Tim Duncan An Option For Wake Forest As They Begin To Search For Danny Manning's Successor?
There comes a time when it’s time for someone new has to take over a program.
For Wake Forest that time is now after six seasons under the direction of Danny Manning!
Why? Wake Forest never finished above .500 in the ACC under Manning, who had a 14-42 conference record over the past three seasons. Last season, the Demon Deacons went 13-18 overall and 6-14 in the ACC, finishing in a tie for last in the conference standings. “according to an article by Jeff Borzello on espn.com
Wake Forest finished 12th or worse in the league in five of Manning's six seasons.according to an article by Jeff Borzello on espn.com
Overall, Manning went 78-111 in his six seasons in Winston-Salem and 30-80 in conference play.according to an article by Jeff Borzello on espn.com
The Demon Deacons made one postseason appearance under Manning, losing in the First Four in 2017. according to an article by Jeff Borzello on espn.com
With Danny Manning being let go after six seasons who will be Wake Forest’s next coach?
The top candidates include Steve Forbes, East Tennessee State: Forbes is overdue for a power-conference job. He has done a phenomenal job at ETSU, winning 130 games in five seasons and earning two regular-season titles. The Bucs went to the NCAA tournament in 2017 and would have gone last season after winning 30 games and the SoCon tournament. Forbes has successfully recruited at a number of levels and has high-major experience as an assistant coach at Texas A&M, Tennessee and Wichita State.according to an article by Jeff Borzello on espn.com
Wes Miller, UNC Greensboro: Miller, who played at North Carolina, has been the name buzzing around this job for most of the season. UNCG reached the NCAA tournament in 2018 and was the final team left out in 2019. The Spartans won the SoCon regular-season title in 2017 and 2018, won 29 games in 2019 and went 23-9 overall and finished third in the conference last season. Miller also has very strong ties to Wake Forest, given the Demon Deacons' practice court has been named after his father since 2001.according to an article by Jeff Borzello on espn.com
While other options include Pat Kelsey, Winthrop: Wake Forest fans are very familiar with Kelsey, who was on staff under Skip Prosser with the Demon Deacons for eight seasons in the early 2000s. He spent three seasons as director of basketball operations before being promoted to an assistant coach. Kelsey has been the head coach at Winthrop since 2012, winning at least a share of the Big South regular-season title on three occasions and going to the NCAA tournament in 2017. The Eagles would have gone last season after winning the conference tournament.Ryan Odom, UMBC: Another familiar name to Wake Forest, Odom's father was the head coach of the Demon Deacons from 1989 to 2001. Odom has spent the last four seasons as the head coach of UMBC, leading the Retrievers to the NCAA tournament in 2018 and pulling off the first 16-over-1 upset when they knocked off top-seeded Virginia. He also has high-major experience as an assistant at Virginia Tech. UMBC did finish below .500 overall last season, though, and Odom hasn't won a regular-season title. according to an article by Jeff Borzello on espn.com
So who will be Wake Forest next coach?
Right now we don’t have answer to that question but Jeff Borzello’s prediction is either Miller or Forbes. Why? I think both coaches are terrific candidates and are ready for the next step. Forbes has more experience, while Miller has stronger Wake Forest connections. I don't think Currie can go wrong. “according to an article by Jeff Borzello on espn.com
But what about throwing a former Wake Forest player in to the mix to be the next head coach of Wake Forest? What about Tim Duncan? He suited up for Wake Forest on the hardwood from 1993-1997. During his career in Winston Salem he played in 128 games , averaged 16.5 points per game , 12.3 rebounds per game to along with 2.3 assists per game. “according to https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/tim-duncan-1.html
But the question that remains is would Tim Duncan leave San Antonio where he played his entire NBA career and where he currently is an assistant coach for his former coach Greg Popovich to return to Wake Forest where he racked up plenty of accolades during his collegiate career? Those accolades included 2x NCAA -All Region, 1996-97 AP Player Of The Year, 2x Consensus AA, Naismith Award, 2x ACC Player Of The Year 3- Time All ACC Tourney , ACC Tourney Most Valuable Player, Wooden Award, Rupp Trophy , 3x All -ACC, ACC-All Freshman.