Illinois fired John Groce after an 18-13 season on Saturday, ending his five-year tenure with the program. Groce compiled a 95-74 record with just one NCAA tournament appearance in those five seasons.
Illinois will look to replace Groce and re-establish its footing in the Big Ten. Keep in mind the Illini haven’t advanced past the second round of the NCAA tournament since reaching the championship game in the 2004-05 season.
MORE: Track the 2017 college basketball coaching changes
A look at some potential replacements.
Gregg Marshall
Marshall is on the top of everybody’s wish list, and the Wichita State coach would be an expensive commitment for the basketball program. Yet the Shockers have won 25 games or more each of the last eight seasons. Illinois’ highest win total the last eight seasons in 23. It would take a lot for Marshall to leave, but the Illini have to at least ask.
Cuonzo Martin
Martin has enjoyed modest success at Tennessee and Cal, but he could fit even better in the Big Ten. He played basketball at East St. Louis, Ill., in high school and was a star player at Purdue. Martin’s NBA experience also be a recruiting factor. This could work.
Fred Hoiberg
Hoiberg was a hit at Iowa State with four consecutive seasons with 20-plus wins and is an excellent college coach. This might be an awkward transition from the Chicago Bulls to Illinois, but Hoiberg might be a better bet to succeed in the Big Ten than the NBA's Eastern Conference.
Tim Jankovich
Jankovich won 20-plus games in four out of five seasons at Illinois State and has SMU playing out of their minds this season in the American Athletic Conference. It’s a natural move up for the 57-year-old coach.
Archie Miller
Dayton’s basketball coach is another hot coach who has built an impressive program at with the Flyers; the highlight coming with an Elite Eight run in 2013-14. Miller’s style meshes with the Big Ten, but he might be holding out for a bigger job.
Kevin Keatts
UNC-Wilmington is back in the tournament, and Keatts has guided the Seahawks to an impressive 72-27 record during his tenure there. Keatts is a former Louisville assistant who is on the way up. This could be a shrewd hire for the Illini.
Monty Williams
Williams was a successful coach at the NBA level, and maybe he’d be willing to give the college ranks a try. Williams knows the game, and this would be similar to what the Illini did with Lovie Smith on the football side. Adrian Wojnarowski, however, reported Williams is focused on a return to the NBA.
Dan Muller
Muller will be a hot candidate based on the job he did with Illinois State this season regardless of whether they get in the NCAA tournament or not. The Redbirds went 27-6 before losing to Wichita State in the MVC tournament. Would a potential tournament snub be an impetus for the Indiana native?
Pat Kelsey
Kelsey has led Winthrop to 49 wins the last two seasons, and the Eagles reached the tournament after an impressive run in the Big South. Kelsey has Ohio ties and the same ties to Xavier that Groce had. Would this feel too familiar? This is more of a longshot.
