Important Decision for BC

Now that Boston College has dismissed Al Skinner as its basketball coach, the Eagles are forced to make a decision about the future of their program. Skinner was the school's all-time leader in wins (247) and led them to seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament. However, athletic director Gene DeFilippo was worried that Skinner's laissez-faire attitude towards recruiting would make BC a permanent fixture in the basement of the ACC. By firing Skinner, DeFilippo has to make a statement about the future of Boston College basketball. The parting of ways with Skinner is a statement that the status quo is not good enough anymore. Rising to the top of the ACC is where DeFilippo is setting the bar and the next coach will be assuming that responsibility. Names being mentioned as possible replacements for Skinner are Cornell's Steve Donahue, Harvard's Tommy Amaker, Richmond's Chris Mooney, and Northeastern's Bill Coen. I think that DeFilippo needs to avoid going after a "middle of the road" coach. Donahue, Amaker, Mooney, and Coen are all very good coaches but to me, none are a step up from Skinner. DeFilippo's first call needs to go to BC graduate and current Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl. It is doubtful that Pearl would leave Knoxville but to prove to the BC faithful that they are serious about winning, it is a call and an offer that must be made. After being turned down by Pearl, DeFilippo must come to terms that Chestnut Hill is not a destination for premiere basketball coaches. This is not a bad thing but it has to be recognized. This will make DeFilippo return BC to the the days of Tom Davis and Gary Williams who were hot young coaches who came to BC, had success, and then left for better jobs. For BC to be truly successful, they must decide to attract the best young coaches who will lead the Eagles to success before moving on to bigger and better jobs. It is a formula that has been successful for schools like Xavier. They go after top young coaches like Thad Matta and Sean Miller. Those coaches bring success to the school before leaving for more lucrative positions. If DeFilippo chooses to go this route, here are three names he should be looking into: 1. Steve Wojciechowski, Duke Assistant Coach "Wojo" has been an assistant to Coach K in Durham since 1999. Moving to BC would give him head coaching experience within the ACC at a school that has similar academic standards to Duke. Success at BC could translate into being Coach K's successor in a few years. 2. Richard Pitino, Florida Assistant Coach The Pitino name may not be popular in Massachusetts but Rick's son is an up-and-coming coach who would bring credibility to BC with his name. He could use Boston in a similar fashion in which his dad used Boston University to advance his career back in the '80s. 3. Mark Montgomery, Michigan State Assistant Coach Montgomery has been apart of Tom Izzo's staff since 2001 and has helped lead the Spartans to the Final Four in 2005, 2009, and 2010. Raiding the cupboard of a proven winner would be a smart move. Whatever avenue he takes, expect BC to try and act fast so that they can make an announcement this weekend at the Final Four.