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Sooners too late for Gillispie?
11:14
AM ETOklahoma Sooners TopEmailCommentsShare Update: As we wrote yesterday, it appears that Billy Gillispie is likely to become Texas Tech's next head coach; if not this week, then on March 21 once Kirby Hocutt officially becomes the school's athletic director.
That hasn't stopped media outlets (Tulsa World and Lubbock Avalanche Journal, just to name a few) from writing about the possibility of the Sooners entering the picture for Gillispie.
As badly as Oklahoma might want him, we think it's likely too late for the Sooners. Gillispie has already met with Hocutt and, as we mentioned yesterday, those talks reportedly went well.
We're closely monitoring the Sooners and Red Raiders' head coaching vacancies, and will update you as soon as more is known.
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One name that has also surfaced in connection with the Oklahoma vacancy (and the Texas Tech opening) is Billy Gillispie. However, the odds that the former UK coach takes the reins at OU are pretty unlikely. Especially since after what the program went through in 2010, Gillispie probably will not be a candidate.
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We wrote recently that OU coach Jeff Capel appeared to be in trouble in Norman; reports surfaced that communications between Capel and AD Joe Castiglione had completely broken down. However, over the weekend, Guerin Emig of the Tulsa Daily World reported that the OU players were standing by their coach. Now, though, word is out that Capel has been fired after a five-year stint.
The move to hire Capel in the wake of Kelvin Sampson came as a surprise to many and the search for a new head coach could be similarly up the air: "I could toss out 100 names for next #OU coach. But if '06 taught us anything, Joe C will come up with the 101st," tweets Emig. It will be interesting to see if there is any player turnover due to the firing. Andrew Fitzgerald was turning into a solid Big 12 performer and the staff had high expectations for Cameron Clark.
Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com expects OU to take a hard look at Marquette's Buzz Williams (whose name has been mentioned in connection with the Arkansas and Texas Tech openings). However, we are hesitant about this name; Williams has the connections to Texas, Oklahoma and the rest of the southwest region but has made major headway at Marquette (and has a very strong recruiting class). Combined with the returning players, there seems to be a better chance that Williams stays in Milwaukee.
Two names that could be considered: Old Dominion's Blaine Taylor and Miami's Frank Haith. The longtime ODU coach has accomplished much within the CAA and should be the recipient of a few calls. Haith has been considered by OU before and although the Hurricanes struggled this season, Haith still led UM to some good victories in the ACC this season. In the ACC, Haith has had success recruiting the NYC-area but hasn't branched into the southwest area, which may hold Haith back (if he is officially considered).
- Matt Giles
