Fansided

3 potential replacements for Andy Kennedy at Ole Miss

By Brad Berreman

LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Andy Kennedy (C) of the Mississippi Rebels looks on during his team's game against the Utah Utes during day one of the Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah won 83-74. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Andy Kennedy (C) of the Mississippi Rebels looks on during his team's game against the Utah Utes during day one of the Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah won 83-74. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: David Becker/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: David Becker/Getty Images /

2. Eric Musselman

I’m piggybacking on the Clarion-Ledger’s list of candidates to replace Kennedy, but Musselman stood out as the most interesting.

In his third season as head coach, Musselman’s Nevada squad is a top-25 team with a 23-5 record heading into the final four regular season games. Three of those remaining games look very winnable, against San Jose State, Colorado State and San Diego State, and the Wolf Pack will be in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.

Musselman’s coaching resume includes head coaching jobs in the CBA, the NBA D-League and the NBA (Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings), with experience as an assistant in the NBA, in the SEC (at LSU) and in the Pac-12 (at Arizona State). As it relates to Ole Miss, Musselman’s stints at LSU, with the Atlanta Hawks and the Memphis Grizzlies may carry some extra appeal.

Musselman is a prime candidate to move up to a bigger, Power 5 conference job if he wants to, or whenever he wants to. He has been a grinder to get where he has gotten in coaching, despite whatever cache being the son of a somewhat noted former college, ABA and NBA coach may carry.