Who is your top choice to replace KK?
- Thread starter TimothyC3
- Start date
Time to go all LVHiker on this hire..
I said it. Hire Lindy LaRoque or a woman that wants to coach Men’s BB.
Can you imagine the Lindy Offense in Men’s BB??
The time is NOW!!
If we go the assistant route, Hartman is a very good choice.
I don't think we have to try to burn all the bridges with the Krugers. I don't blame them for shoehorning Kevin here or fighting to keep his job. We allowed it to happen.
I don't blame Kruger for Menzies either. Menzies was dumb enough to take the job when it was during a somewhat self imposed death penalty. He was a last resort hire for a team that had little options.
Hartman is a good candidate that knows the school. I prefer a head coach, but I am not against Hartman. I would put him above a few HC's that have been mentioned. But he would not be at the top of my list.
He helped take Lon to the next level at OU, and he has done the same at Florida. We shouldn't pass on a promising coach just because he happens to have a relationship with our second most successful, HOF coach. Just because they got Kevin in here.
I don't think we have to try to burn all the bridges with the Krugers. I don't blame them for shoehorning Kevin here or fighting to keep his job. We allowed it to happen.
I don't blame Kruger for Menzies either. Menzies was dumb enough to take the job when it was during a somewhat self imposed death penalty. He was a last resort hire for a team that had little options.
Hartman is a good candidate that knows the school. I prefer a head coach, but I am not against Hartman. I would put him above a few HC's that have been mentioned. But he would not be at the top of my list.
He helped take Lon to the next level at OU, and he has done the same at Florida. We shouldn't pass on a promising coach just because he happens to have a relationship with our second most successful, HOF coach. Just because they got Kevin in here.
Hartman has been an assistant coach for 29 years. IMO, he has to have had chances to go to lower programs and prove himself. Something has held him back. Whatever it is I don't want to see it revealed here.
Former HC is the way to go, we now have success in going that route here in arguably the toughest but biggest sport in our football program but some just want to be contrary just to be contrary and say “but he’s a good assistant” that’s not the point?!
We need someone who has led an entire D-1 program before with some success doing it and no it doesn’t mean national championships either, so don’t bring that up!
An assistant would be learning on the job and UNLV should be past that stage in hiring coaches in any sport now.
Again, see UNLV football!
This is spot on!! We need someone with head coaching experience who has/had success at the division 1 level.
He's available now... that's the upside
Oh man, so it’s not Richie McKay or Dave Bliss?!!!! Lol
If Wade makes a move this year, I think that we are now more in play than I thought a few days ago.
Yes, Wade.
Yes, Wade.
Bucky would be a GREAT hire. I'd have visions of Tark's Hardway Eight and Westhead's LMU dancing in my head. He would make UNLV basketball the SHOW to see in town....
......which means it probably won't happen 🤣
I understand his hype but Bucky has only been at Samford for 5 seasons. Before that, he was a high school coach.
Could he be successful here? Possibly.
Would his style excite? Yes.
This would be a wait-and-see for me.
In those 5 years he has 3 titles and a over .700 winning record..
Not saying I disapprove should he be the choice (which I don't think that he is). He's just less of a known than others on our list.
He also didn't do so well against the top teams in his conference this season.
I’ll say this was a rebuild year, they won like 29 games last season and almost beat Kansas in the tourney. But your concerns are legit.
Wade would be the perfect hire. Would give us the feel of UNLV of old. I’m hoping it happens. He’s got the right mentality and just enough scandal to make it interesting. Would create some national buzz to have him running our program.
The thing with Bucky is he willing to leave the State of Alabama. Sounds like his wife is even involved with Samford. They have three young children and I see this as a hard sell to get them to Vegas. His style of basketball fits with what we want but, the Athletic Department is going to have to go into overdrive to convince the wife.
It’s the life of a coach. If you want a better job you gotta move around a little bit. That’s a legit point you make tho, I can’t really argue with his roots being laid there.
Take it from someone who lived in that area for 10 years. There is a giant gap from Vestavia Hills Al. ( a Birmingham suburb where the McMillin's live ) to Las Vegas.
For some families that have moved around and seen different areas of the country it wouldn't be bad. But for a wife who is steeped in the South, established in a church, a school, lives less than a mile from her Mom and sisters, has only see hundreds of thousands of green acres her entire life etc. etc. it would be a long haul to move to Vegas an not be completely shocked.
