Succession plans: How they've worked
Succession plans: How they've worked

Published: March 13, 2008

•Purdue: The Boilermakers brought Matt Painter in as "associate head coach” to Gene Keady for a year before Keady's retirement with the intention that Painter would take over the head job. Painter played for Keady at Purdue from 1989-1993, then coached at several small schools before returning to Purdue. Purdue has improved in Painters' first three years and is currently 24-7.

•Michigan State: Tom Izzo followed his mentor, Jud Heathcote, at Michigan State in 1995. The Spartans struggled in Izzo's first two seasons but have since played in three Final Fours and won a national championship.

•Gonzaga: Mark Few has been on the Gonzaga basketball staff since 1989. He spent the first decade as an assistant, then took over for Dan Monson when he left for Minnesota. Since 1999 Few has turned Gonzaga into a perennial NCAA Tournament team.

•Syracuse: Last year the Orange put into writing that Jim Boeheim's successor will be veteran assistant and former Syracuse player Mike Hopkins. Hopkins has been on the staff since 1995.

•Arizona: The Wildcats' athletic director emphatically stated when Kevin O'Neill was hired as an assistant that he was not being named Lute Olson's successor. A couple months later, O'Neill was given that title. But after serving as Olson's substitute this season, the plan may be off again.

By Andrea Cohen

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