The Joe Callero era is officially over at Cal Poly, and if the internet is to be believed, the search to find his replacement is already well underway. This will be Cal Poly Athletic Director Don Oberhelman’s first head coaching hire in the three major men’s sports, and speculation over who might be a candidate is already popping up on social media. What follows is a list of potential hires, somewhat comprehensive based on some things that are out there, but certainly not complete. If wagers were being accepted on the search, I would still take the field over any name on this list.

HUNGRY YOUNG ASSISTANTS

Omar Lowery – Butler University

If there’s a favorite right now for the head coaching job, Lowery would be it. An assistant at Cal Poly from 2009-13, Lowery was instrumental in recruiting a lot of the players that fueled Poly’s successful seasons during the beginning of Callero’s tenure, as well as the Big West championship team in 2014. Lowery is a highly regarded young coach who has worked his way up the ladder from high school and lower level colleges to the big time at Butler. His name has been whispered with the Cal Poly job for what seems like years now, and he obviously has familiarity with the Central Coast.

Drawbacks: Lowery isn’t a west coast guy – other than his stint at Poly, and one year at SJSU, he’s spent the majority of his career in the South and Midwest, and is originally from Wisconsin. There’s some question as to whether or not he may have an opportunity at a higher level than the Big West.

Adam Cohen – Stanford University

Cohen was promoted to Associate Head Coach at Stanford this year, his 3^rd year on the Farm. Has previous experience at Vanderbilt, Rice, and Harvard, so he’s no stranger to schools with strong academic requirements. Considered an excellent recruiter, and was named to the NABC top 30 under 30 list.

Drawbacks: Stanford hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire during Cohen’s tenure. Like Lowery, could be thinking bigger than Cal Poly. If you’re the kind of person who values high level playing experience, Cohen isn’t your guy – he was a student manager at Arizona under Lute Olson.

Jesse Pruitt – Stanford University

Pruitt has Big West experience – he graduated from Davis in 2005 and played there for two years. Has a Poly connection…kinda: he was an assistant at CPP from 2006-08. Also spent time at Santa Clara. Considered a bright young coaching mind.

Drawbacks: See note with Cohen. Also, he’s the third assistant at Stanford – it’s Stanford, but is that enough to take a head coaching job?

Mike Schrage – Ohio State University

Schrage has been mentioned in connection with the Poly opening in multiple places online, which makes me wonder if he’s putting his name out there for it. Lots of high level experience: OSU, Butler, Duke, Stanford, Indiana. Spent eight years with Johnny Dawkins at Stanford, so he should be familiar with the West Coast.

Drawbacks: Schrage’s not old by any means, just around 40, but he’s never been a head coach despite all that high level experience. The resume looks great, but he’s never been the head recruiter or off/def coordinator. Student manager under Bob Knight.

Jason Hart — USC

Lead recruiter for Andy Enfield and the Trojans. Is considered one of the best recruiters in the country. High level playing experience at Syracuse.

Drawbacks: USC is kind of a garbage fire right now. Hart came to the Trojans directly from Taft High School, though he has coached at Pepperdine in the past.

David Grace — Cal

Extremely respected recruiter – considered to be one of the best in the country, named top recruiter in the West by ESPN in 2016. Lots of Pac 12 experience. Neat story – was an Air Force veteran who came to coaching late.

Drawbacks: Unceremonious exits at UCLA and Oregon State. Has been mentioned with basically every HC opening on the West Coast for the past five years, but didn’t get any of them. May be a better recruiter than coach. 3^rd assistant at Cal.

Marcus Schroeder – St. Mary’s

Lead assistant for Randy Bennett at St. Mary’s. Played at Princeton, so academics blah blah. Originally from the East Bay, so knows the west coast.

Drawbacks: Super young, has only ever coached at St. Mary’s. Word is out on the success of the Bennett coaching tree.

Gus Argenal — Nevada

Helped Eric Musselman turn the Nevada program into legit national title contenders. Has head coaching experience at Cal State East Bay. Also spend time at Rice. Graduated from UC Davis.

Drawbacks: Wasn’t great at Cal State East Bay – sub .500 record with two 20 loss seasons.

Todd Golden – University of San Francisco

Considered an up-and-coming coach who played for Randy Bennett at St. Mary’s. Spent some time at Columbia, so should understand academic expectations. Also a stop with Bruce Pearl at Auburn.

Drawbacks: Super, super young – early 30s. 2^nd assistant at USF…on paper, you would think Poly could do better.

DOESN’T HURT TO CALL

Joe Prunty – Phoenix Suns

Graduated from Cal Poly in 1992. Currently the lead assistant for the Phoenix Suns, Prunty has spent time with several NBA organizations over the years, including a stint as the interim head coach of the Bucks last year. Has three rings with the Spurs. The Suns are an absolute mess right now, and Prunty will probably not be there next year (through no fault of his own).

Drawbacks: For now, at least, probably makes more than Poly can offer. Has never coached at the collegiate level.

Kyle Smith – University of San Francisco

Head coach at USF, has engineered a remarkable turnaround for the Dons. Previously head coach at Columbia, and lead assistant at St. Mary’s. Maybe he would rather have a chance to compete in a smaller pond than trying to take down the Gonzaga-St. Mary’s-BYU monster? In alternate universe where Poly doesn’t make NCAA tourney, might have taken over for Callero after 2016.

