#SearchSZN Power Hour

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Curry Hicks Sage
@CurryHicksSageMar 31, 2026

The Spaces covers a fast-moving college basketball coaching carousel during Final Four week, led by host Curry. He opens with light banter before diving into a UNC coaching search theory: Tommy Lloyd may be a perceived frontrunner, but leaving Arizona post-title would be rare; Curry speculates Lloyd chatter could be leverage and even floats an unlikely Mark Few stalking-horse scenario. Timeline-wise, he expects clarity after the title game or April 12 if Billy Donovan is involved. He notes mixed signals on Bill Self’s future at Kansas. On mid-major moves, Akron promotes Dustin Ford, while Siena’s search has swirled around John Becker, Nevada Smith, and D2 option Ethan Bazzoli; Dartmouth hires Brett McConnell (Kyle Smith tree), a tough Ivy job. Curry highlights consolidation: Cal Baptist’s head coach leaving for an assistant role at Arizona State signals NIL-driven staff arms races and more D1 HCs taking assistant jobs. Callers push discussions on the Missouri Valley’s churn, Loyola Chicago’s future fits, Bob Richey’s trajectory, Davidson’s Matt McKillop, High Point’s Flynn Clayman sample-size caution, and Texas Tech’s place among top jobs (Curry emphasizes “alignment” over brand names). The show closes with Vermont fan insights on Becker and Siena, and Curry’s emphasis on alignment and fit.

Power Hour: Final Four Week — Coaching Carousel, UNC Theory, and Industry Trends

Opening notes and setup

  • Host identity and tone: The host is addressed as "Curry" by a caller and runs a niche college basketball/coaching-search platform (promotes createexchange.com and references the Burning Sage podcast). He positions this space as candid, insider-leaning analysis with a willingness to challenge overly "chummy" media norms.
  • Format and vibe: A self-described "Power Hour" intended to move quickly through questions, with freewheeling, late-night energy. The host acknowledges fatigue but aims for breadth.
  • Final Four personal aside: The host riffs on attire for the Final Four: whether to wear a borrowed, ultra-high-end, navy linen suit (retail ~$12k) from a friend who is a senior exec at top-tier men’s fashion houses (and whose father designed for Greg Norman Golf). The host weighs balancing bougie events with more populist gatherings, acknowledging the superficial signaling at play in certain rooms.

Headline topic: UNC coaching search — theory, timelines, and probabilities

  • Key theory (explicitly marked as speculative and low-probability)
    • The host floats a “dark horse” thought experiment: Is Tommy Lloyd (Arizona) being positioned as a stalking horse for a late run by Mark Few (Gonzaga) at UNC, a move that would be tacitly blessed by Roy Williams due to existing relationships (USA Basketball ties, Few’s rapport with Roy)?
    • Rationale presented:
      • Tommy Lloyd’s reputation: newly appreciated by the host as a very savvy operator, tight with Mark Few (“thick as thieves”).
      • Precedent concerns: Coaches almost never leave immediately after a national title; even leaving after a Final Four is rare. That, plus reporting that Lloyd is broadly content at Arizona, argues against his departure.
      • Messaging analysis: Any public hints that Lloyd could leave might be leverage—"too obvious" to be a true tell, possibly aimed at extracting more from Arizona’s AD/support.
    • Host’s bottom line: The theory is interesting but unlikely; it merits discussion early in a search cycle but should be treated as conjecture.
  • Current status and timeline expectations:
    • The search feels like “day 6 official, day 10–11 unofficial” post-Hubert. There’s no announcement yet; that absence suggests it’s not a sitting D1 head coach outside of Final Four participants.
    • Possible names in circulation: Dusty May, Tommy Lloyd, Brad Underwood; background Billy Donovan chatter persists.
    • Timing constraints:
      • If the choice is among Final Four coaches (e.g., May or Lloyd), fast movement is unlikely until this weekend ends.
      • If it’s Billy Donovan, the host expects he would wait until the NBA regular season concludes (~April 12) to let anything formal leak.
    • If there’s no movement by next Tuesday (after the title game), the host suggests “something’s gone wrong.”

