West Virginia Basketball: Pros and cons of reported head coaching candidates

Accomplished coaches connected to Huggins – Jerrod Calhoun and Andy Kennedy

Calhoun isn’t on the same level as a May or Kelsey when it comes to rising stars but his work at Youngstown State hasn’t gone unnoticed. He led the Penguins, known as a fairly difficult job overall, to a Horizon League regular-season title this past season. He’s a former assistant of Huggins at both Cincinnati and West Virginia and he’d be a fan favorite if he returned.

The concern is if Calhoun is ready for this job. He has a .500 record in six years at Youngstown State, with zero NCAA Tournament appearances. But what’s in his favor is that while he wouldn’t beat the likes of a May or Kelsey in a regular coaching search, Calhoun, who would certainly jump at the chance for this gig, is more likely to say yes.

But if the Mountaineers are more concerned with Calhoun’s resume, Coach Kennedy at UAB would be the safer option. He’s the man who replaced Huggins is Cincinnati in 2005 before spending 12 years at Ole Miss, making the NCAA Tournament three times. He’s done a great job with the Blazers as well and has become an elite recruiter.

The biggest issue with Kennedy is that he has his own past legal issues, including an assault arrest in 2008. Considering misconduct is the reason why Huggins is gone, that could be an issue with this situation. Still, Kennedy is the more proven option compared to a Calhoun, and assuming that Huggins still has his fans among those who may have a say in the matter, may be a “safe” option for AD Baker to consider.