BLACK MONDAY

Highlighting Current Collegiate Standounts Poised to Fill 2022's Coaching Vacancies!

For Athletic Directors whose "wish/check-list" of qualifying criteria for their next Head Coach includes current success as the face of a program, look no further than the following 10 men!

Anthony Grant (Dayton)

People's attention span rarely exceeds the current news cycle, so gone are the days when Coach Anthony Grant's miracle season of 2019-2020 are at the tip of everyone's tongues. I don’t know if you could write a better movie script than the one that played out on court for the Flyers. 29 wins, 2 losses, and both of those occurred in overtime. They were 8 points away from a perfect season. The Dayton Men’s Basketball team was DOMINANT that year! They ranked #1 in the Nation in FG% (52.5), #2 in the Nation in Scoring Margin (15), #3 in the Nation in Assists per game (17.6), #8 in the Nation in Assist to Turnover ratio (1.42), #12 in the Nation in Points per game (80) and finished the season ranked the #3 team in the Nation. These are the type of results Dayton fans hoped and prayed for when Coach Anthony Grant returned to his collegiate home to replace Archie Miller who was departing for Indiana. At the conclusion of the season, for all of his hard work, dedication, and success, Coach Grant was named Atlantic 10, Sporting News, CBS Sports Coach of The Year & Basketball Times National Coach of the Year.

The 2020 season was not an anomaly, it was indicative of the standards set by Coach Grant for his program. A standard of excellence is what we have grown to expect from those that represent his teams. In his time as a Head Coach, he has tallied nine 20+ win seasons, taken 3 different teams to the NCAA tournament (VCU in 2007 & 2009, Alabama in 2012 and Dayton was poised to make a run in the aforementioned 2020 season had the tournament not been canceled due to Covid-19. One of the primary reasons Coach Grant's name hasn't been brought up in many "coaching carousel" conversations is the fact that it would be incredibly difficult to convince him to leave his alma mater, which bodes well for Dayton Flyers fans, but based on performance alone his name should sit at the top of any list denoting qualified candidates for "Power Six" openings.

*Click here for my interview with Coach Grant following the 2020 season where we discussed his path, journey, and desire to give back to his Alma Mater(s). The power of relationships, culture of Dayton Basketball, importance of not only having the right people on the bus but also making sure they are in the right seats, what Dayton Basketball means to the community, educating the next generation, and more*

https://youtu.be/YSoWfciucbQ

Robert Jones (Norfolk State)

Coach Jones has been at the helm of the NSU Spartans basketball program since 2013 and he's made the program a perennial powerhouse in that time. He's had only one below .500 season in those 9 years and has accumulated a 104-34 record in conference play which is nearly unfathomable. He's tallied three 20+ win seasons and all of this has taken place while playing (and winning) multiple "buy games" each year. The 2019 & 2022 MEAC Coach of the year has led the Spartans to three MEAC Regular Season Championships (2019, 2021 & 2022), two MEAC Tournament Championships (2021 & 2022), and has demonstrated an ability to lead young men to a standard of excellence. Robert Jones is a winner who should be at the top of the list of any program looking for a new Head Coach. While many are making excuses of why you can't succeed at HBCUs; Robert Jones is showing and proving that with the right culture, mindset, and approach you can win anywhere. As an HBCU/MEAC Alumni myself, I don't want to see Norfolk State lose a great man like Coach Jones but as a fan of the game/supporter of the advancement of Black coaches, I would love to see what he can accomplish at a larger school. Coach Jones has never finished below 2nd place in his conference which should be enticing for an Athletic Director looking to rebuild their program to prominence.

Lamont Paris (UT Chattanooga)

One of the hot names of the 2022 Coaching Hiring Cycle is Lamont Paris. Is it possible that he could replace another former Chattanooga Mocs coach at either UMass or LSU? That's mere speculation at this point but one thing that's for certain is the culture/program building Coach Paris brought to Chattanooga is replicable and sustainable. Lamont Paris took over the UT Chattanooga program in 2017 and competed with a team that featured 9 Freshmen and 1 Senior. The adversities they faced were the building blocks necessary to reach the place they're at now, Southern Conference Regular Season & Conference Champions. The steady growth over the past 5 years has allowed them to amass two 20 win seasons and now his first trip to the NCAA Tournament as a Head Coach. Is it too soon for Coach Paris to leave Chattanooga after 5 years? Keep in mind WIll Wade was only in his 2nd season at the helm of the Mocs program (his first opportunity as a Head Coach) prior to heading to VCU and in those 2 years, he was not able to get them to the NCAA tourney. Matt McCall, who left for UMass, spent the same amount of time on the UT Chattanooga campus but similar to Paris was able to take the Mocs dancing. With that being said; experience and lack of tenure as a Head Coach should not be a barrier to entry for Lamont Paris. He's had success in the Big Ten as an assistant on Bo Ryan & Greg Gard's staff including 7 NCAA Tournament appearances, 6 Sweet 16's, 2 Final Fours, and 2015 NCAA Tournament Runner Up. Lamont Paris is ready!