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Here's an article on Bucky ball. The style of play would sell well: https://www.kansan.com/sports/what-...cle_9e401f60-e553-11ee-98a8-6f74a906d9bf.html
You did notice that the high school team is named the Rebels on the video? Is that an Omen?
I definitely see what you are saying he would be tier 2 for me behind more established coaches but for small coaches like USD etc he would be high on the list because of the fun factor.
IT SEEMS THE Same group of coaches talked about for UNLV are the same list mentioned for every other opening so Bucky may have a chance to move somewhere more comfortable for his family. I DON'T THINK COACH ODOM'S FAMILY WAS EVER COMFORTABLE IN LAS VEGAS.. THEY WERE MID WEST SOUTHWEST PEOPLE.
Style of play and excitement should be considerations in the next hire. Not the only consideration but getting butts in seats and moving the needle from apathy to interest will be important. Wade and Bucky check this box, in addition to other requirements.
“Bucky Ball” in Vegas? UNLV Rumors Heat Up
The most intriguing name making the rounds for the UNLV job is Samford head coach Bucky McMillan. Since taking over in 2020, McMillan has led Samford to a 99-51 (.660) record, including a 22-10 mark this season as they continue their NIT run. He has posted four consecutive 21+ win seasons, peaking with 29 wins last year. “Bucky Ball” in Las Vegas would certainly be an exciting storyline to watch.Source: https://hoopdirt.com/daily-dirt-3-17-25/
The Sporting News on Bucky McMillian:
Andrew Hughes
March 13, 2025•6:45 pm PDT
Bucky McMillan is expected to get a call-up from the Mid-Majors to the Power conferences sometime in the next few years. Referencing McMillan’s close 93-89 loss to Kansas during the 2024 NCAA Tournament – a game many felt the Bulldogs were robbed of by the refs –, CBS Sports’ Eric Bossi grouped the mastermind behind “Bucky Ball” one of this hiring cycle’s top 13 coaches.
“Prior to his leap to the college level, Bucky McMillan won five State Championships as a high school coach at Mountain Brook in Alabama. He's not looked back since taking the reins at Samford,” Bossi wrote.
“A three-time Coach of the Year in the SoCon, McMillan has the Bulldogs in third place this season after winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. During Samford's appearance in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, he pushed Bill Self and Kansas to the brink of elimination in the first round.
“McMillan wants to play fast. In three of his five seasons at Samford, his teams have been among the top 30 in offensive tempo. His seamless transition from high school to college and his embracing of modern basketball make him an attractive candidate.”
A natural progression for McMillan would be UAB in the event Andy Kennedy gets a bigger job himself. Kennedy has won 20 games five times with the Blazers.
Jumping to the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12, or Big East would feel premature unless McMillan joined an established coach’s staff as an assistant. He’s too accomplished as a coach and recruiter to be an assistant, though.
McMillan taking a job in the AAC or Mountain West makes more sense. Expect his name to come up in rumors, though a move from Homewood, Alabama isn’t a guarantee.
March Madness showing vs Kansas last year made Samford’s Bucky McMillan a top college basketball coaching candidate
Andrew Hughes
March 13, 2025•6:45 pm PDT
Bucky McMillan is expected to get a call-up from the Mid-Majors to the Power conferences sometime in the next few years. Referencing McMillan’s close 93-89 loss to Kansas during the 2024 NCAA Tournament – a game many felt the Bulldogs were robbed of by the refs –, CBS Sports’ Eric Bossi grouped the mastermind behind “Bucky Ball” one of this hiring cycle’s top 13 coaches.
“Prior to his leap to the college level, Bucky McMillan won five State Championships as a high school coach at Mountain Brook in Alabama. He's not looked back since taking the reins at Samford,” Bossi wrote.
“A three-time Coach of the Year in the SoCon, McMillan has the Bulldogs in third place this season after winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. During Samford's appearance in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, he pushed Bill Self and Kansas to the brink of elimination in the first round.
“McMillan wants to play fast. In three of his five seasons at Samford, his teams have been among the top 30 in offensive tempo. His seamless transition from high school to college and his embracing of modern basketball make him an attractive candidate.”
A natural progression for McMillan would be UAB in the event Andy Kennedy gets a bigger job himself. Kennedy has won 20 games five times with the Blazers.
Jumping to the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12, or Big East would feel premature unless McMillan joined an established coach’s staff as an assistant. He’s too accomplished as a coach and recruiter to be an assistant, though.
McMillan taking a job in the AAC or Mountain West makes more sense. Expect his name to come up in rumors, though a move from Homewood, Alabama isn’t a guarantee.
