Last Wednesday, former Penn State Basketball head coach Micah Shrewsberry left Happy Valley for the same position at Notre Dame. Athletic Director Pat Kraft has now spent five days searching for Shrewsberry’s replacement and zeroing in on potential candidates.
Here’s where things stand as Penn State Basketball Searches for its next head coach
Top candidate reportedly mulling offer
Multiple outlets have reported that VCU (Virginia Commonwealth)’s head coach Mike Rhoades reportedly met with Penn State brass Sunday in Richmond, Virginia.
Penn State has reportedly offered Mike Rhoades of VCU a 3.5 million contract to become its next men’s basketball coach. Rhoades, who coached Rams to NCAA tournament, is from central Pa. played for Pat Flannery at Lebanon Valley. chance to return home coach in a multi-bid league.
— Dick Weiss (@HoopsWeiss) March 27, 2023
Penn State reportedly offered Rhoades a contract “at or north of 3.5 million annually” that he is mulling along with a return to VCU.
Momentum seemed strong on Sunday, but momentum has subsided by midday Monday.
Rhoades is still the betting favorite to be the next Penn State head basketball coach, but the longer it takes for Rhoades to accept the offer, the less likely it seems that Rhoades leaves VCU.
Penn State has offered Mike Rhoades at or north of 3.5 million annually and will be the next head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, according to very plugged in VCU sources.
— Coaching Changes (@CoachingChanges) March 26, 2023
A note from Samurai Sports Book 🎰
Mike Rhoades remains the favorite at PSU…
Several Samurai Sharps HAVE laid in Rhoades Stays Plays BUT several others have laid in Rhoades to PSU…
Still time to place your bets…🎰💰
— Samurai Hoops (@samurai_hoops) March 27, 2023
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Penn State’s “backup plan” finalist for another head coaching position
Current Penn State associate head coach Adam Fisher was the player favorite to be promoted when Shrewsberry officially accepted the Notre Dame job.
However, while Penn State zeroed in on Rhoades, Adam has been linked to the head coaching job at Temple.
According to OwlsDaily.com, Adam Fisher was one of the top two candidates for the position, with a decision coming soon. Penn State risks losing out on a great option to replace Shrewsberry while waiting for its top choice to make a decision.
Adam Fisher and Karl Hobbs in focus as Temple nears decision on Aaron McKie’s successor after interviewing 8 candidates last week. https://t.co/xFLhymtDUB
— OwlsDaily.com (@TempleOwlsDaily) March 27, 2023
Where Penn State goes from here
Penn State’s top choice seems to be Mike Rhoades. Different sources are torn on whether Rhoades will accept the position or not.
If Rhoades declines the job and Fisher accepts the Temple job, Penn State may be back to square one in its search.
According to Dick Weiss, Penn State Basketball made an initial call to Earl Grant of Boston College, but that Grant was not interested in Penn State.
Meanwhile, Dusty May, the head coach at Florida Atlantic, will be an extremely hot commodity now that May has led the Owls to the Final Four.
Penn State Basketball may try pursuing May once the tournament is over, but until that time, the Nittany Lions may be in a holding pattern.
Penn State made initial call to Earl Grant of BC. He wasn’t interested. Now, there’s a serious issue with Mike Rhoades taking his job. Dusty May. I think he stays put. at FAU Who knows? He could get the Miami job if beloved 73-year old Jim Larranaga retires in one, two years.
— Dick Weiss (@HoopsWeiss) March 27, 2023
Penn State basketball may find themselves in a pickle if Adam Fisher gets the Temple job and Mike Rhoades decides against leaving VCU. Would mean all of their chips are in on Dusty May. Who else would they go after at that point? Do they call Matt Langel? #WeAre #NCAAB
— John Clark (@johnrclark12) March 27, 2023
A long coaching search is certainly not what Penn State fans want to see, especially when Penn State is getting raided through the transfer portal and Penn State does not have enough scholarship players for next season to field a team.
The next few days should offer more clarity on where Penn State sits with Rhoades and Fisher, until then, the wait is on.
Penn State basketball currently does not have enough players on scholarship to field a team next year
— Jaret Gold (@JaretGold) March 27, 2023
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Education: Saint Vincent College, Penn State Law School
Location: Washington, DC
Experience:Robert Casturo has covered Penn State football for NittanyCentral since 2022. Casturo previously covered Penn State football through a social media presence (@PSU_FB_Thoughts on X) since 2019. Casturo earned his bachelor's degree from Saint Vincent College in 2015, where he was a punter for 1 season on the Saint Vincent College football team and worked in the athletic department for 2 years as a student manager. Casturo earned his JD from Penn State Law in 2018 where he was a senior editor of the Penn State Law Review.
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