We start with some backstory.

In the 2008-09 college basketball season, Boston College was pretty good. The Eagles went 22-12 and made the NCAA Tournament as a 7-seed. BC beat both North Carolina and Duke that year! I’ll repeat, the Eagles beat eventual 1-seed and national champion North Carolina on the road at the Dean Dome.

In the fall of 2009, I arrived at Boston College for my freshman year.

The Eagles have not been back to the NCAA Tournament since. BC has had as many winless seasons in conference play as winning seasons in conference play (one of each).

At a certain point, it feels like it must be my fault. Some sort of cosmic jinx at work. I love college basketball. I went to a college where basketball is played. I get there. The entire program seems to forget how basketball is played, for the rest of my life.

In this period, there have been four coaches at the helm of the program and it’s honestly amazing it hasn’t been more. Earl Grant, the man most recently bumbling down the sidelines in Chestnut Hill, was relieved of his duties after five expectedly mediocre seasons.

As a college basketball sicko with a particular love of the coaching carousel and an alum of this fine institution, I’m taking it upon myself to find the next man to lead the program back to glory.

We start with the criteria being considered.

CRITERIA #1: A track record of success over multiple years.

Seems obvious right? You’d think so. But I would argue this is exactly how Boston College found itself in the depths of hell.

BC’s last two hires were both head-scratching choices the very day they were announced. We’ll start with Grant, who came from College of Charleston. He was the head coach of the Cougars for seven years and won the CAA regular season title once (a shared title) and the CAA conference tournament once, the same year. Charleston gave Auburn a real scare as a 13-seed, but lost in Grant’s only NCAA Tournament game.

That was 2018. The Cougars got a little worse in 2019. Then a little worse in 2020. And then finished the COVID shortened 2021 season just 9-10.

And THEN he got the job at BC. How? What about this resume looks like someone worthy of a promotion? I’ve been screaming about this since the day it happened, especially since Charleston hired Pat Kelsey from Winthrop, a clearly ascending coach who made more tourneys in three years with the Cougars than Grant did in seven, earning him a real promotion to Louisville.

This came after BC’s previous hire was equally confusing. Jim Christian made two tournaments at Kent State, got the promotion to coach at TCU (back when the Horned Frogs were a high-level mid-major in the Mountain West), went four years without a tournament bid, and landed back in the MAC at Ohio.

He spent two years with the Bobcats. He did not win the MAC regular season or the MAC conference tournament. His team in 2014 went 11-7 in the MAC

And THEN he got the job at BC. How? Its actually more confusing how he then kept the job for seven seasons, despite winning just 22 percent of his ACC games.

So we want to avoid the issues of both Grant and Christian. We want a coach with a clear history of not just flash in the pan success, but real, sustained, growing success that lasts multiple years or even multiple jobs.

CRITERIA #2: Experience in the modern, power conference college basketball landscape.

What do I mean by this?

Let’s look to the coach prior to Christian: Steve Donahue. He came to BC after leading Cornell to three consecutive Ivy League titles and a Sweet Sixteen. Hey, check the first box!

The jump from the Ivy to the ACC proved too large and Donahue went 24-44 in conference. His teams were often well coached, but wildly over-matched. Looking back at 247 Sports’ recruiting rankings, Donahue’s first class at BC was his best, 55th in the nation. The following year was 71st, then 102nd, and 136th.

Recruiting isn’t everything, but that final class ranked behind blue bloods like St. Peter’s, Fordham, and Stetson.

Now, we live in a very different world of recruiting. NIL and the transfer portal have changed everything. I would not hire a coach who has not shown some ability to tread water or swim in these rocky waters and I would be wary of coaches jumping from the lowest levels of D1, where these are smaller factors in recruiting.

CRITERIA #3: Don’t be a jackass.

I would like to watch my school play basketball and would prefer to like the coach. Now let’s get to our first candidate:

NOT A CANDIDATE: Bobby Hurley, Arizona State

Yep, that’s why we have rule number 3.

I think there’s a world where Hurley would interest BC and would get a look for the job. I just can’t handle that, spiritually or emotionally. Let’s move on to real candidates, starting with the most serious.

CANDIDATE 1: Josh Schertz, Saint Louis

Why BC would be interested: This could sound hyperbolic, but Schertz has some Curt Cignetti to his background. Google him, he wins. He started at DII Lincoln Memorial, where he had 11 seasons with 20 or more wins and he reached the DII Final Four three times.

He got his shot at DI at Indiana State, where he led a steady improvement. His teams won 11 games, then 23 games, then 32 games in 2024. Schertz moved to Saint Louis, where he currently has the Billikens ranked in the top 25 and about to earn an NCAA Tournament bid.