Drawbacks: Just signed an extension at USF, no financial info but probably makes more than Poly can offer. Might be a candidate for any number of Pac-12 or high major jobs. Will not be the next head coach at Poly, but fun to think about.

Rick Croy – Cal Baptist

Head coach at Cal Baptist, leading program through DII to DI transition. Has been extremely successful, 147-42 over five plus years. Was lead assistant at St. Mary’s after Kyle Smith. WAC could implode at any moment. Can’t go to the postseason for another few years.

Drawbacks: Cal Baptist is dumping all kind of money into the program – have you seen their arena? May already be making more than Poly can offer. Has a better resume than Callero, but this would kind of follow the path that led to the Callero hire, if that concerns you.

Rod Barnes — CSUB

Has engineered an amazing turnaround at CSUB, getting the ‘Runners to the NCAA tournament and NIT Final Four, along with an invite to the Big West. Makes $50k less than Callero. Poly offers some advantages that CSUB can’t match, including stability.

Drawbacks: After great success, has put together two mediocre years. Fired twice, at Ole Miss and Georgia State. Poly is a different place to recruit than Bakersfield, for good and for bad. CSUB actually has put money into the program recently.

Tommy Lloyd — Gonzaga

Lloyd has been Mark Few’s right hand man for almost two decades now, and is seen as instrumental in the success that Zags have had over that time period. He’s extremely well connected overseas and serves as Gonzaga’s lead recruiter.

Drawbacks: Many programs have tried to lure Lloyd away over the past 15 years, and he’s said no to all of them. Probably makes more than Poly can offer.

Steve Lavin – Fox Sports

Would be a huge splash, attracting national attention. Did you know Lavin is only 54? Went 81-55 at St. John’s, so wasn’t exactly a disaster. Knows of Cal Poly via Jim Saia.

Drawbacks: Has been mentioned with Pac 12 openings. Poly probably can’t match whatever he’s making on TV.

BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK

Scott Garson – Santa Clara

Garson could have gone under the “Young Assistant” header – he’s only in his early 40s. Putting him here because he was actually a candidate back in 2009. High level experience at UCLA. Head coaching experience at NAIA College of Idaho. Graduated from UCSB.

Drawbacks: Has been mentioned with every mid and low major opening on the West Coast for seemingly a decade. Just started at Santa Clara. 

Bob Williams – Just chilling at the beach

Incredibly successful at UCSB. Obviously, more than familiar with the Big West. Had some interesting thoughts on Poly while doing color commentary this year.

Drawbacks: I mean, as successful as he has been…we hated this guy for years! It would be weird for him to be Poly’s coach. He’s 65 – might be fine with staying retired.

Donny Daniels — Gonzaga

Donny has spent nine years with the Zags after seven at UCLA. Head coach at Fullerton from 2001-03, and also graduated from CSUF. Extremely well respected within college basketball.

Drawbacks: Left Titan head job to become assistant at UCLA. Does he want to take a HC job at this point in his career, especially at a rebuilding school? Wasn’t great at Fullerton.

Dave Rice — Washington

Lead assistant for a UW team that is going to win the Pac 12. Was head coach at UNLV from 2011-16 and pretty successful – three 20 win seasons, two NCAA appearances. Stops up and down the west coast.

Drawbacks: Was fired midseason by Rebels, never seemed to inspire that fanbase. Hasn’t spent time at any high level academic schools.

Greg Kamansky – Cal Poly Pomona

Has had a ton of success at the D2 level: .710 winning percentage, 11 NCAA appearances in 19 years, a national championship in 2009-10. While Pomona isn’t the same as SLO, probably has some experience with academic issues and recruiting.

Drawbacks: Was a candidate in 2009 and didn’t get the job. D2 is obviously a different beast. Team hasn’t dominated the CCAA the last few years.

Gregg Gottlieb – Oregon State

Famous basketball family. Started his career at Poly (94-97). Well respected on the west coast, stops at SDSU and Cal.

Drawbacks: Like Garson, Grace, etc, name gets kicked around for every CA opening. Doesn’t really have any wow items on resume – teams have underperformed. Doug’s brother.

DUDES WHO MIGHT GET FIRED

Andy Enfield — USC

Was successful in years 3 and 4 but now Trojan Nation has the pitchforks ready. Could Enfield replicate his FGCU success at another school by the beach?

Drawbacks: This should probably be under “Doesn’t Hurt To Call” – Poly can’t afford Enfield. Has a reputation as kind of a jackass. Vaguely involved in the FBI-NCAA stuff.

Marvin Menzies — UNLV

UNLV has high standards (see Dave Rice entry). Menzies dominated at NMSU – 5 tourney appearances in 9 years. West coast guy with stops at SDSU, USC.

Drawbacks: Hasn’t ever coached at a tough academic institution. Taking Poly job might complicate buyout. Could very well end up back at NMSU.

Wyking Jones – Cal

West coast guy from LMU, with stops at Pepperdine, New Mexico, and Louisville. Considered an ace recruiter, especially in southern CA.

Drawbacks: Dude…Cal sucks. They’re really, really bad. Has never been a head coach before taking over the Bears.