Oliver's Twist Is To Restore DePaul Pride, Good Luck. Who Does Clemson Go After?

I'm still shaking my head a day after learning that Oliver Purnell is leaving Clemson, an ACC school on the rise, for DePaul, a flat lined program.

Purnell says he was attracted to the challenge of restoring DePaul's program and making it the college basketball program in the Windy City. Go right ahead.

DePaul was a plump job 20 years ago, now it's irrelevant and way off the radar screen, even in Chicago.

The Clemson campus was shocked by the move. The players learned through a text message.

Athletic director Terry Don Phillips found out from a 1:30 am phone call Monday morning.

Now Clemson is searching for a new head coach for its men's basketball program. OSG sports will keep tradition alive and start the rumor mill, here's some names we have kicked around at the OSG HQ.

Brad Stevens: Hottest coach out there and has ties to the South Carolina upstate.
Stevens’ father, an orthopedic surgeon, did his residency in Greenville, South Carolina and Brad was born in Greenville. Maybe that and the lure of coaching in the ACC might pry Stevens away from Butler but it's a long shot.

Gregg Marshall: He won 7 Big South titles at Winthrop and has Wichita State on the rise in the Missouri Valley Conference. Marshall should be on Terry Don Phillips' short list.

Shaka Smart: Was an assistant at Clemson with Oliver Purnell for a couple of years but has one year of coaching experience at Virginia Commonwealth and it seems when his name is brought up in Tiger town Clemson fans have Larry Shyatt flashbacks. Smart will probably get an interview.

Doug Wojcik: Tulsa has produced some great head coaches (Tubby Smith, Nolan Richardson, Bill Self) and Wojcik has maintained excellence with the Golden Hurricane. Wojcik would be good to talk to.

Scott Drew: Another coach on the rise but his has a great recruiting class coming to Baylor and might want to stay in the Big 12 whose league is as dog eat dog as the ACC. Don't see that one happening.

Al Skinner: Just got fired by Boston College so he's available and had success in the ACC with the Eagles. If Clemson wants to go the retread route then call up Al.

Ben Jacobson: He's a hot commodity leading Northern Iowa to a sweet 16 run which included a shocking win over NCAA Tournament #1 seed Kansas. Jacobson just doesn't seem to be a good fit for an ACC school. He's Big 12 - Big 10 material.

Chris Collins/Steve Wojciechowski: If these two Mike Krzyzewski assistants are ready to make the head coaching move this might be the gig for them. Both know the ACC and both would know how to beat Duke and North Carolina. I would take a long hard look at this pair.

Ron Bradley: He was Clemson's associate head coach under Oliver Purnell and is in the pool of candidates. Bradley was named interim head coach Tuesday. A very long shot.

I'm sure there are other names out there so talk amongst yourselves.

Photo Courtesy; AP