Many are enamored with the success Xavier has had replacing head coaches over the years and also currently like current coach Travis Steele. Me too on both accounts. A little history though.
Since 1985:
- Pete Gillen
- Skip Prosser
- Thad Matta
- Sean Miller
- Chris Mack
- Travis Steele
That's a pretty solid transition history. Thad Matta was the only one with prior HC experience (Butler). The rest were all "on the bench" already, as recently as 2 years ago. Did Travis Steele become a better coach than Autry because Mack took the Louisville job? But here is the biggest difference in the programs. JB never left. What if Gillen never left? The rest of those guys end up on the X bench as an assistant a lot longer like Prosser actually did. Would we feel better looking for a new coach if JB had left in 1993 and SU had witnessed a parade of Wayne Morgan, Tim Welsh, Louis Orr, Rob Murphy, Mike Hopkins and now be looking for Autry off the bench? (Apologies to Brendan Malone, Troy Weaver, and even Bernie Fine who may have been candidates, Bernie could have been our Bill Guthridge).
Basically I'm saying 2 years as a head coach at a small school doesn't necessarily make you more qualified than the top assistant already on the bench.