NCAA Basketball: Top potential college coaching destinations for Billy Donovan
By Brian Rauf
3) Arizona
This is the point where things could get real intriguing for Donovan.
The appeal of coaching for Arizona is obvious. They’re one of the sport’s elite programs, are one of the Pac-12’s signature schools, have plenty of resources, and a wide and fertile recruiting base. Arizona would be a very real player for Donovan – if the job becomes open.
And that’s the real question, because no one seems to know what the future of Sean Miller holds.
His program has been wrapped up in the FBI investigation since its inception, two assistant coaches have been let go due to violations, and reportedly paid players, among other alleged violations. The school and fan base have stuck by Miller through it all, but the results of the active NCAA investigation into the program may make a decision for them.
There’s also the matter of Arizona’s declining on-court play, which has undoubtedly been hurt by all the off-court drama surrounding the program. Miller’s squad has been eliminated in the first round in two of their last three NCAA Tournament appearances and failed to make it altogether last year, posting their first sub-.500 conference record in over a decade. An elite incoming recruiting class is expected to put Arizona back at the top of the conference, but nothing is a sure thing.
If the Wildcats meet expectations and the NCAA investigation doesn’t find anything against Miller, this is a moot point. But, should the Arizona job come open, Donovan will be perhaps the first person they call.