1. Damon Stoudamire, Pacific Head Coach
Stoudamire is another former Wildcats’ player. Since his NBA career ended in 2008, he has climbed up the coaching ranks before getting a head coaching job.
-Rice (2008-2009, director of player development)
-Memphis Grizzlies, NBA (2009-2011, assistant coach)
-Memphis (2011-2013, 2015-2016, assistant coach)
-Arizona (2013-2015, assistant coach)
Stoudamire has a 71-77 record over five seasons as head coach at Pacific, with a 9-9 record in a shortened season this past season. The Tigers went 23-10 in 2019-20, so it’s safe to say 2020-21 will be considered a pandemic-season mulligan.
Among “in the family” candidates to replace Miller at Arizona, Stoudamire is an easy one with Goodman’s credible reporting to back it up.
Three names in the Arizona family that should be in mix are:
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 7, 2021
Pacific coach Damon Stoudamire, Lakers assistant/former Arizona assistant Miles Simon and Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner.
One name outside the family that has gotten some pub lately: Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd.
Hiring former players to resurrect or re-boost a basketball program seems to be the thing now. If Arizona goes that way, Stoudamire might be the most realistic and top candidate.