Rhode Island Basketball: 5 potential head coaching candidates for Rams

5. Chris Mack

Age: 52
Head Coaching Experience: Xavier (2009-18), Louisville (2018-22)
NCAA Tournament History: 2017 Elite Eight, 2010, 2012, & 2015 Sweet Sixteen, 2016 & 2018 Round of 32, 2011 & 2019 Round of 64, 2014 First Four

Alright, let’s get crazy. Would a coach with nine NCAA Tournament berths and 11 big dance wins be interested in Rhode Island? If so, Chris Mack is currently unemployed. The long-time Xavier head coach mutually parted ways with Louisville earlier this season, and if he’s ready to get back into coaching right away, there’s no doubt Rhode Island would welcome him with open arms.

Mack had an absolutely torrid run with the Musketeers, which included four years in the Atlantic 10 before moving to the Big East. Xavier finished atop the league in two of those four years and landed in the Sweet Sixteen twice as well. So he clearly knows what it takes to succeed in the league.

The problem… well, problems… are evident. Mack is used to coaching at higher-level conferences, so would he be willing to accept an A-10 job? And if so, what kind of salary would he demand? This one feels like a real pipe dream, but it’s not entirely impossible. If it does go down, Rhody Nation might just explode.