Bill Self (Kansas) status

  • Mixed signals via the host’s network: some say Self is weighing things; others think he’ll be back. The longer it drags, the more the host leans toward Self returning. He notes limited KU plugged-in sources and mentions (speculatively) Jacques Vaughn as a possible variable in Self’s timing (e.g., if there were mutual pro/college interest signals).

Coaching carousel updates and industry movements

  • Akron
    • Official: Akron promoted assistant Dustin Ford to head coach.
    • Rumor the host heard (now moot): Thad Matta was “poking around,” which raised questions about his Butler status. Ultimately, Akron moved quickly with Ford.
    • Fun note: “Dustin/Dusty” prevalence — Dusty May (given name Jack, per host), Dustin Kerns (App State), Dustin Ford (Akron) — nearly 1% of D1 HCs named Dustin/Dusty.
  • Siena
    • Volatile list: Mike Hopkins was reportedly close before talks fell through. John Becker (Vermont) and Nevada Smith (Marquette assistant) have been bandied about. Later, a question flags “Ethan Bazzoli” (the host clarifies he heard “the Gannon coach” in play; he’s likely referring to the Gannon University head coach being a dark horse). Status unsettled.
  • Dartmouth
    • Hired Brett McConnell (Princeton 2023 Sweet 16 staff; Stanford last season; Kyle Smith tree). Other finalist reportedly Landry Kosmolski (D3 legend, formerly Swarthmore; this past season an assistant at Campbell).
    • Commentary:
      • Dartmouth is “arguably the worst job in the Ivy” right now; athletic department leadership has drawn industry criticism (according to host DMs). The hire is a “good coach in a brutally tough context.”
      • Kyle Smith’s coaching tree continues to expand: Mike Magpayo (Fordham), Todd Golden (Florida), Kevin Hovde (Columbia), among others.
  • Cal Baptist
    • Now open; the host frames it within a trend: consolidation is accelerating across D1, with some successful D1 head coaches taking assistant jobs at bigger-resource programs. He cites a recent example of a 13-seed’s head coach leaving to be an assistant at Arizona State (linking to Randy Bennett by name in the same thought — the exact movement is muddled in the moment, but the thrust is consolidation).
    • Macro view: This “acqui-hire” style is increasingly common, mirroring broader U.S. economic trends of consolidation. The host worries it’s not great long-term for the sport.
  • Other openings briefly mentioned: Alabama State (no new info); Cal Baptist (above); unknowns around George State; Wagner’s status questioned; AIC (D2 in Springfield, MA) discussed as a local fit puzzle.

AIC, Wagner, and regional coaching speculation

  • AIC (D2, Springfield MA): Host tosses out potential fits:
    • If the goal is winning immediately via grassroots ties: Tony Bergeron (prep/AAU roots).
    • Strong D3 regional coaches who could jump: Tyler Simms (Clark), Colin Tabb (Western New England — has made the tournament; underpaid), and prep names like Mike Mannix (Wilbraham & Monson).
    • Context: In New England, D2 lacks the depth/structure found elsewhere; some D3/prep posts may be equal or better jobs than AIC depending on budgets.
  • Wagner: The host queries whether it’s truly open and whether the interim was passed over; no hard update is established during the session.

Media culture and the host’s philosophy

  • The host argues college hoops media is often too cozy with coaches/subjects, which can blunt honest critique and signals a small, insular audience. He aims to balance fairness with frank evaluation; won’t vilify personal character absent egregious conduct but will critique results and processes.
  • He laments that a pseudonymous, niche project being praised for “growing the game” is a worrying sign for the sport’s media ecosystem.