Dennis Gates (Cleveland State)

Coach Gates is another hot name in this hiring cycle. Honestly, his name has been hot since he first arrived in "The Land". He took over a Vikings team that had become a mainstay at the bottom of the Horizon League and quickly rejuvenated and reignited the winning ways that Cleveland State fans remembered from the golden years with Gary Waters leading the program. Dennis Gates was named Back to Back Horizon League Coach of The Year in his first two seasons and led the Vikings to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009. This year Cleveland State missed the tournament but continued to build and show improvement under Gates's leadership as they reached 20 wins for the 11th time in school history. 

Coach Gates has demonstrated the ability to orchestrate monumental turnarounds which will be key for programs going through transitions. He had success at Florida State under the tutelage of the legendary Leonard Hamilton where he was able to help take the program to new heights. During his time on staff, the Seminoles had six 20+ win seasons and 4 trips to the NCAA tournament including the 2018/2019 year in which they finished 29-8 and set the school record for most wins in a season prior to falling to Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. Dennis Gates is a winner who will be successful with whatever program he's responsible for building. Fans in Cleveland, Ohio hope that program is the one that he's currently employed by.

*Click here for my interview with Coach Gates following the 2021 season where we discussed his journey, passion for the game of basketball, mission of uplifting and assisting young men through their journey and why he loves his assignment at Cleveland State *

https://youtu.be/UEjTj3X03qc

Rob Lanier (Georgia State)

Coach Lanier is leading the Georgia State Panthers to the NCAA Tournament for the first time under his leadership and the 4th trip for the program in 8 years. Expectations were high as he replaced Ron Hunter who left for Tulane and he's done a phenomenal job reaching and often exceeding those benchmarks. Most notably; in his 2nd year, Lanier led the Panthers to one of the biggest victories in program history by defeating Georgia Tech 123-120 in the  Downtown vs. Midtown series. In a game that included overtime periods, multiple program records were broken, including a first win over an ACC opponent, most points scored in a game, first triple-overtime game, first four-overtime game,  and first time four or more players have scored 20 or more points. This is Coach Lanier's second stint as a Head Coach. He previously led the Sienna Saints program and was able to navigate them to the NCAA tournament in his first season. In 7 seasons as a Head Coach, Lanier has recorded 5 winning seasons and demonstrated an ability to get the most out of the players on his roster. Some would call it "overachieving" but he believes they are capable of greatness and this confidence creates an uncanny "buy-in" from his players.

Prior to his time leading the Panthers, Coach Lanier spent time on the staff of Rick Barnes at Tennessee & Texas leading to multiple NCAA tournament appearances and "Coach of The Year Awards." He has experience at the High Major level to accompany his first-hand knowledge of what it takes to run a program. Could this year's NCAA Tournament be an audition of sorts for Rob Lanier? Georgia State fans will be cheering for them to survive and advance but the irony of the situation is; the further the Panthers make it, the lesser the likelihood that he will be around for the long haul. Keep in mind Georgia State has been to the NCAA Tournament 6 time and has an overall record of 2-5.

James Jones (Yale University)

Winning in the Ivy League is TOUGH and consistently winning is even tougher. James Jones is one of the best to ever do it and deserves an immense amount of credit for the work he's been able to do. Coach Jones is the all-time winningest men’s basketball coach at Yale and one of the most successful coaches in Ivy League history. This year the Bulldogs will head to the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in program history (3 of which occurred under Jones' leadership and the other 3 occurred prior to his birth). He has over 350 wins, 5 Twenty win seasons, and 8 straight winning seasons. Coach Jones is not only a developer of Student-Athletes, he has a track record of preparing his assistant coaches for success in their journeys as well. Five of Jones' assistants have gone on to become head coaches. In 2019 James Jones was the recipient of the Ben Jobe Award as the top minority coach in Division I men's basketball and should definitely be on the shortlist of candidates for Athletic Directors and Search Firms looking for a winner, especially in the Northeast!

