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Let’s Speculate! Potential Kansas State head basketball coach candidates

Welcome to Let’s Speculate! on Coaches Database, where we go through programs that are or may soon be looking for a new head coach and speculate who they may hire next.

Today’s program is Kansas State, coached by Bruce Weber for the last ten seasons (resigned on March 10).

  • Darian DeVries – Drake head coach
    • DeVries has won 20+ games in all four seasons he’s been at the helm at Drake and took the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament a year ago. A rising star in college basketball, he is not long for the MVC and seems like a slam dunk hire for any major program in the Midwest.
  • Eric Henderson – South Dakota State head coach
    • The Jackrabbits completed the rare perfect league slate this year, going 18-0 in the Summit and winning the Summit League Tournament to earn his first NCAA bid. He’s been a head coach for three years and has won three league titles with a combined conference record of 40-6.
  • Chris Jans – New Mexico State head coach
    • With five WAC titles in six years, Jans has New Mexico State absolutely rolling. But he’s also probably taken the Aggies as far as he can, with the ceiling being consistent NCAA Tournaments and the hope to win one game when they get there. Jans is from Iowa and has been around the Midwest his whole life.
  • Niko Medved – Colorado State head coach
    • Currently in his ninth season as a head coach across three programs, Medved already has four 20+ win seasons on his resume and may be headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time this year with Colorado State.
  • Scott Nagy – Wright State head coach
    • One of the most underrated coaches in the country, Nagy has been quietly collecting wins and championships for the last decade at Wright State and South Dakota State. He’s been to five NCAA Tournament since 2012 (including this year) and hasn’t finished lower than 5th in his league since 2009.
  • Todd Golden – San Francisco head coach
    • Golden has been fantastic at USF, winning 22 games in his first year and 24 this year and has now brought the Dons back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. A young energetic coach who is primed to take over a high-major program right now.
  • Jeff Linder – Wyoming head coach
    • Turned Northern Colorado into a winner and now has Wyoming in a position to earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid thanks to a 25-win season. Imagine what Linder could do with the resources of a Big 12 program. The Colorado-native coached at Emporia State (KS) earlier in his career.
  • Drew Valentine – Loyola IL head coach
    • Light on head coaching experience but heavy on potential and buzz, Loyola’s Drew Valentine is someone who will be mentioned for any and all jobs in the Midwest. And it’s well-deserved. But K-State is probably not the most logical next step for him.
  • Brad Underwood – Illinois head coach
    • Underwood is the dream hire for K-State, so we have him on the list even though we really don’t see a scenario where he leaves Illinois and the Big Ten. Even for the chance to return to his home state and alma mater. But if he did want the job, it would be an absolute coups for AD Gene Taylor.