Q&A highlights and analyst positions

  • UNC timeline (Caller from Charlotte)
    • If the finalists are still active (May/Lloyd), expect post-FF resolution; Donovan implies waiting until after April 12. If it’s someone else, it likely would’ve been announced — hence next Tuesday is a soft pressure point.
  • Over/under: 2.5 more high-major openings this cycle
    • The host calls “under,” predicts roughly two more, possibly via retirements with pre-anointed successors.
  • Siena/Gannon question
    • The host confirms hearing of “the Gannon guy” in Siena’s mix; a rare D2-to-MAAC leap would reflect the unpredictability of this carousel.
  • Saint Bonaventure hire (post-Schmidt)
    • The host anticipates/frames the hire as Mike MacDonald (Daemen) returning to his alma mater and hometown (age “close to 60”).
    • Strategic logic:
      • Financial reallocation: Cutting ~$1M from head coach salary to bolster NIL is crucial for Bona in the A-10; Schmidt was excellent pre-NIL, but his style (short rotation, grueling practices, four-year development) was stressed by NIL/portal departures.
      • Fit and alignment: MacDonald is deeply local, aligned with prominent alumni (the host references Adrian Wojnarowski’s influence colloquially as “Woj(e)”), and attuned to D2 pipelines (smart up-transfers). Alignment is the cycle’s buzzword; a Woj–MacDonald relationship reduces friction.
      • Competitive reality: Expect Bona NIL around $2.5M; still dwarfed by SLU (4x), VCU (3–3.5x), GW (2–2.5x), Richmond ($4M). Success will hinge on player evaluation and undervalued markets (D2 standouts, mid-major vets).
    • Outlook: Sensible, context-aligned hire—hard job, but a coherent plan.
  • Missouri Valley Conference health and trajectory (Caller: “Talking Blurs,” a Loyola-linked handle)
    • Notable exits: Ben Jacobson (Northern Iowa) to Utah State; earlier, a prominent coach (Alexander) to Kansas State.
    • Will Brian Wardle (Bradley) jump? The host says Wardle has sought a jump seat for years; strong coach, sometimes prickly profile may hamper firm-driven searches. He notes Wardle’s friction with some league peers, which paradoxically intrigues him.
    • Conference macro: MVC will remain an incubator/AAA tier in the consolidation era—talent (players and coaches) will be poached upward. Yet, the league’s strength is underscored by recent pipelines (e.g., Ben McCollum, Josh Schertz rising out of similar ecosystems). Net: churn is baked in; the league can still thrive as a launching pad.
    • Loyola-specific hypotheticals:
      • If Loyola opened (for good or bad reasons) next cycle, “JR Blunt” (San Diego assistant; Loyola alum) could be interviewed if he thrives quickly.
      • Luke Murray hypothetical: If he lands at Boston College and posts a middling ACC year (e.g., 17–15), would Loyola (with higher NIL and family ties to Chicago) be a better strategic job even post-BC? The host argues Loyola’s A-10 NIL ($4M) makes it superior to BC’s basketball commitment in some respects; movement after a single P5 year would be controversial but rational from a program-building standpoint.
  • Bob Richey (Caller: UConn fan "DJ d" in Charlotte)
    • The host’s read after a “deep dive”:
      • Highly respected tactically, consistently wins at Furman; has some NIL and institutional stability in the SoCon; Southeastern roots.
      • Agent connection to Dabo Swinney; believed to have long eyed Clemson/South Carolina—NC State interest was likely a “third-option-on-ice.”
      • Charleston would’ve been an upgrade over Furman this year; host predicts Charleston eventually joins the A-10 and has far superior resource upside and location.
      • Watch South Carolina potentially open next year; Clemson’s timeline is longer (host mentions a 2030 end for Brad Brownell’s current deal per second-hand chatter).
  • Davidson and Matt McKillop
    • Host’s frank take: Not at Bob McKillop’s level (few are), and the shadow is enormous. Team salvaged late-season wins, which may prolong a stable but middling trajectory (17–19 wins, occasional NIT). Style remains similar yet less crisp; on-court demeanors suggest tightness/performative urgency. Davidson’s culture (high academic, “stayed” vibe) will likely tolerate patience.
    • Note: Student columnist (referenced by handle) at Davidson has been openly critical; campus discourse is lively despite institutional reticence.
  • Top 10 jobs in the NIL/portal era (Caller: Texas Tech fan "Brandon Source B fan")
    • Host reframes the question: there are fewer “permanent good programs,” and more “good jobs” defined by alignment and resourcing. Availability of deep-pocketed backers can instantly change a job’s tier.
    • His historical-leaning list (no order): Duke, North Carolina, UConn, Arizona, Michigan, Kentucky, Kansas; then program-/year-dependent: Tennessee, Texas Tech (current resourcing), Texas, Florida, Villanova (if fully committed). Providence is highly resourced at times but not top-10.
  • Texas Tech succession hypotheticals
    • If Grant McCasland were poached by a blue-blood:
      • The host mentions Ross Hodge (connected to the North Texas tree; he references a decent first year at WVU, but Hodge’s known ties are NT — the spirit is that a NT/Scott Drew-tree coach with Texas ties would be logical).
      • Chris Beard is seen as politically toxic for a return.
      • Ben McCollum would be a premium call, but geography and his current contentment in Iowa make fit uncertain.
      • If Bill Self retired and KU didn’t hand it to Jacque Vaughn, both McCasland and McCollum would be among first calls.
  • High Point and G.G. Smith/Flynn Clayman discussion (Caller: "Yuli")
    • Host’s calibration on “Flynn Clayman” at High Point:
      • Resource asymmetry: High Point’s NIL towers over the Big South; historically, whoever sits in that chair racks up wins. A 30+ win year is impressive but context matters.
      • NCAA performance did impress (beat Wisconsin, nearly beat Arkansas — the host treats this as a small-sample but meaningful signal of in-game mettle).
      • Cautionary comp: Todd Kowalczyk’s consistent success without the same credit, or Dan Earl’s fortunes swinging with NIL at Chattanooga; context should temper evaluations.
      • Macro lesson: Success at rich mid-majors can win you jobs—ADs often prefer raw win columns over context. Mixed post-"system" outcomes (e.g., Danny Sprinkle skyrocketed from USU, Ryan Odom found success after USU) show the variance.

