Maryland Basketball: 7 candidates to replace Mark Turgeon as head coach

Mark Schmidt

Maryland expects success from their basketball program and the expectation is that the next head coach can take the Terrapins program back to the level that Gary Williams once had it. We’ve already discussed a number of unique coaches, each of whom has had success at other power conference programs, but we’re going to take a look at an intriguing name on the mid-major level.

Mark Schmidt has done incredible work and even played collegiate ball under Gary Williams at Boston College. He spent time as an assistant at a number of schools, including a long stint under the great Skip Prosser. After six solid seasons at Robert Morris, Schmidt arrived at St. Bonaventure in 2007 and has resurrected a program left for dead by scandal. Schmidt has led the Bonnies to three NCAA Tournaments and has them looking like a Tourney team again this year.

At first glance, Schmidt has only made three NCAA Tournaments and never advanced beyond the first round, but when you look deeper, Schmidt has done impressive work with the Bonnies. It’s possible Schmidt refuses to move to another program, but a job like Maryland might be what lures him away. St. Bonaventure is likely going to have a better season than Maryland and there’s a lot of seniors leading those Bonnies. Perhaps this is Schmidt’s big final shot with the Bonnies before taking a high-profile job.