Valentine is the only person I would consider for next HC, I would prefer to end up on the Xavier model over anything else.

I agree that the Xavier model is the way to go. The problem is Drew Valentine is still in his 20s and doesn't have quite as strong local recruiting ties like the Mullins family. I think Porter would have to stay for at least 3-4 more seasons before we promote Drew from within.

I think over the years Porter has done well with assistants...how many have gone on to be head coaches and or major programs.....Although does anyone have any knowledge on how the new guy fit in this year, Jermaine Kimbrough ?

Mullins had a good first season obviously, but won't be Loyola's next coach. Jason Gardner was a massive failure at IUPUI. Bennie Seltzer's tenure at Evansville was rough to put it lightly. Armon Gates and Daniyal Robinson are HM assistants. I think they were in the running for the UIC job. Emmanuel Dildy is at Northwestern, but I don't think he'll be a candidate when our job opens.

The fact that PM hired Kimbrough as top assistant over Valentine leads me to believe that Kimbrough is closer to being promoted to the HC job than Valentine is. And while I don't know much about Kimbrough or his role on staff, I don't know if one year is enough continuity to just blindly promote him without seeing what is out there.

If Porter has a big run next year, if he chose to leave (which I don’t think he would), our head coaching job would be highly sought after. I think we would have our pick of almost any Power 5 assistant we wanted.

I would also throw our Brendan Mullins as a darkhorse if, god forbid, Porter left.

Great hire for UIC. Yaklich is one hell of a defensive coach. They will be a threat to the dominance of Wright State/N. Kentucky in the Horizon.

Completely agree with the latter points. However, I think if we had a big run next year, it would be really hard for Porter not to leave.

He almost left for St. Johns, their organization has been a complete dumpster fire. After hearing about that I'm not sure why you would believe that he's going to stay if he gets a similar offer. I'd love for him to stay but if he got another offer like that for 3x his annual salary in a better conference, it seems highly unlikely that he's not going to seriously consider it.

Agreed. Especially with all that we are graduating after next year. Krut, Lucas, Clemons, Hall, Uguak, Pipkins. I think another Midwestern Catholic school job will open up (Xavier, Marquette, etc.) and, if we make the tourney and win a game or two, Porter jumps.

I don't think a Big East job opens up next year (except maybe DePaul), but even then, Porter is probably looking bigger like Wisconsin or Indiana. Maybe he even settles for a Boston College, but still a P5 job.