With Rick Adelman announcing his retirement from the NBA, the search for a new Timberwolves head coach is officially on.
Names like Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo and former Miami Heat and Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy have been surfacing for some time.
However, it looks like the Wolves can officially remove Hoiberg from the list of potential candidates.
#Twolves president Flip Saunders ruled out Fred Hoiberg as candidate for the coaching vacancy. "That's not happening," Saunders said.
— Andy Greder (@twolvesnow) April 21, 2014
Another, maybe even bigger name, has entered the rumor mill. ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that University of Florida men’s basketball coach Billy Donovan is another name that interests the Wolves.
Been discussing Izzo/Hoiberg for some time as candidates to replace Adelman, but here's a new name I'm told interests Wolves: Billy Donovan
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 21, 2014
Wolves vowing comprehensive search to find coach who can help them persuade Kevin Love to stay. Donovan, I'm told, has emerged as new target
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 21, 2014
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Donovan might run into the challenge of convincing an NBA team that he wants to leave Florida. In 2007, Donovan was hired by the Orlando Magic, but a reported five-year non-compete in his contract at the university forced him to stay with the Gators.
CBS Sports notes that the Wolves head coaching job is attractive because they are not in rebuilding mode. However, if Kevin Love chooses to depart the Twin Cities in 2015 or 2016, or if he’s traded before the start of next season, the situation in Minnesota would become much less stable.
Wolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders discussed the hiring process during Adelman’s farewell press conference.
“We are geared more towards bringing someone we feel has a track record, that has had some success,” Saunders said, according to Fox Sports North. “We will look in that direction.”
Donovan has had plenty of success. He’s led the Gators to four consecutive Final Four appearances, and he has a pair of National Championships to boot. Wolves forward Corey Brewer was a member of Donovan’s Gator teams that won back-to-back NCAA titles in 2005 and 2006.
