For me Gregg Marshall….

Didn’t pull any punches unlike our soft media out there..

He had that look and rightfully so..

There’s going to be alot of rumors. I’d suggest keeping them in this one thread for organization purposes.

I can pin it up top until a hire is made, just add on rumors and opinions here.

The very primary choice that I first heard a couple months ago was Wade, which would be doable by way of his buyout and an expected 2M salary.

But NC State can go much higher and it’s a stable, prime basketball conference.

I’ve also heard Crean has some legitimacy.

Those aren’t rumors.

I have heard nothing other than those two so far mentioned. The others on peoples wish list, Marshall and such, I haven’t heard mentioned.

I’m just hopeful that some options that have been mentioned, such as Turner or Pasternak, aren’t real. I haven’t heard their names mentioned as candidates, just names pointed out by posters as possibilities.

Fits Harpers M.O.

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CSU is up by 7 at the half. Don not really want any future PAC teams to win. Will support New Mexico. Funny how everyone, including me, is putting the MWC out there as sucking this year, but so far this is one of their better seasons in the NCAA tournament.

Former Nate Oats assistant and Alabama's lead recruiter

Also says we have interviewed roughly 25 candidates so far ranging from college coaches to NBA personnel

MCcollum won 30 games his 1st year at Drake after almost the entire roster from the year before went in the portal.
His 1st year at division 1 and in the tournament. WHO SAYS IT'S A SLOW BUILD?
Also all time winning % over 80 percent

Per X/Grok:

Fit with UNLV
- Pros:
- Turnaround Ability: Keatts has revived programs before. UNLV isn’t broken but needs a jolt—his 18-14 debut at UNCW and 21-12 first year at NC State show he can deliver fast.
- Style Match: His fast-paced, pressure-heavy game could thrive in the Mountain West, where teams like San Diego State and Utah State dominate with physicality, but others are vulnerable to speed. It’s also a fan-friendly brand for Vegas.
- Recruiting Edge: Keatts’ Hargrave and Louisville connections could tap West Coast talent, critical for UNLV to compete with Pac-12 and Big West schools. His NC State rosters often featured transfers and under-the-radar gems (e.g., DJ Burns Jr.), a skill vital in the portal era.
- Personality: Posts on X suggest Keatts’ energetic persona could vibe with Vegas’ bold culture, potentially making him a long-term fit (he’s reportedly said he wants a 10-15-year gig).

- Cons:
- ACC Struggles: A 69-84 ACC record (.451) raises questions about his consistency against top-tier competition. The Mountain West isn’t the ACC, but UNLV will face NCAA hopefuls like New Mexico and Boise State regularly.
- Recent Collapse: The 12-19 season at NC State in 2024-25, post-Final Four, exposed roster management issues (losing key players, poor portal hauls). UNLV can’t afford similar regression with its impatient fanbase.
- Big Stage Pressure: NC State’s higher expectations and resources didn’t always yield results—UNLV’s spotlight, while less intense than the ACC, still demands wins. His 3-5 NCAA record (all losses in the first or second round except 2024) might worry Rebel fans expecting deep runs.

Compared to NC State
NC State was a tougher gig—ACC bluebloods like Duke and UNC, plus NCAA sanctions from the Gottfried era, made sustained success elusive. UNLV offers a lower bar for league dominance (Mountain West vs. ACC) but a higher bar for NCAA relevance given its history. Keatts’ peak at NC State (2024) outshines anything Kruger did at UNLV, suggesting he could elevate the Rebels beyond their recent ceiling. However, NC State’s deeper pockets and tradition gave him more to work with; UNLV’s NIL and recruiting infrastructure lag behind, which could test his adaptability.

Verdict
Keatts could be better suited for UNLV if he leverages his strengths—quick turnarounds, recruiting savvy, and a flashy style—to ignite the program. The Mountain West is more forgiving than the ACC, and Vegas’ vibe aligns with his energy. But his NC State tenure shows cracks: inconsistency, roster instability, and a shaky 2024-25 suggest he’s not a slam dunk. He’d need to nail the portal and local recruiting (e.g., Vegas AAU pipelines) to succeed where Kruger didn’t. Compared to NC State, UNLV offers a fresh start with less entrenched competition but a fanbase just as hungry for glory. It’s a gamble—fitting for Vegas—but one that could pay off if Keatts recaptures his early-career magic.

When KK was shown the door I felt we were going to name a successor pretty quickly for a variety of reasons. However, the longer this drags on I get the feeling there wasn’t any sort of game plan. Or, the game plan was simply to move on from KK. I have a friend who is pretty well connected to mid west college bb and told me a recently fired coach from a major university held a zoom call with UNLV a few days ago. I guess I was hoping this was going to play out more like it did with UNLV football and a successor was ready to go….

I see that they overlooked us again this season.

I love how duke plays in-state. Make it tough on them, selection committee!

Now we have a history with AD Harper. First, and rightfully so football has been made a priority under his leadership. Also, when it came to his first coaching search it was devoid of any leaks and it kept the media and UNLV fans guessing ultimately resulting in the hiring of Barry Odom as the program’s 13th football coach. We had no clue! Additionally, a contingency plan was in place well before Odom's second season started (just in case) because it was later learned that Harper, Saccenti and Mullen were all playing golf together last summer at Southern Highlands. Harper pretty much had his new coach and money lined up and ready to go. How would you rate Harper's first hire in Odom? He get's an A IMO. What about Harper's 2nd hire in Mullen? It's early. But preliminarily, another A and potentially a higher ceiling than Odom.

Based on history, when it comes to UNLV's next basketball coach there will be no leaks or rumors. No national search committees or consultants. I anticipate based on past performance Harper already has the new UNLV basketball coach pretty much lined up along with the $$$$ to pay him. Within 3-5 days after CKK release, I anticipate UNLV announcing it's new head basketball coach. Based on history and the level of football coaches hired by AD Harper I expect it will be considered another A rated hire.

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No surprise

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Good luck, men!