Vermont, John Becker, and Siena — deeper dive (Caller: Ben, KU beat reporter with Vermont roots)

  • Data points shared by caller:
    • UVM operating expenses ~$2.9M (largest among public schools in America East; some privates undisclosed).
    • Becker salary estimate: ~$375k; Siena’s recent HCs near ~$400k. Not a massive pay bump.
    • Becker has dominated the league for long stretches (e.g., 59–5 in AE regular season from 2017–2020; 46–4 from 2022–2024) with multiple bids, but saw postseason runs undercut by UMBC upsets and COVID cancellations.
  • Host’s evaluation on why “now” and why Siena:
    • Becker is a proven winner but has a reputation as a difficult interview and has a past off-court incident that some admins weigh heavily, making many decision-makers cautious unless they’re willing to prioritize winning above all.
    • Siena is a good-but-not-great step in pure resources; its interest in charisma/communication could complicate fit.
    • Style critique by caller (host concurs): methodical tempo, heavy shot-quality optimization, elite defensive rebounding. Becker is adaptable and strong in retention and multiyear transfer integration.
    • Surprising match: The host is surprised Siena might be the landing spot after a decade of success, but acknowledges he’s heard Becker was in real mixes (e.g., Boston College buzz this cycle) and that Siena has indeed kicked tires on “serious” names.

Naming quirks and culture nuggets

  • "Dustin/Dusty" proliferation among D1 head coaches noted.
  • Modern youth naming quips (e.g., Jackson-with-an-X) popped up amid light banter.
  • Springfield, MA lore: AIC’s proximity, Jim Calhoun and Congressman Richard Neal alumni callouts; the host’s early internet forum adventures (MassLive Varsity) and Cathedral HS vs. Cathedral HS rivalries form a humorous/nostalgic aside.

Meta takeaways and through-lines

  • Alignment above all: Across UNC, Saint Bonaventure, Loyola hypotheticals, and broader carousel talk, the watchword is alignment—AD, coach, donors, and NIL must be in sync. It can trump traditional prestige.
  • Consolidation trend: The movement of mid-major HCs to high-major AC roles, and the layered poaching of coaches/players, mirrors industry consolidation. The host expects more of this, not less.
  • Contextual evaluation: Wins at resource-rich mid-majors aren’t apples-to-apples with wins at resource-starved posts. ADs may still overweight W-L records, leading to mixed outcomes post-jump.
  • Media stance: Honest critique is healthy; over-coziness with coaches hurts fans and the sport’s broader appeal.

Closing

  • The host grows visibly fatigued as the session winds down. He reiterates that full replays/analysis are available via his platform (createexchange.com; Burning Sage podcast) and promises to pick up threads soon post–Final Four media day.