Thad Matta’s retirement as Butler basketball coach leaves athletic director Grant Leiendecker with options to reset the program.
The Bulldogs have been accustomed to “The Butler Way,” and like to have coaches with ties to that. But Leiendecker told IndyStar last month that he doesn’t have to have a coach with Butler ties.
“It’s important, but it’s not the biggest factor,” Leiendecker said last month of having a coach with ties to Butler. “I think we are unique here. We are unique in the way we built it here. No matter what league we’ve been in, we’ve never been the school with the most resources, winning with the most talent. We have to win with our people, our culture, and yes, very talented players, but it’s always going to be that we win because the whole is greater than the sum of our parts.
“Winning that way is harder than it used to be because you’re rebuilding a team every year. That doesn’t mean we can’t do it. We’re going to it.”
Among those who may be candidates include Leiendecker’s former teammate, Ronald Nored, who came in as the favorite per odds released by BetOnline.ag on Wednesday. There are also some familiar names, including Matta’s assistant, Jon Diebler, Indiana State coach Matthew Graves and Illinois State coach Ryan Pedon.
The name that truly jumps out, though, is Dawgs March Madness hero Gordon Hayward. The Brownsburg native led Butler to its first of the two back-to-back Final Four runs, and Hayward’s halfcourt shots missed off the backboard and front of the rim that nearly topped Duke for the 2010 national championship in Indianapolis.
Oddsmakers firmly believe that someone with Butler ties is going to get the job. Other names include assistant coach Mike Peguesand Terry Johnson, who is on Matt Painter’s staff at Purdue.
UConn assistant coach Luke Murray and Merrimack coach Joe Gallo are among the longer shots to get the job. Surprisingly, one coach with strong Butler ties to Brad Stevens’ staff was not on the list: Notre Dame’s Micah Shrewsberry.
Here are the odds:
CoachOddsRonald Nored3/2 (+150)Travis Steele5/2 (+250)John Groce5/1 (+500)Jon Diebler8/1 (+800)Matthew Graves10/1 (+1000)Ryan Pedon12/1 (+1200)Alex Barlow14/1 (+1400)Terry Johnson14/1 (+1400)Luke Murray20/1 (+2000)Mike Pegues28/1 (+2800)Gordon Hayward33/1 (+3300)Joe Gallo33/1 (+3300)
This story was updated to clarify Pegues’ connection.
