David Cox - a front-runner

The top assistant to Hurley has a provision in his contract -- a water-downed successor clause that if he is not selected URI must pay him a fee.

Strengths: A proven recruited at Georgetown, Pitt, and Rutgers. 

Weaknesses: No head coaching experience except high school and three fill-in games at Rutgers. Remember Jerry DeGregorio - elevated assistant, good recruiter? How did that work out? Answer: 12-48

John Becker - safe pick

Becker has been very successful at Vermont and a winner.

In six seasons he has guided the Catamounts to six 20-win seasons, six straight postseason berths (NCAA twice, NIT, CBI – three times). 

Strengths: Proven head coach. A proven winner at a lower conference.

Weaknesses: The safe pick. The next Jim Baron?

Preston Murphy - the prodigal son

Assistant Coach at Creighton. URI grad and former star. Left URI under a little bit of a cloud when he demanded a successor clause to Hurley.

Strengths: Knows URI. Fan favorite. 

Weaknesses: No head coaching experience. Think Claude English.

Rick Pitino - radioactive

Maybe of the most successful basketball coaches in the sport's history. A showman and a press magnet. He would make URI one of the most watched programs in the country. Pitino at URI would drive PC fans crazier than when he jumped from Kentucky to rival Louisville.

Strengths: Multiple NCAA Championships. Hall of Fame. Proven recruiter. NBA experience.

Weaknesses: Program tied to prostitution and illegal payments. 

Ryan Odom - the flavor of the month

His #16 Seed win over #1 Virginia made UMBC a national fan favorite. He is 46-24 at UMBC, but was just 8-11 as acting head coach at Charlotte.

Strengths: Bright future. A proven winner at a lower conference.

Weaknesses: One game does not make a career.

Tommy Amaker - missing the Big Time?

He looked like he was going to be a big-time coach, but stints at Michigan and Seton Hall did not work out very well.

In the 10 seasons since taking over at Harvard Amaker has reinvented the Crimson into an "Ivy League power" but playing in front of 1,500 can be a little depressing. 

Does he have something to prove?

Strengths: Proven recruiter getting top 100 recruits at Harvard.

Weaknesses: Couldn't make it happen in the top-tier leagues

Nate Oats - wanted man

Part of the Hurley family. He was an assistant to Danny Hurley at Buffalo and was elevated to the number one slot and has done nothing but win since taking over.

Said to be one of the candidates for the Pitt job if Sean Miller is not their guy.

Strengths: One of the hottest young coaches in America.

Weaknesses: Does he need to stop in Kingston? 

Craig Robinson - White House to the Ryan Center

Today, he is the VP of player development.  A job that may be like trying to row up the Niagra Falls. Was a hot commodity after his success at Brown University -- was offered both the PC and the Oregon St. jobs. Had a frustrating stint at OSU -- just like every other coach there in modern basketball. 

Strengths: more contacts at all levels of basketball, politics, and finance than the rest of the state of RI combined. May miss coaching basketball and did love living in RI.

Weaknesses: Does he want to hustle to recruit 18-year-olds?