As The Coaching Turns

With all the off-the-court happenings, GalHoopsAvenue loves to guess and speculate what might happen in the landscape of college coaching. Here's a road map to see the coaching domino's that might play out following the NCAA Tournament:

#1 LSU (Bob Starkey has said he doesn't want it. No way Carla Berry has a chance. The University will want a fresh start to clear the air. Our guess: Kurt Budke gets the nod thanks to his turnaround in no time at Oklahoma State. Budke is formerly LaTech's coach who left for the BCS, but the Big 12 can't hold a candlestick to the money and visibility of the SEC. Budke is a rising star and would completely provide a fresh look to the LSU program. Let's hope he keeps Starkey on board.)

#2 Florida (Jeremy Foley wants a national title in women's basketball and who wouldn't have thought Carolyn Peck could get it done? So the bar is set pretty high. Our guess: Kim Mulkey will be lured to the bright lights of the SEC and a paycheck between $500-600K.)

#3 Baylor (Since the Mulkster will leave for Florida and all that money, here is another high profile job that will open up. Our guess: Baylor will secure associate head coach Karen Aston before Texas can grab her. She is one of the next coaching greats and will stay put in Waco.)

#4 Texas (With coaching legend Conradt gone and Texas' first choice in Aston staying at Baylor, Texas will still keep it in the family. Our guess: Nell Fortner, who played for Conradt and has big name recognition will leave the SEC for the Big 12, where she will fit in a lot better.)

#5 Auburn (This will open up yet another SEC job. Our guess: Tom Collen will finally get his shot in the SEC. Remember, he was to be Vandy's head coach before a resume gaffe led to his dismissal before he even started. He is one of the coaching stars that can be lured away from the Big East to the powerful SEC.)

#6 Arkansas (Speaking of SEC, the Razorbacks rid themselves of Susie Gardner after four forgettable years and will seek the glory days of the Gary Blair era. Our guess: Pam Borton is sick of the freezing cold in Minnesota and will take her great coaching wiles into the SEC.)

#7 Louisville (Since Tom Cullen is leaving for the SEC, this mid-tier job will be open and is a great starter job for some assistant waiting in the wings to start their career, but maybe Louisville wants to build up women's hoops like they have football and men's hoops. Our guess: Carolyn Peck gets another chance right away. Despite what Florida thinks Louisville believes Peck can challenge Geno and C. Viv!)

#8 Oklahoma State (Back to Budke's old job. He laid the foundation for an upstart program in Stillwater, making the NCAA Tournament in just year two. Our guess: OSU wants consistency and promotes associate head coach Jim Littell.)

#9 Michigan (With Cheryl Burnett's resignation after just four years, this program has yet to live up to its potential. Our guess: Look for the nation's hottest young coach from Bowling Green, a mere 40 minutes away from Ann Arbor, to take over this program. Curt Miller all ready will have a successful recruiting pipeline and it is a perfect fit.)

#10 Minnesota (Since Pam Borton will go to Arkansas to get away from the frigid conditions in Minnesota, this plum Big Ten job will be open. Our guess: Kevin McHuff uses his A-10 championship clout to get a nice, cushy job in a BCS conference. McHuff a coach on the rise will be leaving behind a future superstar in Amber Harris, but maybe she will sweeten the deal by going with him to Minnesota.)

Other coaches who should be snatched up:

Pokey Chatman: Obviously she is scandal-plagued, but the right PR and a mea culpa and everything will be forgiven eventually. She had sex with a player, I know, but it's not like she did something against the law, just against ethical practices, which is different. Chatman is way too young and way too talented not to be given a second chance. While I don't expect a major school to face the media backlash of hiring her, a small school looking for a chance at success might want to consider it after everything dies down.

Gail Valley: Maybe she wants to be an assistant forever and that's fine, but if she doesn't than your program, whatever it is, should try to get her. You don't think that Coach G is personally recruiting all these superstars do you?

Marsha Sharp: She said she wasn't retiring so why don't you offer her a job. She could build something up real nice, y'all.