(1) Bob Hoffman, head coach, Mercer (A-Sun)
2012 record: 22-11 (13-5 A-Sun)
Who? Hoffman is a former OU assistant, and head coach for UT-Pan Am, Oklahoma Baptist (alma mater), and the NBA D-League Rio Grande Valley Vipers. His overall record as a head coach at the collegiate level is 448-220.
Why? Texas State is an upgrade from tiny Mercer, a small Baptist school in Macon, GA. Hoffman is familiar with recruiting Texas from his time at Pan Am and his stops in the state of Oklahoma. It's reported that the 53-year-old Bears coach makes around than $150,000 per season. He runs an up-tempo style that can take advantage of the players recruited into the Davalos system. He's a safe, veteran hire that can even boast multiple NCAA appearances as a head coach.
(2) Doug Novsek, associate head coach, Nevada (WAC)
2012 record: 25-5 (13-1 WAC)
Who? The longtime assistant coach is considered to be very well positioned to take over his first team of his own, and Novsek even worked the Southwest Texas bench from 1994-1999. He's also coached at Illinois State, Indiana State, and Nebraska.
Why? Besides the obvious tie to the university, he's spent six years in the WAC. Some mid-major will scoop him up in the offseason - perhaps even his alma mater, Southern Illinois. He's recruited Texas for the WAC regular season champion Wolf Pack as well as at Nebraska and SWT. This new conference will be tough on a first year head coach using an underachieving Southland-caliber roster. Texas State might as well hire a man that knows what he is getting in to.
(3) Alvin Brooks, assistant coach, Houston (CUSA/Big East)
2012 record: 15-15 (7-9 CUSA)
Who? He was the head coach at Houston from 1993-1998, with experience as an assistant at Houston, UNT, Lamar, Texas Tech, UTEP, Texas A&M, and Kentucky. He was one of the youngest head coaches in the nation during his stint with the Cougars. Brooks was on both Billy Gillispie and James Dickey's benches - two good guys to learn from. He's also been Dancing, which I really like as a requirement by now.
Why? This guy knows Texas prep basketball as well as any coach in the state. He has head coaching experience but would be available for a deep discount compratively speaking. It's a safe hire that could yield some unbelievable results once he gets on the recruiting trail. Brooks has a reputation for being a well rounded coach that likes to attack with his defense and cause fits for opposing ballhandlers. It's not out of the realm of possibility for Brooks to load up on JUCO kids he knows and produce immediately.
(4) Craig Neal, associate head coach, New Mexico (MWC)
2012 record: 24-6 (10-4 MWC)
Who? Steve Alford's longtime assistant (five at UNM, three at Iowa) is a former NBA assistant coach with 16 years in the pro ranks as a player, scout, and coach. The former Heat and Nuggets guard is 48 years old and is extremely well respected for his attention to details and recruiting ability.
Why? Neal is at a point where he is much like Novsek - well known, liked, and paid handsomely for the critical role he plays for a team...but when is he going to get a program to run? All signs point to him being happy in Albuquerque. However, Texas State's plan to step up to the WAC might make for an intriguing challenge. If he's ever going to leave Alford, this would be a good time to do so.
(5) John "Jack" Perri, associate head coach, Long Island (NEC)
2012 record: 25-8 (16-2 NEC)
Who? As I write this early, early Friday morning - I wonder what regional pod Long Island will be sent to. They have four Texas kids on their roster - three from San Antonio - and all are in the eight man rotation. Three start. Their head recruiter and associate head man, Perri, is considered to be the top assistant in the NEC. The 36-year-old Jersey native also was the head coach at D3 Rhode Island College and an assistant at his alma mater, Bentley College, before moving to LIU's Brooklyn campus.
Why? This is so outside of the box that it might work. Perri is in charge of scheduling for LIU so he knows someone at Texas State already. He's a complete outsider that's had success recruiting Texas kids to a commuter school in Brooklyn, of all places. He's young, hungry, and a winner. He may be ready to try something new and bigger after coaching in front of a half-empty 3,000 capacity gym at home while his Blackbirds ran to their second consecutive NEC tourney title and NCAA bid.
