Chicagotribune.com's Skip Myslenski reports today that "word on the street is Marquette is looking at Siena coach Fran McCaffrey as a possible replacement for Crean." McCaffrey's team upset No. 4 seed Vanderbilt in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament this year.
Sources tell me that Bradley University coach and former NBA player Jim Les is also interested in the job. Les, a point guard standout in his playing days, took Bradley to the Sweet 16 in 2006. His brother, Gary, has strong ties to the state and the Milwaukee area.
Personally, I want Marquette to hire the best coach available. The program is strong and Crean got it there. MU needs a passionate communicator, strong civic-minded soul and, obviously, a great basketball mind.
I don't have a top choice in mind, but do like Pitt's Jamie Dixon and Washington State's Tony Bennett. Dixon turned down California already, though, and Bennett has shunned an offer already, too, of course, as he was Indiana's first choice ahead of Tom Crean.
MU assistant Buzz Williams is a recruiting dynamo who should also get a look. Rick Majerus? L:ove the guy, but he's locked in at St. Louis. And, don't believe that MU would hire Kevin O'Neill back. If I had to bet, you might see him back in the NBA next year. How about UMass' Travis Ford? Or, John Calipari? He can't be satisfied in C-USA. Hmm. Should be interesting.
Who's your pick? Use the talkback feature.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
