More on the Ohio State Men's Hoops Coaching Job

Apparently Ohio State told Bob Knight "Thanks, No Thanks" after he indicated to his alma mater that he would accept the job if offered. ESPN.com reports that now the Buckeyes are interested in Vandy head coach Kevin Stallings, and in the same report they indicate that University of Pennsylvania head coach Fran Dunphy also is a candidate. Dunphy was a runner up to John Thompson III for the Georgetown job this past spring and was a candidate for the Penn State job last year (that ultimately went to Penn State alum Ed DeChellis, who did a great job at East Tennessee State and left the cupboard there so full that his successor coached the team to a 27-6 record and a berth in the Big Dance).

ESPN also reported that other candidates are ESPN analyst George Karl, Laker assistant Jim Cleamons, and, possibly, Xavier coach Thad Matta (whose name surfaced in the early rumors regarding the vacancy).

Ohio State would do very well if it hired the current dean of Ivy League coaches. Dunphy hasn't been a finalist for other jobs because those schools want to remind themselves that they are coaching student athletes and because it would look good to have an Ivy coach in the pool. To the contrary, he's been a finalist because of his won-loss record and his outstanding accomplishments at Penn. He is a great blender of talent, a good teacher of the game, and a class act. He's always been able to navigate the difficult waters that are recruiting student-athletes in the Ivies, so with the ability to give full athletic scholarships in the Big 10, he shouldn't have a problem getting top talent to matriculate in Columbus.

Perhaps he's destined to be a bridesmaid once again. But if, somehow, Andy Geiger is able to lure Kevin Stallings from Nashville to Columbus, the Vandy folks should not look any further than, well, Fran Dunphy, who has proven he can coach student-athletes that satisfy the Commodores' expectations.

Fran Dunphy is no one's bridesmaid. At least not for long.