So wanted to share a bit of what I'm hearing over the past few days, as I think I have enough here for a decent update on the basketball program in general.
First, one thing that Damon Evans has touched on in recent weeks as they search for a new coach is the need for a basketball practice facility, a project which was first introduced back in 2019. In talking to a source yesterday, it appears that the school has nearly, if not already, wrapped up the full 40 million in funding needed for the facility. I was told that Maryland brass were down in South Florida last week to meet with a high level donor who pledged 5 million dollars towards the project. Based on rough numbers from a recent article in The Athletic a month ago, Evans said Maryland still needed to raise 8 million dollars to hit the 40 million mark. Assuming no other money has been raised in the past month, this would seem to put Maryland at roughly 38 million, just shy of the 40 million needed. Evans told The Athletic that the plan is to have all 40 million raised 'by the time the new coach is here' and a 5 million dollar pledge would seem to have them likely right on track.
As for the coaching search itself, I know I've gone on record that based on what I'm hearing from sources out in LA, I see Enfield as likely using the Maryland opening to get more money out of USC. As I previously reported, his wife and kids are happy out in LA and Enfield has a good thing going coming off of an Elite 8 with a nationally ranked team this year, a top 5 recruiting class and a pipeline to the Compton Magic that he isn't likely to duplicate anywhere else.
If you wonder about why Enfield might be looking for more money, it isn't hard to figure out. He purchased his current home just a few years back for over 6 million dollars and the average home in his neighborhood sells for more than 10x even the nicest of neighborhoods in this area. To say Manhattan Beach is expensive is an understatement. But based on what I'm told, his wife, a former swimsuit model, loves being about a mile from the beach and both she and her husband are really into the restaurant scene.
As for the Maryland side of things, I've heard from several sources that Enfield still stays in touch with some college friends here on the East Coast and has a connection within the athletic department and the belief among them is that Enfield is truly interested in returning back east. So it really depends on who you talk to as far as his true interest in the Maryland job, but we will likely find out soon enough as the season winds down.
As for Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard, I continue to hear he has interest in the job and there are some on the Maryland side of things who prefer Willard over Enfield due to his longstanding and deep ties with Under Armour as Seton Hall is an UA program. Another name I've mentioned in the last coaching search update that I continue to hear has strong interest in the job is Notre Dame's Mike Brey. Again, another coach with deep ties to Under Armour. The way I understand it, Brey had interest in the Maryland job the last time around and was set to interview the day they announced Turgeon's hiring. Brey came out and publicly said he did not have interest in the job the day before Turgeon was hired as he was notified that Maryland had found their coach. Brey, of course, is a DeMatha grad who coached at Delaware and still has a place in Rehoboth.
One other name I've heard mentioned by a couple of folks which seemed absolutely crazy to me is Jay Wright. If you remember, he was one of the first coaches Kevin Anderson reached out to last time around and he quickly let it be known he had zero interest in the job. I reached out to a couple of sources who are very close to Wright the other day and, not surprisingly, they shot that down immediately. One source saying 'it is wild how people make things up.' So, if you have heard Jay Wright mentioned anywhere, you can go ahead and pretty much dismiss that now.
Finally, with regards to Pitino, have not really heard much since one source basically said he believed Pitino would be Maryland's next coach. There was one report by Adam Zagoria that he was in talks for a 'lifetime' contract with Iona but haven't heard anything about that since. I will say, I have heard some rumblings locally that maybe he would have some trouble recruiting the DMV because of past transgressions, but even if that is true, with his track record he can likely go anywhere and find players to compete at the highest level.
First, one thing that Damon Evans has touched on in recent weeks as they search for a new coach is the need for a basketball practice facility, a project which was first introduced back in 2019. In talking to a source yesterday, it appears that the school has nearly, if not already, wrapped up the full 40 million in funding needed for the facility. I was told that Maryland brass were down in South Florida last week to meet with a high level donor who pledged 5 million dollars towards the project. Based on rough numbers from a recent article in The Athletic a month ago, Evans said Maryland still needed to raise 8 million dollars to hit the 40 million mark. Assuming no other money has been raised in the past month, this would seem to put Maryland at roughly 38 million, just shy of the 40 million needed. Evans told The Athletic that the plan is to have all 40 million raised 'by the time the new coach is here' and a 5 million dollar pledge would seem to have them likely right on track.
As for the coaching search itself, I know I've gone on record that based on what I'm hearing from sources out in LA, I see Enfield as likely using the Maryland opening to get more money out of USC. As I previously reported, his wife and kids are happy out in LA and Enfield has a good thing going coming off of an Elite 8 with a nationally ranked team this year, a top 5 recruiting class and a pipeline to the Compton Magic that he isn't likely to duplicate anywhere else.
If you wonder about why Enfield might be looking for more money, it isn't hard to figure out. He purchased his current home just a few years back for over 6 million dollars and the average home in his neighborhood sells for more than 10x even the nicest of neighborhoods in this area. To say Manhattan Beach is expensive is an understatement. But based on what I'm told, his wife, a former swimsuit model, loves being about a mile from the beach and both she and her husband are really into the restaurant scene.
As for the Maryland side of things, I've heard from several sources that Enfield still stays in touch with some college friends here on the East Coast and has a connection within the athletic department and the belief among them is that Enfield is truly interested in returning back east. So it really depends on who you talk to as far as his true interest in the Maryland job, but we will likely find out soon enough as the season winds down.
As for Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard, I continue to hear he has interest in the job and there are some on the Maryland side of things who prefer Willard over Enfield due to his longstanding and deep ties with Under Armour as Seton Hall is an UA program. Another name I've mentioned in the last coaching search update that I continue to hear has strong interest in the job is Notre Dame's Mike Brey. Again, another coach with deep ties to Under Armour. The way I understand it, Brey had interest in the Maryland job the last time around and was set to interview the day they announced Turgeon's hiring. Brey came out and publicly said he did not have interest in the job the day before Turgeon was hired as he was notified that Maryland had found their coach. Brey, of course, is a DeMatha grad who coached at Delaware and still has a place in Rehoboth.
One other name I've heard mentioned by a couple of folks which seemed absolutely crazy to me is Jay Wright. If you remember, he was one of the first coaches Kevin Anderson reached out to last time around and he quickly let it be known he had zero interest in the job. I reached out to a couple of sources who are very close to Wright the other day and, not surprisingly, they shot that down immediately. One source saying 'it is wild how people make things up.' So, if you have heard Jay Wright mentioned anywhere, you can go ahead and pretty much dismiss that now.
Finally, with regards to Pitino, have not really heard much since one source basically said he believed Pitino would be Maryland's next coach. There was one report by Adam Zagoria that he was in talks for a 'lifetime' contract with Iona but haven't heard anything about that since. I will say, I have heard some rumblings locally that maybe he would have some trouble recruiting the DMV because of past transgressions, but even if that is true, with his track record he can likely go anywhere and find players to compete at the highest level.
