The college basketball coaching grapevine crackled Saturday as word spread about Dana Altman's expected move from Creighton to Oregon.
By early evening, at least six names emerged as potential interested parties — either through direct contact with The World-Herald under the agreement of speaking anonymously, or through friends in the business calling on their behalf.
An early speculative list includes men with relationships through Creighton, bloodlines, the Missouri Valley and geography — and one with no ties (former NBA player and coach Reggie Theus).
High interest is expected because of CU's success and the salary of Altman, who is believed to be one of the nation's highest paid mid-major coaches.
According to IRS forms filed by Creighton from 2005, 2006 and 2007, Altman's salary in those years was $828,965; $881,017; and $1,130,250.
The following biographical information on expected interested parties is from media guides and news accounts:
• Kevin McKenna, coach, Indiana State:
McKenna, 51, is a former Creighton player (1977-81) who spent six years in the NBA and later was an Altman assistant at CU for nine years in two stretches.
He has been a coach in the Continental Basketball Association and at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. McKenna has gone 15-16, 11-21 and 17-15 at Indiana State, where his graduate manager this season was Jordan Altman, coach Altman's oldest son. McKenna is married with two grown children.
• Scott Sutton, coach, Oral Roberts:
Sutton, 39, was born in Omaha at the time his father, Eddie, was Creighton's coach. Sutton has gone 204-139 in 11 seasons at ORU. He led the school to three straight NCAA tourneys (2006, '07, '08).
Sutton has finished first or second in league play seven times and won 20 games or more four of the past five seasons. He is married with three daughters under age 10.
• Greg McDermott, coach, Iowa State:
McDermott, 45, had a successful five-year run in the Missouri Valley at Northern Iowa, making the NCAA tourney three times (2004, '05, '06). Before that, he coached at Wayne State and North Dakota State.
In four seasons at Iowa State, McDermott is 59-68 with no winning records. Tension between McDermott and ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard grew last season, according to two Big 12 coaches with knowledge of the situation. McDermott is married with three children.
• Reggie Theus, assistant, Minnesota Timberwolves:
The 52-year-old Theus' name emerged as a potential successor to Altman in 2007 when Altman took the Arkansas job for one day before returning.
Theus, a California native, played college ball at UNLV, then spent 13 years in the NBA. He has been a college coach (New Mexico State) and assistant (Louisville) and an NBA coach (Sacramento) and assistant (Minnesota). He is married with three children.
• Steve McClain, assistant coach, Indiana:
McClain, 47, is a Chadron State graduate and a native of Orient, Iowa. He was coach at Wyoming for nine seasons (157-115) before becoming an assistant at Colorado. McClain joined the staff at Indiana earlier this month. He is married with one child.
• Barry Hinson, former coach, Missouri State:
After coaching nine years at Missouri State (169-117), Hinson has spent the past two at Kansas as director of external relations. He is married with two grown children.
Contact the writer: 444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
RSS Feeds