Jan 4, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Thompson-Boling Arena before the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Memphis Tigers. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
On Sunday evening it appeared that Tennessee had their next basketball coach — Michael White from Louisiana Tech.
Now, according to CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish, those talks have cooled and White is expected to stay at Louisiana Tech.
A source told @CBSSports that talks between Tennessee and Michael White have cooled. He’s likely to stay at Louisiana Tech. Story coming …
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) April 21, 2014
News of White possibly staying in Ruston was first reported by Reed Carringer of “Basketball Time in Tennessee”.
Yesterday LA Tech sources said they thought White would stay another year, as I reported at noon today. He’s still "mulling it over."
— Football Time Mag (@FootballTimeMag) April 21, 2014
On the surface this looks bad for the Vols.
Tennessee is obviously a step up for White. The fact that Dave Hart wasn’t able to lock down a coach that hasn’t yet led his team to the NCAA tournament has to be disheartening for Vol fans.
But the situation really isn’t that clear.
White is clearly a coach on the rise and has four starters returning next season. His stock could be soaring next year with another successful season.
That combined with the fact that the head coaching job at Ole Miss — his Alma Mater — could possibly come open next season, makes the Tennessee job a little less attractive.
The Vols are likely trying to protect themselves against another Lane Kiffin like departure, which means the contract language wasn’t quite what White wanted to hear.
It’s in the Vols’ best interest to move on and search for a guy that truly wants to be at Tennessee above anywhere else.
Turning to Donnie Tyndall of Southern Miss is the right direction for the Vols to now head.