Richie Riley (University of South Alabama)

Culture is built either by default or by design and Richie Riley is an intentional culture sculptor. He challenges his players to completely "Buy-In" and the results have followed. In 6 seasons as a Head Coach, Riley's teams have finished at .500 or above in all but one. He is a winner who sets the standard high and doesn't accept mediocrity or excuses.

Coach Riley inherited a program that had experienced 5 consecutive losing seasons and he's finished .500 or above each of his 4 years at the helm. 20 wins in his second season on the job was a strong indicator that the program was in good hands. Prior to his time in Mobile, Coach Riley quickly transformed a struggling Nicholls State squad from near the bottom of the Southland conference to the regular-season co-championship with a 15-3 record in league play and an overall mark of 21-11 in his second season; it was the program’s first winning season since 2008-09. The campaign was the program's third all-time 20 win season and a sign that the young coach had the makings of being great! Richie Riley is a rising star in the business who has an opportunity to be one of the next "Household Names." Although I don't expect Riley to make a move this off-season he is definitely a "Coach on The Rise" and somebody to keep an eye on. When a guy has 5 winning seasons, two 20 win seasons, and a Conference "Coach of The Year" title under his belt all before the age of 40, you better take notice!

Bashir Mason (Wagner College)

Another "40 & Under" standout, Bashir Mason has demonstrated a track record of success since Wagner made him the youngest Head Coach in Division 1 Basketball in 2012. He was 28 at the time and has excelled beyond his years. In his 10 seasons leading the Seahawks, he has amassed 3 NEC Regular Season Championships and has been named "Coach of The Year" 3 times. Wagner is now one of the NEC's perennial powerhouses. I posed the question earlier when speaking about Lamont Paris at UT Chattanooga and the possibility of him taking a familiar path of former UTC coaches. This could be the same situation... Bashir Mason replaced Dan Hurley who left Wagner to become the Head Coach at the University of Rhode Island (who is now open as well). Hurley was able to get the Rams to the NCAA Tournament twice before leaving for UConn, could the URI administration double back to Wagner in hopes of lightning striking twice? To anyone interjecting age or experience as a potential obstacle I would like to remind you that Hurley had only been a Head Coach for those two years at Wagner before making the leap and was 39 years old (one year older than Bashir Mason is right now). Dan Hurley also had not won a conference championship at Wagner or been voted Coach of the Year. Coach Mason knows the Northeast and has demonstrated an ability to win at a high level, I wouldn't be surprised to see him move up this spring.

Joe Jones (Boston University)

Coach Joe Jones just completed his third 20 win season as the leader of the Boston University program. Like his brother, he has demonstrated success in High Academic situations that previously struggled to win. In his first stint as a Head Coach, he was tasked with taking over a Columbia program that had just went 0-14 in the Ivy League and 2-25 overall. The Lions saw rapid improvement under his leadership and in his fourth year, they experienced their first winning season in 14 years. Often these are the things overlooked with just glancing at "Win/Loss" records.

After his stint at Columbia, Jones served as the Associate Head Coach for Steve Donahue at Boston College. They went 21-13 and finished 4th in the ACC (up 4 spots from the year before). After the season Coach Jones was named the Head Coach at Boston College replacing Pat Chambers who left for Penn State. Coach Joe Jones has done a phenomenal job growing the Boston University program and will take them to the CBI this off-season. For programs looking to bring in a coach who can navigate through rebuilding while maintaining high academic standards, look no further than Joe Jones.

Dana Ford (Missouri State University)

I love Dana Ford's story/journey. Often in this business, you hear cautionary tales of talented young Black coaches taking jobs at HBCUs and never getting another opportunity to be a Head Coach. That narrative is flawed and it is people like Coach Ford who are working to dispel it. In 2014, After 6 years of being an Assistant Coach, Dana Ford took over a Tennessee State University program that had 2 winning seasons since 1995-96. They has just gone 5-25 the previous year and in his first year, they went 5-26. Coach Ford orchestrated the largest NCAA turnaround from 2014–15 to 2015–16 with a 15-win difference and posted a 20-11 overall record. That massive improvement resulted in him being named Ohio Valley Conference "Coach of The Year" and he proved that he could win at Tennessee State and that success translated to him earning the opportunity to lead Missouri State University. Tasked with returning the Bears to the glory that hadn't been seen since Cuonzo Martin left for Missouri in 2011, this season Dana Ford led them to 23 wins which is the highest in the 11 years since Coach Martin has been gone.

