anywhere. Mike Young shows there is life after Buzz Williams at Virginia Tech. Steven Forbes is in his first year at Wake Forest. Leonard Hamilton has built a perennial nationally ranked program at Florida State.
Very Safe
Jim Larranaga and Mike Brey have so much equity built up with past successes, that even after a handful of lean years they are fine too.
Safe
Clemson’s Brad Brownell had a bit of an up down tenure and Clemson, but with his 2nd NCAA appearance in 4 years looking more and more likely, he isn’t going anywhere. Jeff Capel is in only his 3rd year at Pitt and inherited a total mess. He doesn’t need to worry, but may want to get to the NCAAs in the next couple of years.
Boston College just fired their coach and isn’t in the discussion.
That’s leaves NC State’s Kevin Keatts and Georgia Tech’s Josh Pastner.
There is 1 NCAA tournament appearance between the two coaches in 7 full seasons and not a single NCAA victory. That NCAA appearance belongs to Keatts, and that is certainly a leg up on Pastner. NC State probably wasn’t making it last year, Georgia Tech definitely wasn’t. They were under probation anyways from violations that occurred during Pastner’s tenure. This year NC State is definitely out, and Georgia Tech’s chances hang by a thread.
Pastner has won only 43% of his ACC games, and Keatts just over 50%, Keatts also lost his scoring leader Devon Daniels to a season ending injury.
That’s another edge to Keatts over Pastner. If we’re picking current ACC hotseats, it’s probably Pastner then Keatts.
Without Jim Christian there’s no place to hide for either coach.
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