Now the Real Fun Begins for Coaches Everywhere

In terms of moves, jukes and turnaround twists, the only thing capable of matching this college basketball season might be this off-season.

With Syracuse having clinched its first national title Monday night in an 81-78 victory over Kansas, our attentions turn from basketball to back-room brokering and a potential toppling of coaching dominos.

The behind-the-scenes game at the Final Four is almost as fun as the action on the court, what with coaches in sneakers prowling hotel lobbies for job leads as athletic directors whisk in and out of town on clandestine hiring operations.

The next few weeks could set off a chain reaction in coaching at the sport’s pinnacle programs -- Kansas, North Carolina, Kentucky.

When you consider UCLA has already fired and hired a coach, we’re talking about possible turnover at schools that have combined to win 23 national titles.

What Kansas Coach Roy Williams does or doesn’t do in the coming days or weeks may affect the careers of several other coaches.

The ball’s in your court, Roy.

Williams still isn’t tipping his hand as to whether he’s interested in leaving Kansas for North Carolina, but we’re guessing former Tar Heel coach Dean Smith did not fly into New Orleans this week just to eat gumbo.

Smith has assumed a low-key role since his retirement, literally taking up residence in an office basement. But Smith has reportedly taken an active role in luring Williams back to Chapel Hill.

So will Roy stay or will he go?

“All those people that want that answer right now aren’t very sensitive,” Williams said after Monday night’s loss.

Williams returned to Lawrence, Kan., with the team Tuesday and is scheduled to be in Los Angeles this weekend to receive the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award, although it’s anyone’s guess as to whether he’ll be introduced as coach of Kansas.

Somewhere in a Hollywood trophy shop, an engraver needs to know.

The Kansas City Star reported Williams’ future at Kansas hinges on whether Athletic Director Al Bohl stays or is replaced.

Williams and Bohl do not get along and, according to the paper, Williams will probably stay if Bohl is replaced by either Senior Assistant Athletic Director Richard Konzem or John Hadl, the former Kansas and NFL star.

If this cannot be worked out, Williams will probably take North Carolina’s offer.

Williams’ departure would open the Kansas job for a certain interested Illinois coach named Bill Self. In that scenario, Tom Crean might leave Marquette for Illinois, which would open up Marquette.

Crean, who upped his stock considerably with a Final Four run, is also a candidate at Georgia and had a feeler from Pittsburgh, which reportedly is close to hiring Skip Prosser away from Wake Forest. And that would open up Wake Forest to whom, Billy Packer?

See how crazy this could get?

If Williams stays at Kansas, North Carolina might then take a run at Philadelphia 76er Coach Larry Brown. If he says no, North Carolina could go off the board and hire outside the Tar Heel “family” for a successor to Matt Doherty.

And then there’s Kentucky, fresh off a fabulous season that ended in disappointment. There is speculation Wildcat Coach Tubby Smith might be looking to escape the fishbowl and make a money grab in the NBA.

Hey, look what kind of loot it made for Rick Pitino, John Calipari and Lon Kruger?

In a preemptive strike, Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart flew to New Orleans over the weekend and presented a new contract offer to Smith, who makes $1.5 million a season and will receive another $1 million if he fulfills a contract that expires in 2007.

Of the new proposal, Smith told the Lexington Herald-Leader, “I’m very excited about it. Once I have a chance to review it and get with my folks, I’ll make a decision from there.”

Smith’s defection from Kentucky would spark another reaction. Some would welcome a return of former coach Pitino, now at Louisville. If that’s not possible, the job might be offered to Pitino clone Billy Donovan of Florida.

Some have complained about Syracuse freshman star Carmelo Anthony’s using the NCAA tournament as a springboard to riches, yet college coaches make an annual habit of it.

Last year, Stan Heath used an Elite Eight run with Kent State to get the Arkansas job. Sometime you don’t even have to win to up your ante.

This year, No. 15 East Tennessee State fought No. 2 Wake Forest to a three-point first-round loss and two weeks later, Penn State hired Ed DeChellis, East Tennessee State’s coach.

The NCAA tournament is a national treasure but it is also a job convention.

You have to ask yourself why Anthony has to apologize for using the tournament to boost his bank account while coaches everywhere leverage their success to the highest bidder.

Apparently, you are nobody in this business if you are not being used or using somebody.

“I think any coach that can get a Carmelo Anthony will take him,” Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim said in defense of recruiting a player who will probably leave for the NBA after only one season. “If the kid is interested in going to college, we’re going to recruit him.”

It makes perfect sense, because as a coach, you know that kind of player can lead to a pay hike or possibly a plum position at Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA or North Carolina.

One of these years, who knows, all those windows of opportunity might open at once.