CC: Chris Mack
Before you @ me that Mack left Xavier only a year ago, I am fully aware. However, let me list a few reasons why there could be a chance this happens, however small it could be:
- Age: Mack is only 49
- On-Court Credentials: Mack became the head coach at Xavier in 2009-2010. Since then, he has made the tournament every single year except once. Every single season he made the tournament was via an at-large bid; no miracle conference tournament runs to get in.
- Background: Born in Cleveland, grew up in Cincinnati. Obviously has Midwest ties.
- Money: Mack’s pay at Louisville and Beilein’s most recent extension make their contracts very similar. A sticking point could be his buyout, according to this article it could be $4.5 million. Let’s get a kickstarter going. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.courier-journal.com/amp/467779002
- The best for last: FBI. God only knows what the NCAA will do to the programs that were ringleaders of the FBI probe but it’s worth a phone call to Mack and his agent to see if he’s willing to risk hanging around for this to finish going down or leave for a pretty darn good program without a hint of FBI probes.
Unlikely? Yes. Possible? Yes. Worth a shot? Absolutely.
He would've been one of my favorites. Big Chris Mack fan. He and Beilein seemed to have a similar eye for talent as Xavier always seemed to be in contention for guys Beilein was recruiting.
He is at a basketball school that gives the program all the support in the world. Also has a monster class coming in. It’s safe to say Mack is happy
Is it? How does anyone know? Give the man a call. Break out the money cannon. If you don't ask you don't get.
Oops.
Larry Brown is available.
I don't think he would leave Louisville for us. I was worried he'd get poached before Beilein retired or we needed a new coach. A year too late unfortunately.
I believe if Mack were still at Xavier he’d leave in a second to coach at UM. Unfortunately he is not leaving Louisville. Overachieved in his first season and has a top 5-10 class coming in.
The chance that Mack leaves Louisville for Michigan is zero.
Regarding #5: the ncaa isn’t going to do anything. I believe that there would be mutually assured destruction once one school fell. These schools would fall all over themselves to implicate other schools. They have dirt on each other and none of them will take the fall without ensuring collateral damage.
I don’t like.
He was always the guy I wanted to replace JB when the time came. Unfortunately it is one year too late. Warde should make the call but I don't think money makes it happen.
Besides Louisville supporting basketball, they went with a hire that scrapped the brothel culture and structured his contract to reward long term growth and success.
His wife is from Louisville and has family there. The opportunity for kids to be with their grandparents plus a good coaching situation means Mack isn't going anywhere.
I'm not sure it's a good chance. I live in Louisville, and Chris Mack loves it here, and the fans LOVE him. It'd take quite an offer to pull him away, I'm sure.
Mack's wife is from Louisville, and I believe went to UL. He aint leavin.
@you. Not sure if you're aware of this, but Mack left Xavier only a year ago.
People aren't going to like hearing this, but the Louisville job is better than the Michigan job even with the sanctions it is facing. Do we really expect the NCAA to slam one of its marquee programs?
UNC, Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, Louisville, UCLA, and Indiana are jobs that are on a different tier than Michigan.
Indiana?! Maybe thirty years ago. UCLA? Probably not since Ed O'Bannon.
The rest of those schools yes, but only because they are massive cheaters.
Do those jobs have some issues? Yes. But I think if you took a poll of most coaches, Indiana and UCLA are going to be consensus top-10 jobs. Some are going to leave them off their top-10, but most are going to have it. The history, fan base, and recruiting base are just better than other jobs, and it still has a Power 5 AD budget. Does the Michigan football job suck because Rich Rod and Brady Hoke couldn't win here?
I am not sure where to put jobs like Syracuse and Arizona. They have been good basketball jobs with a rich history due to a couple legendary coaches and Power 5 budgets, but I don't think they are on the same level as the other schools I mentioned above. Maryland and MSU are schools that are hard to rank as well. Is MSU bigger than Izzo?
I personally would have Michigan in the next tier with schools like Florida, OSU, and Texas. Schools that despite prioritizing football have had success in basketball and some of the richest ADs in college sports. At this point, institutional advantages, money, geography, and conference affiliation take over.
Some people have Connecticut, Villanova, and Georgetown higher, but I think those programs may suffer a bit in this era with finances and conference affiliation. The Big East and AAC can't compete with the Power 5 financially, but I could see how some coaches would value those jobs higher with the recruiting bases and history.
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Chris Mack's wife's family is from Louisville. And he grew up in Cincinnati, which is 1.5 hours from Louisville.
He ain't coming here
Even as a UM grad, I have to mention the following. No way Mack would consider leaving UofL for UM.
1. Louisville is a better job than UM
2. Yum Center > Crisler
3. Mack's wife is from Louisville and her family still lives there
4. Louisville supports their hoops team in a much bigger way than UM. Check annual attendance.
5. AD Vince Tyra and Mack are friends
6. Basketball > football in KY