If, somehow, this matters to you (it might to the powers-that-be at BC): Saint Louis is also a Jesuit Catholic institution like Boston College.

Why he would be interested in BC: Here’s the issue. Schertz will be one of the hottest candidates this cycle. He might prefer Providence, Georgia Tech, or Kansas State, all of which are open. There might be openings at Pitt, Syracuse, Arizona State, Butler, Cincinnati and many more. Unless he loves clam chowder or really loves the Jesuit academic tradition, I’d think Schertz lands elsewhere. Still, he should be the first call.

CANDIDATE 2: Tony Skinn, George Mason

Why BC would be interested: In three years leading George Mason, Skinn has won 20 or more games in every season. I’d maybe like a little March success, but I’ll still call that a win for Criteria #1. He’s been an assistant at Seton Hall, Ohio State, and Maryland. I’ll check the box for Criteria #2.

Skinn currently employs Louis Hinnant as an assistant coach at George Mason. Hinnant was a four-year starter at BC and would surely join the staff.

Why he would be interested in BC: It’s a clear step up after he was likely considered at Virginia last season. Without the blaring red light of a Cinderella story on his resume, Skinn might be the perfect kind of candidate where BC is a promotion at the right time.

CANDIDATE 3: Travis Steele, Miami (OH)

Why BC would be interested: He’ll be another hot name after leading the Redhawks to a perfect 31-0 regular season. He previously was the head coach at Xavier, where he led the Musketeers to four straight winning seasons, without a tourney bid. That earned him an exit, but is far from damning.

Why he would be interested in BC: He’ll likely have eyes on the other openings. He’s a Butler alum and Thad Matta’s time in Indianapolis may have reached an end. Even if Matta stays another year, Steele might stick at Miami and wait for his homecoming moment next offseason if Matta can’t turn the program around.

CANDIDATE 4: Joe Gallo, Merrimack

Why BC would be interested: Gallo has been the head coach at his alma mater for 10 seasons, with the first three coming prior to the school elevating to D1. Merrimack won 20 or more games each of those seasons, then kept rolling against better competition. The Warriors won their conference three of the last four years, even jumping up a level from the NEC to the MAAC.

Why he would be interested in BC: Money, things of that nature.

Cause for concern: This is the first one that scares me. Going from Merrimack to the ACC is a big jump. Gallo’s calling card is a zone defense, which won’t fly with the big boys. Zone is a defense created for and played by cowards, so I would hope Gallo could adjust. Finding his way around NIL and portal madness would be key. An assistant coach with high major experience would help assuage some of my fears.

CANDIDATES 5-7: The Ivy Leaguers

James Jones, Yale: One of the best mid-major college basketball coaches, with no qualifiers needed. He has made Yale the class of the Ivy year after year. Jones, however, just turned 62 years old and has no experience beyond the Ivy. His teams would be ready to play, but I worry about the fit.

Tommy Amaker, Harvard: Also about to turn 61 and has a pretty good gig at Harvard. Yet he has experience at Duke (as an assistant) and led the way at Seton Hall and Michigan. Those jobs came 15 years ago, before the Wild West of NIL, and Amaker made just one NCAA tourney in ten years of those gigs.

Jon Jaques, Cornell: The fanbase might shudder at once again going to the Cornell well after Donahue didn’t work out. Jaques played for Donahue at Cornell and has the Big Red back as a factor in the Ivy. Jaques is just 38 years old and has never coached above the Ivy. I’ll politely pass (but love him to fill one of the other openings, like if Skinn leaves George Mason).

CANDIDATE 8: Phil Martelli, Jr., VCU

Why BC would be interested: Led Bryant to back-to-back 20 win seasons and now has VCU on the verge of a tourney appearance.

Why he would be interested in BC: I’m not sure he would be. Is BC even a better job than VCU?

CANDIDATE 9: Nolan Smith, Tennessee State

Why BC would be interested: The former Duke point guard spent time as an assistant at Duke, Memphis, and Louisville before taking the helm at TSU. The Tigers went 23-9 this season, won the Ohio Valley regular season and tourney, with an NCAA berth incoming. I’d prefer more than one year of success, but having the big school background helps.

Why he would be interested in BC: Atlantic Coast Conference, baby! Come home to the ACC, Nolan.

CANDIDATE 10: Takayo Siddle, UNCW

Why BC would be interested: In the last five seasons, Siddle has made UNC Wilmington one of the steadiest mid-major programs in the country. Each of those seasons featured 21 or more wins, with two regular season CAA titles and one NCAA Tourney berth. Three years as an assistant at NC State helps with Criteria #2, yet it was five years ago, which is ancient history in college sports.

