Who Should Coach at SIUE?

(St. Louis, MO) – With 148 of college basketball teams still playing basketball, there still may be some time before Southern Illinois Edwardsville hires a new basketball coach. So we figured it was the perfect time to speculate about who could be some likely candidates for the job.

Successful ‘Lower Level’ Head Coaches

There are two great options here. First, and probably best, is Rodney Watson of Southern Indiana. Watson was an assistant at Southern Illinois Carbondale for 21 years. He served under everybody you’ve heard of. Rich Herrin, Bruce Weber, Matt Painter and Chris Lowery all benefitted from Watson’s work. With Watson recruiting and coaching the Salukis won over 64 percent of their games, 11 Missouri Valley Conference championships and went to nine NCAA tournaments.

The Egyptian Dawgs haven’t had a winning season since he left, and Watson has a record of 139-38 at Southern Indiana in six seasons with the Eagles in the highly rated Great Lakes Valley Conference. Watson is a proven recruiter, winner and knows the Southern Illinois University system blind-folded.

Our second suggestion is Lindenwood University Head Coach Brad Soderberg. The former Saint Louis University head man has been a successful Division 1 coach. In his five years at SLU and one with Wisconsin, Soderberg went 96-83.

Soderberg is 338-204 across all kinds of collegiate levels. He helped his current school transition from NAIA into Division 2, so he understands universities that go through such moves. Soderberg graduates players, wins games and leads clean programs. He has some connections at the highest levels at SIUE.

Assistants With Regional Connections

There are too many from which to choose. Practically every Missouri Valley team has a former SIUC assistant on their staff. Prominent among them would be Missouri State’s Brad Korn who spent several seasons at SIUC and one at Kansas State before joining the Bears’ staff.

Rob Judson is currently an assistant at Indiana and has spent time at Illinois and Illinois State. Judson was central to successful runs for the Redbirds with Tim Jankovich and was moderately successful as a head coach at Northern Illinois.

Paris Parham is finishing his third season at Illinois after five years at Illinois State. He is a highly regarded recruiter after working as a high school and AAU coach in the Chicago area.

Two wild-cards could be Mount Vernon, Illinois native Kent Williams and Wichita State assistant Greg Heiar.  Williams’ outstanding playing career at SIUC led him into coaching with Cuonzo Martin at both Missouri State and Tennessee. Heiar would follow two other Gregg Marshall assistants to spring from Shocker success to a head coaching job.

With a growing respect for the Ohio Valley Conference, SIUE’s proximity to a major metropolitan area, and a hot bed for basketball in down state Illinois, the Cougar job should be well coveted. There may be more established coaches with an interest in patrolling the Vadalabene Center side-line.

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