NCAA Basketball: First-Year Head Coaches Face an Uphill Battle
It can be tough for a first-year head coach in NCAA Basketball. Here are two examples of guys looking to rebuild a program from the ground up.
There has been a growing trend over the last few seasons of hiring former players with no Division I collegiate coaching experience to head coaching positions. Three years ago St. John’s hired school legend Chris Mullin, last year Georgetown did the same with Patrick Ewing. This spring the trend continued when Memphis hired Penny Hardaway.
There have been two other hires that fit into this category. Incarnate Word hired Dr. Carson Cunningham to lead its program and the University of Arkansas-Little Rock pegged Darrell Walker to be their head coach.
What can we expect from these two in their first year? Here is a look at the two new head men and the programs they inherit.
Incarnate Word
Cunningham, an Indiana native began his college career at Oregon State where he averaged nearly 15 points as a freshman. He would then transfer back to his home state to play for the legendary Gene Keady at Purdue. After graduation, he toiled in the Continental Basketball Association for a few seasons before beginning his coaching career. After four successful seasons in high school, he moved on to the NAIA’s Carroll College where he amassed a 107-52 record of five seasons.
Cunningham was hired by Incarnate Word to turn around a program that won just 19 games over the last two seasons, after winning at least 17 in their first three seasons at the Division I level. The good news for Cunningham is that he gets to work with what amounts to a blank canvas. The Cardinals return just two seniors, leading scorer, forward Charles Brown III who averaged 13.5 points per game last year. Also returning is Myles Thornton, who saw action in just 13 games.
There is plenty of playing time for the returning quartet of sophomores; guards Keaton Hervey, Augustine Ene, Cody Graham and forward Christian Peevy. The roster is going to get even younger as Cunningham has signed four recruits for the upcoming season. Guards D.J. Murray, Brandon Swaby, and Morgan Taylor will be joined by forward Antoine Smith, Jr.
Arkansas-Little Rock
After finishing his college career at Arkansas Darrell Walker was selected 12th overall by the New York Knicks in the 1983 NBA draft. Over a 10-year career, he played for five different teams. Upon retirement in 1993, he spent the next 24 years coaching in the NBA, WNBA, and CBA where he was the head man for the Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, and Washington Mystics among his many stops. He spent two seasons at Division II Clark Atlanta University where he led them to two NCAA Tournament appearances before being hired by Arkansas-Little Rock.
Walker replaced Wes Flanigan who won 22 games in his two seasons at the helm. He inherits a roster that returns just six players, none of which are seniors. Ryan Pippins and Jaizec Lottie are the top scorers returning, averaging 7.6 and 7 points respectively. Also returning are redshirt juniors Deondre Burns and Rayjon Tucker along with sophomores Damir Hadzic and Kris Bankston.
Next: Top 20 mid-major players in the 2018 NBA Draft
Filling out the roster will be 6-11 Junior College transfer Ethan Steinbronn, 6-7 Kamani Johnson, guard Markquis Nowell and forward Horace Wyatt, Jr.