With numerous sources saying that George Mason University Athletic Director Tom O’Connor will not be considering any coaches within the Jim Larranaga coaching tress (i.e. assistant coaches for the former Patriot boss), Bill Courtney seems to be out of the equation.
Who does that leave on the table for O’Connor?
Here is a list of my top choices:
No. 1: Tommy Amaker, Harvard Crimson
Amaker comes from the coaching family of Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski, holding a career record of 243-189. He is 66-51 at the helm of the Crimson. He was a head coach at Seton Hall and Michigan before taking the job with Ivy League Harvard. After leading the Crimson in to the postseason for the last two seasons, Amaker’s services were coveted by the University of Miami — the same university that stole Larranaga from the Patriots.
The Ivy League is not a desirable position for any coach because it makes recruiting extremely difficult, as schools are not awarded scholarships for athletics.
Should Amaker come to Fairfax, he brings an established reputation for being a people’s person, as he helped the Crimson attract some of the country’s top student-athletes. Imagine the recruits he could bring into the CAA with all of the contacts he has built up over the years.
No 2: Mike Lonergan, Vermont Catamounts
Lonergan may be an even more realistic option to replace Larranaga. He has ties to the area, as the former Maryland assistant – working under legendary coach Gary Williams – and Catholic University head coach.
In 17 years as a head coach, Lonergan has topped 20 wins in 11 occasions, most recently leading the Catamounts to a 25-10 record, their best in school history. His familiarity with the area could pay dividends in recruiting in the greater D.C. area, as a majority of his recruits at Vermont hail from Northeast United States — New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Lonergan’s resume is equally as impressive as Amaker and he may be more willing to return to the area to coach the Patriots.
No. 3: Mike Rhoades, Virginia Commonwealth
Rhoades, who is just 36 years old, would be an extremely valuable addition to the Mason coaching staff. After spending 10 successful seasons with Randolph-Macon, he joined the staff of Shaka Smart last year and helped lead the Rams to the Final Four this season.
Rhoades knows the conference a little bit and has some valuable experience recruiting within the area.
And at such a young age, Rhoades could add a different dynamic to Mason basketball. His youthfulness may introduce an entirely different culture within the program and allow players, both current and future, to let loose and achieve more in the process.
A sleeper: Kirby Dean, Eastern Mennonite
For the last eight seasons, Dean has been the coach of Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va. He led the Runnin’ Royals to the Elite Eight of the NCAA D-III National Championships in 2009 and has been a master recruiter, bringing in untouched talent to develop a strong team in a tough conference.
Dean, too, is familiar with the area — he spent eight years as an assistant coach at Virginia Military Institute — and could provide the Mason bench with an entirely different dynamic, bringing an up-tempo offense that would flourish in the CAA.
If Dean is not offered the position as head coach, he should get serious consideration to join the new coach’s staff as a high-energy assistant.
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