Dana Ford is a proven winner who isn't afraid to take on a tough assignment. He has the ability to recruit, develop and lead players towards their goals. For Search Firms and Athletic Directors in the midwest that would prefer a successful current Head Coach, look no further than Dana Ford.

There's no shortage of Assistant Coaches prepared to take on the responsibility of running their own program, but these 8 men are in a league of their own! The success that each has had is astounding and the fact that I'm not hearing more about them on this "Black Monday" is mind-blowing!

Anthony Solomon (Associate Head Coach- Notre Dame)

I was speaking to a colleague the other day and he asked me about this year's hiring cycle. We discussed a few names and he stopped me when I got to Anthony Solomon's. He hadn't realized how strong of a candidate Coach Solomon was and appeared shocked that with his track record his name isn't discussed more when openings come available. Anthony Solomon, or "Slo" as he's affectionally referred to by those who know and love him, has been around some of the best coaches College Basketball has seen. He's been on the staff of Jim Larranaga, Fran Fraschilla, Bill Dooley, Mike Brey, and Anthony Grant to name a few. During his time on those staffs, 3 of his Head Coaches have been named "Conference Coach of The Year" while Mike Brey & Anthony Grant both received Associate Press National "Coach of The Year" Honors. He's been active since 1988, won conference titles at Manhattan, Virginia & Dayton as well as a Big East Tournament Championship at Notre Dame. He's qualified for the NCAA Tournament 15 times with 4 different schools (the 2020 Tournament was canceled due to Covid-19). As Associate Head Coach of Dayton University, he saw the Flyers reach an altitude previously unseen when they finished unbeaten in A10 play (18-0) and set a school record for wins in a season with 29 (29-3 overall record). For the 2021-22 season, Coach Solomon rejoined Mike Brey at Notre Dame as Associate Head Coach. During his previous stint(s) there he helped lead them to 9 NCAA Tournaments including a Sweet 16 run in 2003 and Back to Back Elite 8's in 2015 & 16. He's been a major component in the resurgence of the Fighting Irish who was 11-15 last year finishing 11th in the ACC. They are headed to their first NCAA Tournament since 2016-17 and finished the season 22-10 (15-5 in ACC play) tied for 2nd in the ACC Conference with North Carolina.

Earlier I spoke about "Win/Loss Records" and how they often don't tell the whole story. Well, when you look at Coach Solomon's Head Coaching record, it doesn't tell any of the story. via Wikipedia "In 2003, St. Bonaventure was reeling from an academic fraud scandal and resulting NCAA sanctions. In searching for a replacement for fired coach Jan van Breda Kolff, Solomon was hired based on his honest reputation and ideas for bringing the program back.^[2] While Solomon achieved the goal of restoring a clean program, his teams had a 24–88 record over his four seasons and he was fired after a 7–22 campaign in 2006–07.^[3]" The sanctions included reducing the number of men's basketball scholarships by two in 2004 and one in 2005, and cutting the number of on-campus recruiting visits as well as post-season bans. In my opinion, what Coach Solomon accomplished was a win, and the "on the court record" is the last thing an Athletic Director or Search Firm should be looking at while evaluating his fitness to run their program.

Steve Robinson (Associate Head Coach- Arizona)

The entire college basketball world is buzzing about Tommy Lloyd's accomplishments at Arizona this year (as they should be) but you rarely hear about an integral part of that success which is Steve Robinson! Coach Robinson is one of, if not the most accomplished Assistant Coach in all of collegiate basketball. He's been active and excellent since 1983. Steve Robinson is a March Madness staple, making 28 trips to the NCAA Tournament including 3 as a Head Coach (Tulsa in 1996 & 1997 and Florida State in 1998.) Coach Robinson has won 3 National Championships (2005, 2009, and 2017), 9 ACC Regular Season Championships, 4 Big Eight Regular Season Championships, and been to 9 Final Fours. As a Head Coach, Steve Robinson had massive success at Tulsa finishing 23-8 & 23-10 in his first two seasons respectively. Tulsa is one of those special places that the "Elites" of College Basketball often call home. Nolan Richardson, Tubby Smith, Bill Self, and Danny Manning all spent time at the helm of the Golden Hurricane's program and, like Steve Robinson, they were able to take them to the NCAA tournament. In 1997 Coach Robinson took over the Florida State Seminoles program and took them to their first NCAA tournament in 5 years in his first season. They were ranked as high as 13 in the AP Poll. FSU was unable to get back to the tournament in his next 4 years and he was relieved of his duties in 2002. Leonard Hamilton took over in 2002 and 7 years later the Seminoles returned to the NCAA Tournament.