Why he would be interested in BC: UNCW lost in the CAA Tournament, so he won’t have the shiny fun object glow that some schools above BC in the coaching carousel pecking order will want. If you’re an old school thinker who cares about geography, Siddle’s done all of his coaching in the Carolinas. Maybe he’d be better off waiting for Lamont Paris to exit at South Carolina or Steve Forbes at Wake Forest.

CANDIDATE 11: John Groce, Akron

Why BC would be interested: Siddle feels a little like what BC wanted to hire when it found Grant, but with actual success. Groce has the same feeling as Jim Christian, but again with actual success. He won three NCAA Tournament games at Ohio and earned a bump up to Illinois. In five years there, he made just one tournament with three other teams that got bubbly but missed out. He returned to the MAC and has led Akron to the promised land three times (plus a likely fourth in the COVID year), with the Zips going 17-1 in conference and in line for another berth this season.

Why he would be interested in BC: Groce’s standing in the coaching market is interesting. Some power conference schools will see him as a retread and focus on his issues at Illinois. He might prefer to stay in the warm cozy home he’s built in the American Midwest, opting for Cincinnati, Dayton (if it opens), or Pitt (let’s not fight about if Pittsburgh is the Midwest).

LITTLE SCHOL RAPID FIRE CANDIDATES!

Matt Langel (Colgate), Andy Toole (Robert Morris), John Tauer (St. Thomas)

All fail my second criteria, despite clear evidence they can coach. Tauer is the weirdest one, as like Gallo, led his school’s transition up to D1, but the Tommies jumped from D3 all the way to the big time and just kept winning. He’s literally a tenured professor who used to coach for the fun of it, so I’m not sure he’s ever leaving.

ASSISTANT COACH RAPID FIRE!

There’s always the chance BC elects to hire a current assistant coach, with two standing out. Danny Hurley’s top lieutenants Kimani Young and Luke Murray (yes, Bill’s son) are both past due for a promotion. Part of me thinks both could do better, yet they are both still in Storrs after both national titles, so who knows what they are looking for in a head coaching opening.

SHHH WE’RE JUST WHISPERING SECRET CANDIDATE: Porter Moser, Oklahoma

Why BC would be interested: I’m pretty sure Porter Moser is a good basketball coach. His teams at Loyola Chicago epitomized the concept of well-coached. Everything they did on both ends of the floor was sharp.

And then he went to Oklahoma and it’s just been so….bleh. Five seasons. One NCAA Tournament. Winning percentage of .549, in two of the toughest conferences in college basketball.

Were the bright lights of the Big 12 and SEC too bright for Moser’s style of coaching?

Well, Porter, the lights are SO much less bright at BC. You win half your games over your first five seasons and you’ll play the sixth season on the freshly named Moser Court at Conte Forum (kidding, mostly).

To the point mentioned in Schertz’s blurb, Loyola Chicago is also Jesuit. If Porter moseys into an interview and mentions Sister Jean a few times, the job is his.

Why he would be interested in BC: Sure, Oklahoma pays better and gives you a better shot at national relevance, but given the first five years of Moser’s tenure, he’s either going to see the door this month or coach for his job next year. Why not take a parachute with a job that’s tough, but with low built in expectations?

OK STOP WHISPERING, LET’S SCREAM THIS ONE FROM THE ROOFTOPS: Tom Crean

Why BC would be interested: In 2003, Tom Crean led Marquette, a school very similar in size and shape to Boston College, to the Final Four. Tom Crean led Indiana to three Sweet Sixteens, an outright Big Ten title, and a number one seed. In the nine years since Crean was fired in Bloomington, three coaches have managed to win just one NCAA Tournament game and had just only one winning season in conference play.

Tom Crean’s ensuing tenure at Georgia was not great, but he got Anthony Edwards to go to Georgia! That’s a win in my book.

And yes, Tom Crean is now entering his fourth March without a coaching job. I’m not sure I care. He’s overqualified to lead the program at Boston College.

Why he would be interested in BC: He has not coached in four years and it’s unclear if he ever plans to coach again, but I believe in Crean. I promise you I would be so goddamn annoying on this here internet if BC hired Tom Crean.

I’ll be extra annoying if it works.

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A previously published version of this manifesto stated that BC had not beaten Duke since 2009. How could we forget the events of December 9, 2017? Palestra Back regrets the error.

Shane McNichol is the founder, editor, and senior writer at PalestraBack.com. He has also contributed to ESPN.com, The Action Network, Betway Insider, Rush The Court, Larry Brown Sports, RotoBaller, and USA Today Sports Weekly. Follow him on Bluesky @OnTheShaneTrain.

Header image via Telegram & Gazette.