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Sunday, March 25
Bibby may show interest in UNLV job
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
PHILADELPHIA -- USC coach Henry Bibby is on the market for a school more committed to basketball unless the Trojans step up and make the sport more of a priority at the school, sources told ESPN.com Saturday after the Trojans lost to Duke in the East Regional final.
|  | | Henry Bibby is tired of taking a back seat to football at USC. |
But even then, Bibby might be tempted to leave because of his need to be at a school that puts basketball first -- something USC can't do with its football tradition.
Bibby has become one of the hottest coaches in the nation after the Trojans' run to the Elite Eight. He has been one of the most respected coaches in the game for his tactical skills, but USC hadn't advanced deep into the NCAA Tournament until this season. In his second NCAA Tournament appearance in five years, Bibby took the sixth-seeded Trojans within a game of the Final Four, losing to the top-seeded Blue Devils, 79-69.
This year's NCAA Tournament success should make him a strong candidate at UNLV, where he would go if asked, sources said. Bibby owns property in Las Vegas. Representatives for Bibby are expected to be in touch with the Runnin' Rebels over the next week.
Bibby also could be a viable candidate if he's contacted at a school like Rutgers, where the school is thirsting to put basketball first. Bibby is willing to move anywhere in the nation as long as the commitment to basketball is in place. The sources said Bibby would stay at USC if he's not involved in any such job hirings. But he likely would demand more compensation after his successful run in the tournament.
Bibby's pro coaching style is a hit nationally with similar success by Iona's Jeff Ruland and national coach of the year favorite Al Skinner of Boston College. While Bibby had some attrition over the past few seasons, the players who stuck with him -- like Brian Scalabrine, David Bluthenthal and Sam Clancy -- have flourished.
The Trojans have an impressive recruiting class coming in next season, but could take a minor hit with Scalabrine and Jeff Trepagnier finishing their careers Saturday. The Trojans, however, should stay in the top half of the Pac-10 and compete for another NCAA Tournament berth.
But if the Trojans have to go through another coaching change then the continuity that they have strived for over the years will be lost. Either way, Bibby will be one of the hottest coaching names during Final Four week in Minneapolis.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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