Steve Robinson is a WINNER! I saw a tweet the other day asking; "Who is this year's Tommy Lloyd" and my answer is very direct, "Take a look at the man next to him!"

Karl Hobbs (Associate Head Coach- Rutgers)

Former A10 Coach of The Year; Coach Karl Hobbs has been to the college basketball mountain-top! Twice in his career, Coach Hobbs finished the season cutting down the nets as a National Champion. Over his 3 decades of coaching experience, he has demonstrated an ability to consistently win and has produced success in multiple high major settings. Coach Hobbs has been an integral part of the turnaround in New Jersey. He joined Rutgers Basketball Head Coach Pikiell as he took over a program in 2016 that was navigating a move to the Big Ten and hadn't experienced a winning season since 2006. They've had 3 winning seasons in their 6 years there along with 2 NCAA Tournament births (the program's first since 1991.) Coach Hobbs has 3 NCAA Tournament appearances as a Head Coach to go along with his 12 as an assistant. He won 2 NCAA Championships as a member of Jim Calhoun's UConn staff and is one of the brightest basketball minds in the business.

During his stint as the Head Coach at George Washington University, he accomplished something that has only been achieved by 3 other coaches in history - an undefeated A10 season! He has demonstrated that he can lead a program and generate the type of results that most can only dream about. Coach Hobbs’ success is not limited to the coaching side of the business. As a player, he was a four-year starting point guard and All-Big East selection as a senior at UConn (1980-84). He led the team in assists all four years and ranks sixth all-time with 534. He’s known for his exceptional recruiting, scouting, and player development and has worked with several pros including, Hall of Famer, Ray Allen. Coach Hobbs has been, not only a great mentor for the young men he coached, but also for the assistant coaches he has worked with. 5 of the coaches on his staff at George Washington went on to become head coaches as well. Coach Karl Hobbs would be an excellent choice to build a program and not only develop players but also develop young coaching talent.

Jerome Tang (Associate Head Coach- Baylor)

Coach Tang is a LEADER! Although it’s hard to imagine him not on the sidelines for the Bears, (all 18 of his years in collegiate coaching have been at Baylor University.) Jerome Tang is the stabilizing figure that rebuilding programs will want and need. In 2021, Coach Tang helped Baylor reach their first ever Big 12 Championship and National Championship. This year they repeated as Big 12 Champions and completed their 13th 20-win season since 2008. Prior to his arrival in Waco, Texas, the Bears had only been to the NCAA tournament 4 times in their 97-year history. 300 plus wins later, Coach Tang is still on the Baylor sidelines preparing his young men for success and requiring nothing less than the best that they have to give. Winning is a part of his DNA! Nearly two decades of coaching experience in the Big 12 have certainly prepared Coach Tang to take the helm of any program in need of a new direction! Now that he's captured the elusive Big 12 & National Titles it will be interesting to see if he's interested in taking on the challenge of running his own program, if so there will surely be no shortage of suitors.

Jeff Battle (Associate Head Coach- Providence College)

Coach Battle is another coach who has been active in collegiate basketball for over 30 years. He was mentored by the late Skip Prosser who is widely regarded as one of the best coaches ever. Coach Battle has been to 15 total NCAA Tournaments with 4 different schools (Loyola Maryland, Xavier, Wake Forest & Providence.) Battle spent 13 seasons on the Wake Forest basketball staff, serving as associate head coach under Skip Prosser, Dino Gaudio, and Jeff Bzdelik. He was instrumental in Wake Forest's success as the Deacons reached a No. 1 national ranking in 2005 and again in 2009, won a school-record 27 games in 2005, advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in 2004, and won the 2003 ACC regular season title. Wake Forest averaged almost 20 wins per season and made six NCAA Tournament appearances during Battle's tenure. During his assignment at Wake Forest, Battle played a key role in the development of former NBA All-Stars Chris Paul and Jeff Teague.

