As state in the last article, DU is looking for someone with head coaching experience. Looking across the D1 landscape there didn’t seem to be very many established head coaches that would want to build the DU program. It will take a lot of work but successful coaches at the D2 level are used to having to do a lot of work and the $180,000 – $200,000 would be a huge pay increase for most D2 head coaches. These D2 head coaches are proven winners.
Ben McCollum Northwest Missouri State – McCollum has one of the top D2 programs in the country in one of the top D2 conferences in all the land. He has had the Bearcats in multiple D2 Elite games. On top of his numerous conference titles, he also has led NWMS to two D2 national championships. If you’re looking for a winner, McCollum has to be at the top of the list. Perhaps not as well connected in the region or Colorado, McCollum will find the right players for DU.
Mike DeGeorge Colorado Mesa – DeGeorge knows how to turn around a program and has plenty of experience working with private colleges and high academics. He has turned programs from bottom-feeders to league champions in his previous stops and led them to the national tournament. DeGeorge’s success at Colorado Mesa should not be overlooked either. He took over after Mesa had back-to-back years of sub .500 basketball, and in his first year at the controls, the Mavs notched 19 victories and have won 20 games or more since. This past season Mesa won the RMAC and advanced to the D2 national tournament. They finished the season ranked #1 in D2. DeGeorge has done a great job in recruiting the state and region. He can always be found out on the recruiting trail evaluating players.
Brett Ballard Washburn – Ballard, the head coach at Washburn, has been a D1 assistant at Kansas and Wake Forrest. Washburn is similar to DU as they are private schools located in capital cities, and they both have law schools. The similarities end there as Ballard has had the Ichabods to multiple D2 national tournaments and are consistently winning 20 games or more a season with Ballard in charge. It would be a good stepping stone opportunity for a young coach like Ballard.
Dan Ficke Belmont Abbey – Ficke has been at DU before as an assistant coach with Joe Scott and Rodney Billups. So he knows the lay of the land, and what exactly he would be in store for should he return. Ficke has strong ties to Denver as he went to Regis Jesuit, and his dad Bill was an NBA assistant coach with multiple teams, including the Nuggets, and owns Big Bill’s NY Pizza. Ficke has D1 experience outside of DU at Loyola and Wake Forrest. Ficke left DU to become the head coach at Belmont Abbey in 2019. Two 20 win seasons and have taken them to the D2 national tournament this season. He has connections to the state and region that will serve him well should he get the opportunity to return to DU.
Pryor Orser- Colorado Mines – Orser has had a long and storied 19-year career at Colorado Mines. He has been able to recruit brilliant minds that can hoop. Orser has led Mines to 17 straight winning seasons to go along with eight consecutive appearances in the D2 national tournament. He has earned multiple coach of the year awards in the RMAC, and his teams have won several regular-season titles to go along with 2 RMAC tournament titles. He has recruited the right fit academically for Mines and get players that are tough, smart, and can shoot has been a recipe for success.