University hires a consultant for coach search

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pitt has turned to consultant Eddie Fogler to assist in its search for a men’s basketball coach, according to sources.

Fogler was a Division I head coach for 15 seasons, leading programs at South Carolina (1993-2001), Vanderbilt (1989-93) and Wichita State (198689). He was named coach of the year in 1993 by The Associated Press and the National Association of Basketball Coaches after leading Vanderbilt to a 28-6 record and an Southeastern Conference regular-season championship.

In 2006, he founded Fogler Consulting to help universities with searches. On its website, Fogler Consulting boasts to have “successfully placed dozens of college coaches across the nation at all levels of Division I basketball.”

Over the past four years, Fogler’s clients have included Ohio State, when it hired Chris Holtmann in 2017; Vanderbilt, when it hired Bryce Drew in 2016, replacing Kevin Stallings when he left for Pitt that year; Oklahoma State, when it promoted assistant coach Mike Boynton in 2017; Massachusetts, when it hired Matt McCall in 2017, after Winthrop coach Pat Kelsey initially accepted the job only to backtrack on the decision about 30 minutes before his introductory news conference; Boston College, when it hired Jim Christian in 2014; and Penn in 2015, when it hired Steve Donahue.

Before that recent stretch, among the more high-profile hires aided by Fogler were Indiana and Tom Crean in 2008, Michigan and John Beilein in 2007, Frank Martin and Kansas State in 2007, Penn State and Patrick Chambers in 2011, and Georgia Tech and Brian Gregory in 2011.

The Panthers will not be Fogler’s only current client, as Colorado State announced March 5 that it is paying Fogler Consulting $25,000 to help with its ongoing coaching search. It is unknown how much Pitt is paying.

Pitt fired Stallings Thursday after two seasons and a 24-41 record, which included a 5-34 mark in ACC play.