At Providence Coach Battle has helped the Friars reach the NCAA Tournament 4 times averaging 20 wins per season. This year they won 25 games (their most since 1987), are the Regular Season Big East Champions and Head Coach Ed Cooley was named Sporting News' College Basketball Coach of The Year. They enter the Tournament with unfinished business on their mind but with a track record of consistent success, there's no reason Jeff Battle shouldn't sit atop the list of Search Firms & Athletic Directors looking for High-Level Experience & Success!

Kimani Young (Associate Head Coach- UConn)

One of the fastest rising up and coming coaches in the Country, Kimani Young's name is ringing bells right now!   In his fourth season on Dan Hurley’s coaching staff at UConn he's been tasked with recruiting responsibilities, practice planning, and game strategy. Coach Young is also responsible for the growth & development of the Huskies’ perimeter players and has also helped UConn land three consecutive Top 20 recruiting classes. In 4 years at UConn this will make the second time the Huskies have appeared in the NCAA Tournament (Coach Young also made it to the dance with Minnesota in 2017 under Richard Pitino). I often highlight the need to be noticed as "More Than Just A Recruiter" and have to give Coach Hurley lots of credit for not only giving Kimani Young the ability to grow and take on multiple responsibilities but also giving him the public praise and adoration for doing such. It's important to have the support of your Head Coach as you grow in your career and that's something I've seen expressed for Kimani Young. Dan Hurley is grooming Kimani to be a Head Coach in the future, the question isn't "Will he get an opportunity to run his own program?" but more so "When?"

.

Roger Powell Jr. (Assistant Coach- Gonzaga)

Roger Powell is in his third season as an assistant coach on Mark Few’s staff. The Zags have compiled an astonishing 88-6 record in his first three seasons as a member of the staff. Gonzaga fell short in the 2021 national championship game, after winning its first 31 games of the season but is poised to make a run this year. Coach Powell has leadership experience as he was the associate head coach at Vanderbilt prior to arriving in Spokane. Powell joined the Vanderbilt staff as associate head coach in April of 2016. In his first season at Vanderbilt, he helped guide the Commodores to the NCAA Tournament. Vanderbilt notched five top-25 wins, six top-50 victories, and 11 top-100 RPI wins, played the toughest overall strength of schedule and toughest non-conference schedule in the nation. Prior to Vanderbilt, Powell helped lead Valparaiso to 122 wins in his five seasons as a member of the Crusader coaching staff, including 28 victories in 2014-2015 and a school-record 30 wins in 2015-16. Valpo captured the Horizon League regular season title in four of his first five seasons, while the Crusaders' 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 squads also won the Horizon League tournament championship. Coach Powell is one of those names I'm not hearing discussed nearly enough when referencing "Up & Coming" Head Coaching candidates. Whether it be a Head Coach looking for an Associate Head Coach to assist him in turning around a High Major program or an Athletic Director/Search Firm looking for Head Coaching Candidates, Roger Powell is intriguing.

Ira Bowman (Assistant Coach- Auburn)

Auburn is one of the hottest teams in the country and part of the reason for that success is their elite staff. Coach Ira Bowman is one of the members that stands out to me as "Coach on The Rise" and a person to keep an eye on. I've had multiple candid conversations where he's been credited with the recruitment, growth, development, and maturation of multiple future NBA stars. To be successful you need to be able to do 3 things; 1) Identify the guys who have a chance to be special in the long run. 2) Convince them that your program is the right place for them to reach their potential. And 3) Develop them and make sure that they reach and sometimes exceed those goals/expectations. Coach Ira Bowman has mastered all 3 of those things and the Auburn Tigers are benefiting because of it! The Tigers are averaging 24 wins per season with him on staff and that's not surprising to me at all. Bowman began his coaching career at NJIT who had suffered through a 0-29 season the year before his arrival. They quickly turned the tides and before leaving for Penn, the Highlanders had back to back 15 win seasons. While at Penn he helped guide the Quakers to 24 wins and their first NCAA tournament in 10 years in 2017-18. Ira Bowman is another one of those guys to keep an eye on whether it be as a member of a new staff looking to turn the program around or running his own.