Originally Posted by
scottdude8
As a Michigan fan I'm sad to see Beilein crash and burn. I can't think of a single Michigan fan who was rooting against Beilein's success in the NBA... he's by all accounts not only a great coach, but a great human being. It sounded like he felt he had to give himself one last challenge in his coaching career, so kudos to him for taking that leap, even if it obviously didn't work out (and, in hindsight, I think Beilein would've been a bit more selective in picking a better situation to go to).
Now when it comes to where he might go next, there are tons of options as you all have speculated. Some on the Michigan beat have been speculating he could go to Indiana for months now. Personally (and this is pure speculation) I doubt he goes to a B1G school... I have to imagine it would be tough for him to have to go against Michigan twice a year, especially just a year removed from leaving. For me the most obvious scenario is Texas, not only given Shaka's struggles, but because A) it's a similar school to Michigan in that it's a football school with a good, not great, basketball history waiting to be rekindled, and B) his former assistant Luke Yaklich, who was his "defensive coordinator" during his final years at Michigan and was hugely responsible for the run to the NC game behind a stifling defense, is already there at Texas. He could go to Austin, retain Yaklich for some continuity, and try to do there what he did at Michigan as his last hurrah.
That said, there is also speculation that, given the personal issues surrounding Beilein's son that led him to abruptly resign from the head coaching position at Niagara (giving Greg Paulus the job, ironically), he might want to take a less glamorous job with less pressure, and have his son on the staff to build him back up. That's where opportunities like Wake have come up. There are also some similarities between the Wake position and Michigan, namely being a "secondary" program in a basketball-crazy state, which could present a good fit. Wake is likely not going to out recruit the big three in NC, but Beilein's system doesn't require the 4/5* recruits.
So if I were a betting man, I'd give the best odds to Texas, followed by Wake.