Wichita State Basketball: 5 potential candidates to replace Gregg Marshall
John Beilein
- HC experience: Nazareth (1982-83; 20-6), Le Moyne (1983-92; 163-94), Canisius (1992-1997; 89-62), Richmond (1997-2002; 100-53), West Virginia (2002-07; 104-60), Michigan (2007-19; 278-150), Cleveland Cavaliers (2019-20; 14-40)
The safe choice on literally any “potential coaches” list, former Michigan head coach John Beilein has been out of college coaching for the past year, having jumped ship to the NBA in what turned out to be a tumultuous coaching affair with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Beilein, who was assisting with the Cavaliers in a different capacity after his resignation, skipped on returning to the collegiate ranks this past offseason. Understandably so, as the only power conference job that opened was Wake Forest, but an opportunity to coach the Wichita State Shockers might be too good to turn down.
Beilein is no stranger to success – at, literally, any collegiate level. Never an assistant, Beilein has served as a head coach at all three divisions, registering winning records at every single stop (Div. III Nazareth, Div. II Le Moyne, and at the Div. I level at Canisius, Richmond, West Virginia, and Michigan).
His stops at West Virginia and Michigan are obviously what put him in the national spotlight, and for good reason. Beilein has an overall record of 754-425 under his belt, as well as two NCAA Tournament runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2018 with Michigan.
Wichita State is in an odd situation where it is not necessarily a “mid-major” anymore, but does not belong in a power conference. Beilein has won at both levels, going 189-115 in ten seasons at Canisius and Richmond and reaching the NCAA Tournament twice and NIT four times.
Nothing against Wake Forest, but Wichita State is, by far and away, the best coaching job to come open this year. It is a position Beilein can step into and have back at the national level in no time. He has reached the postseason within the first two years in his four Div. I stops thus far – and this job would be no different.
Like Matta, Beilein is also one of the most – if not the most – respected coach at the collegiate ranks. A poll conducted by CBSSports a few years back saw 26.6% of more than 100 college coaches name Beilein the number-one high-major coach who does everything by the rulebook.
Beilein is currently employed at Michigan as an instructor – a job he started just this year – so leaving his current position to return to college hoops so abruptly might be too extreme at this point. But, if Beilein was waiting for the perfect job to open up, then that time has come if Brown’s tenure as interim does not pan out.