Beat 'Em/Then Join 'Em: Non-League Games Serve as Head Coaching Audition

April 21st, 2019 - 12:30

"Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time." - Arnold H. Glasow

Bench boss switches for Jamion Christian (Siena to George Washington), Mick Cronin (Cincinnati to UCLA) and Ron Hunter (Georgia State to Tulane) probably stem at least partially from job auditions last season. The shifts resemble 1970-71 when Digger Phelps guided Fordham to its winningest season in school history. But what likely really impressed Notre Dame's administration was a 94-88 victory that season over the Irish. He was UND's bench boss the next campaign and went on to compile seven triumphs against nationally top-ranked opponents in his career at South Bend.

Non-conference schedules frequently are frustrating for fans of power-league members because of what seems like feasting on a steady diet of cupcake opponents. But you never know when a single game becomes a career changer. Initial research of results in this category shows Cronin's 29-point margin of victory this past season is exceeded only by Tommy Amaker's 32-point difference when Michigan overwhelmed Harvard. Similar to almost any job, timing is everything. Following is an alphabetical list of impressionable coaches such as Christian, Cronin and Hunter generating such favorable reviews after defeating a school (in a non-conference game) they were hired by for the same role before the next campaign:

Coach Departing School Triumph(s) Over Non-League Foe Hiring Him Next Season
Tommy Amaker Michigan Defeated Harvard, 82-50, in 2006-07
Duggar Baucom Virginia Military Defeated The Citadel, 66-65, at Army* in 2014-15
John Brady Samford Defeated Louisiana State, 53-50, in 1996-97
Tom Brennan Yale Defeated Vermont, 84-75, in 1985-86
Jim Calhoun Northeastern Defeated Connecticut, 90-73, in 1985-86
Joe Callero Seattle Defeated Cal Poly, 60-59, in 2008-09
Ben Carnevale North Carolina Defeated Navy, 51-49, in 1945-46
Jamion Christian Siena Defeated George Washington, 69-61, in 2018-19
Mick Cronin Cincinnati Defeated UCLA, 93-64, in 2018-19
Kermit Davis Jr. Middle Tennessee State Defeated Mississippi, 77-58, in 2017-18
Charles "Lefty" Driesell Davidson Defeated Maryland, 83-69, in 1968-69
Pat Foster Houston Defeated Nevada, 92-80, in 1992-93
Jim Hayford Eastern Washington Defeated Seattle, 80-76 in 2OT and 93-88 in 2OT, in 2016-17
Ron Hunter Georgia State Defeated Tulane, 80-76, in 2018-19
Maury John Drake Defeated Iowa State, 87-63, in 1970-71
Ed Kelleher Fordham Defeated Army, 68-42, in 1942-43
Lake Kelly Austin Peay State Defeated Oral Roberts, 80-76, in 1976-77
Billy McCann Washington & Lee (VA) Defeated Virginia, 73-69, in 1956-57
Neil McCarthy Weber State Defeated New Mexico State, 62-56, in 1984-85
Dan Monson Gonzaga Defeated Minnesota, 75-63, in 1998-99
Don Monson Idaho Defeated Oregon, 56-53, in 1982-83
Donald "Dudey" Moore Duquesne Defeated La Salle, 74-55, in 1957-58
Stew Morrill Colorado State Defeated Utah State, 68-59, in 1997-98
Richard "Digger" Phelps Fordham Defeated Notre Dame, 94-88, in 1970-71
Elmer Ripley Georgetown Defeated John Carroll (Ohio), 73-53, in 1948-49
Les Robinson East Tennessee State Defeated North Carolina State, 92-82, in 1989-90
Lorenzo Romar Saint Louis Defeated Washington, 71-70, in 2001-02
Charles "Sonny" Smith Auburn Defeated Virginia Commonwealth, 85-79, in 1988-89
Charlie Spoonhour Southwest Missouri State Defeated Saint Louis, 66-59, in 1991-92
Bill Strannigan Colorado State Defeated Iowa State, 65-57, in 1953-54
Bill Wade Virginia Commonwealth Defeated Louisiana State, 85-74, in 2016-17
Raymond "Bucky" Waters West Virginia Defeated Duke, 90-88, in 1968-69
Paul Weir New Mexico State Defeated New Mexico, 84-71, in 2016-17
Tim Welsh Iona Defeated Providence, 68-62, in 1997-98
Gary Williams Boston College Defeated Ohio State, 87-74, in 1985-86
Matt Zunic Boston University Defeated Massachusetts, 75-55 and 61-56, in 1958-59

*Competed in season-opening Military Classic before VMI defeated The Citadel twice in Southern Conference competition.