Fansided

5 candidates to replace Avery Johnson at Alabama

By Brad Berreman

AMES, IA - MARCH 9: Head coach Steve Prohm of the Iowa State Cyclones coaches from the bench in the first half of play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hilton Coliseum on March 9, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - MARCH 9: Head coach Steve Prohm of the Iowa State Cyclones coaches from the bench in the first half of play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hilton Coliseum on March 9, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images /

Avery Johnson is officially gone now, so here are five candidates to be the next men’s basketball coach at Alabama.

After a narrow loss to Norfolk State in the NIT last Wednesday night, a report surfaced that Alabama and coach Avery Johnson were negotiating a buyout. Timing seemed sure to be a factor, with April 15 as a date after which Johnson’s buyout would drop $2 million, but on Sunday the school and athletic director Greg Byrne made the decision to “mutually part ways” official.

Johnson had a 75-62 record over four seasons at Alabama, with at least 18 wins each season and four trips to the postseason. But three of those postseason tournaments were the NIT, along with three first round exits as well. The Crimson Tide made the NCAA Tournament, and won a game, in 2018.

Johnson came to Tuscaloosa as a big name with no experience as a college coach, and he had solid success all things considered. He also secured a top-20 recruiting class for 2019 (19th in the country, according to 247Sports), which adds a layer of surprise to his departure. But assuming those prospects can be retained, whoever steps in will come into a pretty good situation.

Football will always be king at Alabama, but expectations for men’s basketball are clearly rising if they are willing to part with the 19th-highest paid coach in college basketball this year. It’s worth noting Byrne did not hire Johnson, so a desire to “hire his own guy” is the fallback assumption here.

As the college basketball coaching carousel gets going, here are five candidates to be the next men’s basketball coach at Alabama.

5. John Pelphrey

Pelphrey was on Johnson’s staff for three seasons, and he has been named interim head coach with the caveat he’ll serve in that role “until a replacement is named.” He isn’t the kind of notable name Byrne seems likely to seek, but an eye on continuity and keeping the 2019 recruiting class in place has to put Pelphrey on the early list of candidates to take over full-time.

Pelphrey’s playing days at Kentucky make him a recognizable name for college basketball followers of a certain age, but he also has notable coaching experience. He worked under Eddie Sutton (at Oklahoma State) and Billy Donovan (at Marshall and two stints Florida), with head coaching jobs at South Alabama (2002-2007) and Arkansas (2007-2011). Back-to-back 20-win seasons at South Alabama, with an NCAA Tournament bid in 2006, led to an opportunity in the SEC.

But after a 23-win season in his first year at Arkansas, three straight seasons without the postseason led to Pelphrey’s dismissal. A third chance to be a head coach may come at some point, and moving over on the bench at Alabama shouldn’t be ruled out.