Louisville, Pitt should make a run at Loyola’s Porter Moser

Porter Moser has Loyola in the Final Four for the first time in 55 years, but could this be the end of his time with the Ramblers?

Loyola is the Cinderella story of this year’s NCAA Tournament as college basketball fans have fallen in love with the Ramblers and their team chaplain and No. 1 fan, Sister Jean. Loyola punched their ticket to the Final Four with a convincing win over Kansas State on Saturday and will meet the Michigan Wolverines with a trip to the national title game hanging in the balance.

This historic run for Loyola wouldn’t have been possible without their head coach Porter Moser who is in his fifth year with the Ramblers and enjoying his finest season as a college head coach. Moser had a losing record as a coach entering his 14th on the sideline this year but everything came together as the stars aligned, the shots fell and destiny was on their side to get to the Final Four.

This is also the time of year for big programs to eye their next coach. We see this every year when a Cinderella makes a run in the tournament and attracts the attention from athletic directors at major programs.

The same is likely to happen with Moser this year when the Ramblers finish their season.

Moser is a Naperville, IL native and has expressed his love for Loyola and how much he and his family enjoy their life, but could a big offer from a major program change his tune?

Louisville and Pittsburgh are two big programs that immediately come to mind that could come knocking on Moser’s door with a lucrative offer to come put out the fire at their programs. Both programs come with plenty of risk, but is the risk outweighs the reward and the money is right, Moser could potentially take some deep runs in the tournament at those established programs with more resources and history on their side.

Then again, there’s a lot to be said for being at a place you love and being at a place you’re loved.

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There may not be a dollar offer that would be enough to get Moser to leave Loyola, and I respect that a great deal. This puts the ball in the court of Loyola who has to give Moser a new deal from the $420,000 he’s slated to make as part of a contract that ties him to the Ramblers through the 2021-2022 season.

If Loyola does their part, it should be enough to keep Moser at Loyola and keep the poachers at bay, at least for one more year.